sentence-transformers/squad huggingface dataset:
Passage: Important Justinian era mosaics decorated the Saint Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai in Egypt. Generally wall mosaics have not survived in the region because of the destruction of buildings but the St. Catherine's Monastery is exceptional. On the upper wall Moses is shown in two panels on a landscape background. In the apse we can see the Transfiguration of Jesus on a golden background. The apse is surrounded with bands containing medallions of apostles and prophets, and two contemporary figure, "Abbot Longinos" and "John the Deacon". The mosaic was probably created in 565/6.

Question: What era were the mosaics that adorned Saint Catherine's Monastery?

Question: Where is Saint Catherine's Monastery located?

Question: Why have wall mosaics generally not survived in the region?

Question: Who is depicted in Saint Catherine's Monastery on a mosaic landscape background?

Question: When was the mosaic at Saint Catherine's Monastery created?
Passage: Jerusalem with its many holy places probably had the highest concentration of mosaic-covered churches but very few of them survived the subsequent waves of destructions. The present remains do not do justice to the original richness of the city. The most important is the so-called "Armenian Mosaic" which was discovered in 1894 on the Street of the Prophets near Damascus Gate. It depicts a vine with many branches and grape clusters, which springs from a vase. Populating the vine's branches are peacocks, ducks, storks, pigeons, an eagle, a partridge, and a parrot in a cage. The inscription reads: "For the memory and salvation of all those Armenians whose name the Lord knows." Beneath a corner of the mosaic is a small, natural cave which contained human bones dating to the 5th or 6th centuries. The symbolism of the mosaic and the presence of the burial cave indicates that the room was used as a mortuary chapel.

Question: Which city had the highest percentage of mosaic covered churches?

Question: Where was the Armenian Mosaic found in Jerusalem?

Question: What type of plant is depicted in the Armenian Mosaic?

Question: When was the Armenian Mosaic re-discovered?

Question: What was the room under the Armenian Mosaic used for?
Passage: An exceptionally well preserved, carpet-like mosaic floor was uncovered in 1949 in Bethany, the early Byzantine church of the Lazarium which was built between 333 and 390. Because of its purely geometrical pattern, the church floor is to be grouped with other mosaics of the time in Palestine and neighboring areas, especially the Constantinian mosaics in the central nave at Bethlehem. A second church was built above the older one during the 6th century with another more simple geometric mosaic floor.

Question: Where would the Byzantine church of the Lazarium be located today?

Question: When was the Byzantine church of the Lazarium constructed?

Question: The mosaic at the Byzantine church of the Lazarium most closely resembles mosaics from which area?

Question: A church was built on top of the Byzantine church of the Lazarium in waht century?
Passage: The monastic communities of the Judean Desert also decorated their monasteries with mosaic floors. The Monastery of Martyrius was founded in the end of the 5th century and it was re-discovered in 1982–85. The most important work of art here is the intact geometric mosaic floor of the refectory although the severely damaged church floor was similarly rich. The mosaics in the church of the nearby Monastery of Euthymius are of later date (discovered in 1930). They were laid down in the Umayyad era, after a devastating earthquake in 659. Two six pointed stars and a red chalice are the most important surviving features.

Question: The churches of which desert decorated their monasteries with mosaics?

Question: When was the Monastery of Martyrius created?

Question: When was the Monastery of Martyrius re-discovered?

Question: Where in the Monastery of Martyrius is the most important mosaic work?

Question: What was the name of the monastery that was discovered in 1930?
Passage: Mosaic art also flourished in Christian Petra where three Byzantine churches were discovered. The most important one was uncovered in 1990. It is known that the walls were also covered with golden glass mosaics but only the floor panels survived as usual. The mosaic of the seasons in the southern aisle is from this first building period from the middle of the 5th century. In the first half of the 6th century the mosaics of the northern aisle and the eastern end of the southern aisle were installed. They depict native as well as exotic or mythological animals, and personifications of the Seasons, Ocean, Earth and Wisdom.

Question: How many Christian churches have been found in the Christian Petra?

Question: When was the most important Byzantine church re-discovered?

Question: What type of mosaics were present in the church discovered in 1990?

Question: What century was the oldest known mosaic at the church discovered in 1990?

Question: The scenes depicted on the mosaics were both native and what kind of mythological animals?
Passage: The mosaics of the Church of St Stephen in ancient Kastron Mefaa (now Umm ar-Rasas) were made in 785 (discovered after 1986). The perfectly preserved mosaic floor is the largest one in Jordan. On the central panel hunting and fishing scenes are depicted while another panel illustrates the most important cities of the region. The frame of the mosaic is especially decorative. Six mosaic masters signed the work: Staurachios from Esbus, Euremios, Elias, Constantinus, Germanus and Abdela. It overlays another, damaged, mosaic floor of the earlier (587) "Church of Bishop Sergius." Another four churches were excavated nearby with traces of mosaic decoration.

Question: Where would the Church of St Stephen be located today?

Question: When were the mosaics in the Church of St Stephen created?

Question: When were the mosaics in the Church of St Stephen re-discovered?

Question: The mosaic floor in the Church of St Stephen is the largest in what country?

Question: How many artists signed the frame of the mosaic at the Church of St Stephen?
Passage: The craft has also been popular in early medieval Rus, inherited as part of the Byzantine tradition. Yaroslav, the Grand Prince of the Kievan Rus' built a large cathedral in his capital, Kiev. The model of the church was the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, and it was also called Saint Sophia Cathedral. It was built mainly by Byzantine master craftsmen, sent by Constantine Monomachos, between 1037 and 1046. Naturally the more important surfaces in the interior were decorated with golden mosaics. In the dome we can see the traditional stern Pantokrator supported by angels. Between the 12 windows of the drum were apostles and the four evangelists on the pendentives. The apse is dominated by an orant Theotokos with a Deesis in three medallions above. Below is a Communion of the Apostles.

Question: Yaroslav held what title in medieval Russia?

Question: Where did Yaroslav build his Cathedral?

Question: What was used as a model for the church Yaroslav commissioned?

Question: What was the name of the church Yaroslav commissioned?

Question: Who sent the Byzantine craftsmen that built Yaroslav's cathedral?
Passage: The apse mosaic of the Gelati Monastery is a rare example of mosaic use in Georgia. Began by king David IV and completed by his son Demetrius I of Georgia, the fragmentary panel depicts Theotokos flanked by two archangels. The use of mosaic in Gelati attests to some Byzantine influence in the country and was a demonstration of the imperial ambition of the Bagrationids. The mosaic covered church could compete in magnificence with the churches of Constantinople. Gelati is one of few mosaic creations which survived in Georgia but fragments prove that the early churches of Pitsunda and Tsromi were also decorated with mosaic as well as other, lesser known sites. The destroyed 6th century mosaic floors in the Pitsunda Cathedral have been inspired by Roman prototypes. In Tsromi the tesserae are still visible on the walls of the 7th-century church but only faint lines hint at the original scheme. Its central figure was Christ standing and displaying a scroll with Georgian text.

Question: In what country is the the Gelati Monastery located?

Question: Who started construction on the Gelati Monastery?

Question: Who eventually oversaw completion of the Gelati Monastery?

Question: Who was the central theme of the mosaics at Tsromi?
Passage: The remains of a 6th-century synagogue have been uncovered in Sepphoris, which was an important centre of Jewish culture between the 3rd–7th centuries and a multicultural town inhabited by Jews, Christians and pagans. The mosaic reflects an interesting fusion of Jewish and pagan beliefs. In the center of the floor the zodiac wheel was depicted. Helios sits in the middle, in his sun chariot, and each zodiac is matched with a Jewish month. Along the sides of the mosaic are strips depicting Biblical scenes, such as the binding of Isaac, as well as traditional rituals, including a burnt sacrifice and the offering of fruits and grains.

Question: The remains of what was found at Sepphoris?

Question: Who were the primary inhabitants of Sepphoris in the 3rd through 7th centuries?

Question: The mosaic found at Sepphoris display a mix of Jewish and which beliefs?

Question: What figure is dominant in the mosaic at Sepphoris?

Question: What surrounds Helios in the mosaic at Sepphoris?
Passage: The synagogue in Eshtemoa (As-Samu) was built around the 4th century. The mosaic floor is decorated with only floral and geometric patterns. The synagogue in Khirbet Susiya (excavated in 1971–72, founded in the end of the 4th century) has three mosaic panels, the eastern one depicting a Torah shrine, two menorahs, a lulav and an etrog with columns, deer and rams. The central panel is geometric while the western one is seriously damaged but it has been suggested that it depicted Daniel in the lion’s den. The Roman synagogue in Ein Gedi was remodeled in the Byzantine era and a more elaborate mosaic floor was laid down above the older white panels. The usual geometric design was enriched with birds in the center. It includes the names of the signs of the zodiac and important figures from the Jewish past but not their images suggesting that it served a rather conservative community.

Question: When was the synagogue in Eshtemoa constructed?

Question: What patterns are present on the mosaic at the synagogue in Eshtemoa?

Question: When was the synagogue in Khirbet Susiya re-discovered?

Question: How many panels are in the synagogue in Khirbet Susiya?

Question: What do the images at synagogue in Khirbet Susiya suggest about the communities views?
Passage: The ban on figurative depiction was not taken so seriously by the Jews living in Byzantine Gaza. In 1966 remains of a synagogue were found in the ancient harbour area. Its mosaic floor depicts King David as Orpheus, identified by his name in Hebrew letters. Near him were lion cubs, a giraffe and a snake listening to him playing a lyre. A further portion of the floor was divided by medallions formed by vine leaves, each of which contains an animal: a lioness suckling her cub, a giraffe, peacocks, panthers, bears, a zebra and so on. The floor was paved in 508/509. It is very similar to that of the synagogue at Maon (Menois) and the Christian church at Shellal, suggesting that the same artist most probably worked at all three places.

Question: In Byzantine Gaza, Jews were relaxed on what ban?

Question: Where were ancient remains of a synagogue found in 1966?

Question: The mosaic found in 1966 depicts who as the central figure?

Question: What is the central figure doing in the mosaic found in 1966?

Question: When was the mosaic floor constructed?
Passage: A 5th-century building in Huldah may be a Samaritan synagogue. Its mosaic floor contains typical Jewish symbols (menorah, lulav, etrog) but the inscriptions are Greek. Another Samaritan synagogue with a mosaic floor was located in Bet She'an (excavated in 1960). The floor had only decorative motifs and an aedicule (shrine) with cultic symbols. The ban on human or animal images was more strictly observed by the Samaritans than their Jewish neighbours in the same town (see above). The mosaic was laid by the same masters who made the floor of the Beit Alfa synagogue. One of the inscriptions was written in Samaritan script.

Question: A 5th-century building in Huldah is believed to be what?

Question: What does the mosaic at Huldah contain?

Question: What language are the inscriptions on the mosaic at Huldah?

Question: The synagogue located in Bet She'an had what kind of symbols depicted in its mosaic?

Question: The masters who built the floor in the synagogue at Bet She'an also constructed what other mosaic?
Passage: Islamic architecture used mosaic technique to decorate religious buildings and palaces after the Muslim conquests of the eastern provinces of the Byzantine Empire. In Syria and Egypt the Arabs were influenced by the great tradition of Roman and Early Christian mosaic art. During the Umayyad Dynasty mosaic making remained a flourishing art form in Islamic culture and it is continued in the art of zellige and azulejo in various parts of the Arab world, although tile was to become the main Islamic form of wall decoration.

Question: Who conquered the Eastern Provinces of the Byzantine empire?

Question: What would later become the main Islamic form of wall decoration?

Question: In Syria and Egypt, other than early Christians, who influenced their mosaic work?

Question: The Umayyad Dynasty made mosaic making do what in the Islamic culture?
Passage: The most important early Islamic mosaic work is the decoration of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, then capital of the Arab Caliphate. The mosque was built between 706 and 715. The caliph obtained 200 skilled workers from the Byzantine Emperor to decorate the building. This is evidenced by the partly Byzantine style of the decoration. The mosaics of the inner courtyard depict Paradise with beautiful trees, flowers and small hill towns and villages in the background. The mosaics include no human figures, which makes them different from the otherwise similar contemporary Byzantine works. The biggest continuous section survives under the western arcade of the courtyard, called the "Barada Panel" after the river Barada. It is thought that the mosque used to have the largest gold mosaic in the world, at over 4 m2. In 1893 a fire damaged the mosque extensively, and many mosaics were lost, although some have been restored since.

Question: Where is the most important Islamic mosaic work?

Question: Where is the the Umayyad Mosque located?

Question: What was the significance of Damascus during this time period?

Question: What is the largest section of mosaic still present in the Umayyad Mosque?

Question: What happened in 1893 that destroyed most of the mosaics in the mosque?
Passage: Non-religious Umayyad mosaic works were mainly floor panels which decorated the palaces of the caliphs and other high-ranking officials. They were closely modeled after the mosaics of the Roman country villas, once common in the Eastern Mediterranean. The most superb example can be found in the bath house of Hisham's Palace, Palestine which was made around 744. The main panel depicts a large tree and underneath it a lion attacking a deer (right side) and two deers peacefully grazing (left side). The panel probably represents good and bad governance. Mosaics with classical geometric motifs survived in the bath area of the 8th-century Umayyad palace complex in Anjar, Lebanon. The luxurious desert residence of Al-Walid II in Qasr al-Hallabat (in present-day Jordan) was also decorated with floor mosaics that show a high level of technical skill. The best preserved panel at Hallabat is divided by a Tree of Life flanked by "good" animals on one side and "bad" animals on the other. Among the Hallabat representations are vine scrolls, grapes, pomegranates, oryx, wolves, hares, a leopard, pairs of partridges, fish, bulls, ostriches, rabbits, rams, goats, lions and a snake. At Qastal, near Amman, excavations in 2000 uncovered the earliest known Umayyad mosaics in present-day Jordan, dating probably from the caliphate of Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan (685–705). They cover much of the floor of a finely decorated building that probably served as the palace of a local governor. The Qastal mosaics depict geometrical patterns, trees, animals, fruits and rosettes. Except for the open courtyard, entrance and staircases, the floors of the entire palace were covered in mosaics.

Question: Any mosaic having secular designs were likely what?

Question: What were the floor panels of the caliphs and high ranking officials modeled after?

Question: Where can the most superb example of Umayyad mosaic floor paneling?

Question: In which present day country would the residence of Al-Walid II in Qasr al-Hallabat be?

Question: At Qastal in 2000 the earliest examples of what were found in Jordan?
Passage: Some of the best examples of later Islamic mosaics were produced in Moorish Spain. The golden mosaics in the mihrab and the central dome of the Great Mosque in Corduba have a decidedly Byzantine character. They were made between 965 and 970 by local craftsmen, supervised by a master mosaicist from Constantinople, who was sent by the Byzantine Emperor to the Umayyad Caliph of Spain. The decoration is composed of colorful floral arabesques and wide bands of Arab calligraphy. The mosaics were purported to evoke the glamour of the Great Mosque in Damascus, which was lost for the Umayyad family.

Question: Where are some of the best examples of islamic mosaic work found?

Question: The mosaics in the Great Mosque in Corduba have what kind of style?

Question: Who sent the master mosaicist to Spain?

Question: When were the mosaics in the Great Mosque in Corduba created?

Question: Who created the mosaics in the Great Mosque in Corduba?
Passage: Noted 19th-century mosaics include those by Edward Burne-Jones at St Pauls within the Walls in Rome. Another modern mosaic of note is the world's largest mosaic installation located at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, located in St. Louis, Missouri. A modern example of mosaic is the Museum of Natural History station of the New York City Subway (there are many such works of art scattered throughout the New York City subway system, though many IND stations are usually designed with bland mosaics.) Another example of mosaics in ordinary surroundings is the use of locally themed mosaics in some restrooms in the rest areas along some Texas interstate highways.

Question: The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis holds the largest what?

Question: What along texas interstate Highways contains everyday examples of mosaics?

Question: Which station in the NYC subway has a modern example of mosaic?

Question: Edward Burne-Jones is noted for creating mosaics in what century?
Passage: In styles that owe as much to videogame pixel art and popculture as to traditional mosaic, street art has seen a novel reinvention and expansion of mosaic artwork. The most prominent artist working with mosaics in street art is the French Invader. He has done almost all his work in two very distinct mosaic styles, the first of which are small "traditional" tile mosaics of 8 bit video game character, installed in cities across the globe, and the second of which are a style he refers to as "Rubikcubism", which uses a kind of dual layer mosaic via grids of scrambled Rubik's Cubes. Although he is the most prominent, other street and urban artists do work in Mosaic styles as well.

Question: What has recently seen an expansion of mosaic artwork?

Question: Who is the most famous street artist who works with mosaics?

Question: What does the French Invader usually create with the traditional style of mosaic?

Question: The French invader coined his own style of mosaic named what?

Question: How does the French Invader create "Rubikcubism" styled mosaics?
Passage: Portuguese pavement (in Portuguese, Calçada Portuguesa) is a kind of two-tone stone mosaic paving created in Portugal, and common throughout the Lusosphere. Most commonly taking the form of geometric patterns from the simple to the complex, it also is used to create complex pictorial mosaics in styles ranging from iconography to classicism and even modern design. In Portuguese-speaking countries, many cities have a large amount of their sidewalks and even, though far more occasionally, streets done in this mosaic form. Lisbon in particular maintains almost all walkways in this style.

Question: Which city has almost all of its sidewalks in Portuguese pavement?

Question: What is the most common pattern for Portuguese pavement?

Question: Portuguese pavement is known by what other name?

Question: What other cityscape is done with Portuguese pavement?

Question: What is Portuguese pavement?
Passage: The indirect method of applying tesserae is often used for very large projects, projects with repetitive elements or for areas needing site specific shapes. Tiles are applied face-down to a backing paper using an adhesive, and later transferred onto walls, floors or craft projects. This method is most useful for extremely large projects as it gives the maker time to rework areas, allows the cementing of the tiles to the backing panel to be carried out quickly in one operation and helps ensure that the front surfaces of the mosaic tiles and mosaic pieces are flat and in the same plane on the front, even when using tiles and pieces of differing thicknesses. Mosaic murals, benches and tabletops are some of the items usually made using the indirect method, as it results in a smoother and more even surface.

Question: How were larger mosaics usually constructed?

Question: Why was adding a step i production useful for larger projects?

Question: What is the style called of putting tessere on a backing paper?

Question: What besides benches and tabletops was usually created using the indirect method?

Question: The indirect method also helped for projects with what kinds of areas?
Passage: The double indirect method can be used when it is important to see the work during the creation process as it will appear when completed. The tesserae are placed face-up on a medium (often adhesive-backed paper, sticky plastic or soft lime or putty) as it will appear when installed. When the mosaic is complete, a similar medium is placed atop it. The piece is then turned over, the original underlying material is carefully removed, and the piece is installed as in the indirect method described above. In comparison to the indirect method, this is a complex system to use and requires great skill on the part of the operator, to avoid damaging the work. Its greatest advantage lies in the possibility of the operator directly controlling the final result of the work, which is important e.g. when the human figure is involved. This method was created in 1989 by Maurizio Placuzzi and registered for industrial use (patent n. 0000222556) under the name of his company, Sicis International Srl, now Sicis The Art Mosaic Factory Srl.

Question: When is the double indirect method of mosaic useful?

Question: What is the most powerful aspect of the double indirect method?

Question: When was the double indirect method invented?

Question: Who invented the double indirect method?

Question: What is used as a backing adhesive for the double indirect method besides putty or paper?