The marketplace behind the Sultanahmet Mosque is situated on the remains of a great palace of the Byzantine Emperors. The mosaics discovered are thought to decorate the floor of a large hall in the palace. Scenes depicted by these realistic mosaics panels show a variety of wild and domestic beasts and includes some hunting and fighting scenes. Following the discovery of these mosaics, other mosaics unearthed in other sections of the city were framed by concrete panels and brought to the museum to be displayed.

Click on the mosaics below to view them larger.

A tiger hunt

Head of Dyonisus