Two scholars challenge assumptions about the origins of a Byzantine mosaic and the intent of its maker.

This episode hear from Andrea Myers Achi, assistant curator in the Department of Medieval Art and The Cloisters, and Liz James, Byzantinist and professor of art history at the University of Sussex.

Featured artwork: Fragment of a Floor Mosaic with a Personification of Ktisis. Byzantine, 500–550, with modern restoration.

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The Spotlight series features new perspectives on a single work from The Met collection. Familiar and celebrated works serve as the focal point for dialogue—posing questions, building understanding, and conveying how the presence of the work in the Museum has altered, limited, or enhanced the work’s interpretation. The series explores different ways of knowing and relates to themes beyond art and museums through the expertise and personal experience of invited guests.