Mosaicos, Opus Sectiles y Alicatados: el Mediterráneo entre la herencia clásica y la innovación. Una aproximación al tema

The article makes a brief historical journey comparing the development of the ancient Greco-Roman techniques of mosaic and opus sectile with the art of ceramic tiles (alicatado) the latter born in late antiquity in the Eastern Islamic context. A broad look at the artistic history of Mediterranean Islam can allow a greater understanding of the evolution of these visually similar artistic techniques, but whose effective connection has been the subject of debate. This approach can provide elements for reflection, already addressed by historiography, on unresolved issues related to the continuity of mosaic art in Islam, from the Umayyads to the Mamluks, and on the origin of geometric alicatado; an art typical of both the West and the Islamic East, whose origin is still unclear due to the scarcity of archaeological evidence prior to the 13th century, which leaves the field open to various hypotheses.