<P> The great buildings of Emperor Justinian like the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, the Nea Church in Jerusalem and the rebuilt Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem were certainly embellished with mosaics but none of these survived . </P> <P> Important fragments survived from the mosaic floor of the Great Palace of Constantinople which was commissioned during Justinian's reign . The figures, animals, plants all are entirely classical but they are scattered before a plain background . The portrait of a moustached man, probably a Gothic chieftain, is considered the most important surviving mosaic of the Justinianian age . The so - called small sekreton of the palace was built during Justin II's reign around 565--577 . Some fragments survive from the mosaics of this vaulted room . The vine scroll motifs are very similar to those in the Santa Constanza and they still closely follow the Classical tradition . There are remains of floral decoration in the Church of the Acheiropoietos in Thessaloniki (5th--6th centuries). </P> <P> In the 6th century, Ravenna, the capital of Byzantine Italy, became the center of mosaic making . Istria also boasts some important examples from this era . The Euphrasian Basilica in Parentium was built in the middle of the 6th century and decorated with mosaics depicting the Theotokos flanked by angels and saints . </P> <P> Fragments remain from the mosaics of the Church of Santa Maria Formosa in Pola . These pieces were made during the 6th century by artists from Constantinople . Their pure Byzantine style is different from the contemporary Ravennate mosaics . </P>

What effect is characteristic of an early christian mosaic