Detail of the courtyard mosaic decoration, by Unknown Artist, 706 - 705, 8th Century. Syria, Governatorato di Damasco, Damascus, Damascus, Great MosqueGrand Mosque. Detail of the mosaic decoration of the courtyard landscape. The mosaics, made by skilled Byzantine artists, were inspired by the Islamic conception of Paradise, where cool water streams flow and murmur babble in the shade of evergreen trees. The depiction also refers to the pax omayyade and might as well represent the different cities of the Empire. The iconographic reference can be found in the backgrounds of Roman and Roman and Byzantine compositions. Plans architectures cities. 2009 photograph.