Elephant Attacking a Feline, late 4th-mid 5th century, 41 1/4 x 81 1/2 in. (104.78 x 207.01 cm), Mosaic, Turkey, Byzantine, Animal combat is a Near Eastern theme which entered early into Greek and later Roman art. The introduction of large-scale animal compositions was an important innovation in mosaic decoration, possibly stimulated by circus spectacles. In the fourth century A.D. pavement mosaics of hunting scenes were installed in the villa of Constantine the Great in Antioch, setting an important local precedent.