A beautiful Roman-era mosaic has been uncovered in the Neve Yerek neighborhood of Lod, southeast of Tel Aviv, by archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA).
1,700-year-old mosaic unearthed in the Neve Yerek neighborhood of Lod, Israel. Image credit: Assaf Peretz / Israel Antiquities Authority.
The mosaic measures 36 by 43 feet (11 x 13 meters) and depicts birds, fish, flowers in baskets, vases, as well as hunting and hunted animals.
“The quality of the images portrayed in the mosaic indicates a highly developed artistic ability,” said IAA archaeologist Dr Amir Gorzalczany.
“The colorful mosaic was the courtyard pavement of a large Roman villa that had the famous Lod mosaic in its living room,” IAA archaeologists said.
The large courtyard was surrounded by porticos (stoas-covered galleries open to the courtyard) and columns.
“Numerous fragments of frescoes – wall paintings prepared on wet plaster – reflect the decoration and the meticulous and luxurious design, which are in the best tradition of the well-born of the period,” Dr Gorzalczany added.
Part of the 1,700-year-old mosaic floor unearthed in Israel. Image credit: Assaf Peretz / Israel Antiquities Authority.
“The villa we found was part of a neighborhood of affluent houses that stood here during the Roman and Byzantine periods,” he said. “At that time Lod was called Diospolis and was the district capital, until it was replaced by Ramla after the Muslim conquest. The building was used for a very long time.”
“The eastern part of the complex could not be completely exposed because it extends beneath modern buildings in the neighborhood”.
