Ancient Roman Floor Mosaic Unveiled In Israel

LOD, Israel — Israeli archaeologists unveiled one of the largest and best preserved mosaics ever found in the country Wednesday, for only the second time since it was discovered more than a decade ago.

The 600-square-foot (56 square meter), 1,700-year-old Roman floor mosaic was found in 1996 during an archaeological dig in the town of Lod near Tel Aviv. It drew 10,000 visitors in the one weekend it was on display then, according to the Israeli Antiquities Authority, the government agency responsible for its restoration.

The agency covered the mosaic back up, though, because it lacked funding to properly protect it, said Miriam Avisar, the archaeologist who first unearthed the mosaic.

That changed with a recent $2.5 million joint gift from the Leon Levy Foundation and antiquities collector Shelby White to fund construction of a new center to house the mosaic in Lod. The center is set to open in 2012, said Jacque Neguer, head of art conservation at the Antiquities Authority.

Antiquities Authority workers slowly rolled a thick covering off the massive mosaic Wednesday and began a laborious cleaning process using water and soft sponges. After the cleaning is completed, they'll transport the entire mosaic to Jerusalem for a lengthy preservation process.

The mosaic is made up of more than two million small stones and covered with detailed pictures and geometric shapes.

"The decorative elements are extremely rich and well executed," Neguer said. "We have hunting scenes, lions and giraffes from Africa, and scenes of the sea with ships and fish."

The mosaic is similar to others found in Tunisia and elsewhere in North Africa, Neguer said, indicating the owner or artist may not have been from Israel.

Neguer also said it's possible that portions of the mosaic will be displayed in Israel before the entire mosaic returns to Lod, but there are no definitive plans on that yet.

Comments

[Harmony1812]

And all we get to see of the entire mosaic is two fish?

[delta7777]

'
and Lord Elgin cleaned and preserved the Parthenon frieze.
.

[Eclipse-girl]

I believe the Parthenon Frieze should be returned to Greece, particularly now they have a new museum for it.

Elgin did prevent further ravages of time and pollution from occurring to the frieze. Athens is a city with a lot of pollution. That pollution eats away at the parthenon and other historical sites to this day.

[arle]

And they don't have pollution problems in England? Home of the industrial revolution? Seriously?

[delta7777]

.
I guess if Greece was a colony of Britain, no one would complain about moving the marbles???. .
Staying within political boundaries of the moment can make it very convenient to shuffle archaelolgical treasures around.
Are you expected to give the "moved/stolen" stuff back when these politial boundaries change??
What if the artifacts are left where they were moved to by a transitory political ruler who "legitimately" (??) moved the stuff around within his realm??
Do Historical bouldaries count??
....say like the Roman Empire??
After all, Britain and Greece were both parts of the same Roman Empire for a while.
If Lord Elgin had moved the marbles from the Roman Province of Greece (Achaea)to the Roman Province of Brittania under the order of Caesar, would it still all be O.K. today??

In short, should archaeological artifacts be left in place where found, or should they
be "relocated for protection and preservation", while at the same time these valuable
archcaeological treasures serve (incidentally, of course) as a great contribution to the wealth of the "preserver"?

While this mental exercise may seem like a joke, just consider how much of what is now in our museums is relevant to these questions.

Also, at what point or incident of the history of an article of use, commerce, or art become subject to having the rights of the nation or locality of origin, or of a former legitimate owner take precedence of the right of possession?? (really not an easy question)
.

[lennyp]

Isn't that the same picture I saw on a car the other day -- a Jesus fish being eaten by a truth fish?

[adelacy]

So, does that mean the Italians now have a claim to the disputed land?

[GinoGoa]

Adelacy wrote: "So, does that mean the Italians now have a claim to the disputed land?

GinoGoa: Archaeology is used to establish a people's history in a particular place. Israel has many archaeological evidences that supports their claim that the "disputed land" is theirs -- the 9th Century BCE find, the Mesha Stele that mentions Israel, being one of the most well-known.

The Italians (Romans) were occupiers, who came long after. I am still waiting on any Palestinian evidence(s). Can anybody cite one?

[arle]

Um, the fact that they were /living/ there for generations? You don't really need archaeological evidence when you have birth certificates and land deeds and such.

[Macready]

Dah Gino Goa . . . I suggest that you get yourself to a good library and read some books on the history of the ancient Near East . . . . the israelis do no figure prominently . . . the Israelis only figure big time historically in the Ot and that is not history . . . archaeological evidence suggests what little there is suggests that their god had a wife at least as late as the 8th century BC . . . then I think you read about the history of zionism a 19th century political movement . . . and then the balfour declaration . . . a bit of British anti-semitism . . . and then what happened after WWII . . . the Jews have not claim on the land . . . we are talking about a European invasion and the establishment of israel with the aid of British imperialism . . .

the establishment of israel ranks I think as one of the consequences of WWII . . think about it . . . there are Jews who say that the existence of israel is contrary to the Torah . . and I think my my what were Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin thinking at Yalta because another aftermath of the WWII was the fact that many countries in Eastern Europe became part of the Soveit block . . . so read . . think and study . . . the information doesn't

[S1m0n]

The Palestinians are in part the descendants of jews who didn't emigrate to Rome or other parts of the Roman Empire, and who converted - sometimes by force - to muslims after the 7th century's explosive expansion of Islam.

In other words, they have a claim identical to anyone from the diaspora, PLUS continuity of occupation through the ensuing 2000 years.

[jordanispalestine]

They were driven out! But..if they want to try and defeat the Israeli Defense Forces and take it over..they are free to try..and lose again!! Maybe the Pope will lead the charge!

[BobSF94117]

I'm not sure I grasp how digging up and transporting a mosaic is actually "preserving" it.

[jeffepops]

If you actually READ all the words in the article, it states "[archaeologists] began a laborious cleaning process using water and soft sponges. After the cleaning is completed, they'll transport the entire mosaic to Jerusalem for a lengthy preservation process".

[nylibgrrl]

Obviously, BobSF DID read it. How else would one transport a floor mosaic but by digging it up? The "presevation process", whatever it is, I would guess is only some kind of treatment to keep the pigments intact, and so on. However, I would agree with BobSF that transporting the mosaic is not "preserving" it in the sense that it's been removed from its original location/layout/matrix. Get it?

[AuntiepoppyCock]

The Roman's did a job on many of the people of the world today. They stole and left same great works of art and jewelry. I've decided not to continue hating others because of bad history or villanious politics. Instead I will embrace the good, recognize and learn from past mistakes. And who knows maybe the LITTLE fish was a poisonious puffer fish? The Romans fell...u know the rest.

[Durango]

The Rest Of The Story:

According to Gibbons the Roman Empire fell because the became Christians.

Although I heard it was their lead plumbing and wine glasses.

[wm1066]

They also didn't have the apparatus to handle an empire. They used brute force and that isn't sustaining. They where beneficial to some countries but some govenors taxed the people to death. Their subjects rose up and overwelmed them.

[poster1122]

There are a lot of opinions on that. I suppose there's a good case for the city itself, since the center of the empire shifted to Constantinople because of the religious tensions and fractured the empire into a West and an East, making the West less important. But the Eastern part of the empire survived for 1200 years after the sacking of Rome.

But even after Constantine, the West continued on for over a century. The problem was ultimately that the East didn't seem as inclined to defend its Western possessions as when Rome was the capital.

[Spiritof1982]

Who is "Gibbons?" Do you mean "Gibbon?"

[truthartbeauty]

what a beatiful and wonderful find. how long before a muslim fanatic decides to destroy it??

[Durango]

You know, of course, that many of the monuments from ancient times were destroyed by Christian fanatics.

Of course you did.

[Nicolaus]

Your hatred of Muslims is so profound!

Where did you get your stories from? It is no where documented in history. Or is it just phobia, racism, dislike of Arabs? what in your opinion could it be?

[Paulo1]

Actually there is massive documentation of early Islam destroying the statues and temples of the "heathens" and modern times such as the horrible destruction of the Bamayan Buddha's in Afghanistan have proven that the urge to mutilate the ancient art of prior generations is alive and well in some places.

I reject however that this is a cultural imperative of the faith. The world owes thanks to the Islamic world for preserving Aristotle and Plato and many of the other great works when the West was going through its Christian Dark Ages Islamic scholars are perfectly willing to see the value in preserving the past. Unfortunately, like Christianity, it also has its share of wackos.

[janmarie]

Antiquities were safe in Iraq prior to our invasion. Iran has many antiquities that have been kept safe. I am sure Israel will target them.

[Eclipse-girl]

Islam forbids the depiction of humans in art.

The photo of this mosaic depicts fish, and the description speaks of geometric designs. Neither of these would be offensive to a Muslim.

The destruction of the Bamayam Buddhas was because they did show a human form.

Be thankful for Islam and its golden age which occurred during the Dark Ages or Middle Ages. Their universities saved and expanded upon knowledge from the West (Greek, Roman) and the East (India, China). The European Renaissance was caused in part by a rediscovery of the knowledge that was in the Middle East.

Algebra is a westernization of a the arabic "Al Jebra" which was the title of a text that described/taught many of the basics of that branch of mathematics.

[ModernTimes1]

Beautiful mosaic. Thanks for showing it to the people. And double thanks for working hard to preserve it.

[SouthpawSass]

Similar to England "discovering" ancient artwork in the city of Belfast... what a great day for England, huh?

[fbr79]

It's a great day for all of us when ancient Roman mosaics are discovered, such a hater.

[HelleneAtheist]

The big fish (Israel) eats the small one (Palestine).
Whoever made it had a sixth sense.

[Churchi11]

to go with your none!

[Tunghoy]

I'd like to introduce you to my friend, Ghofa Kyoussef.

[PDXTransplant]

This is a wonderful piece and a wonderful find - I just love mosaics. I wish I had room in my house to make them. I remember making a huge mosaic as a child at my elementary school in Ohio. We were so proud of our work. I wonder what ever happened to it.

[Nudalhade]

Obviously, for political harmony this mosaic should be quietly destroyed and a new "ancient" mosiac of the Israeli flag should be discovered in Gaza.

[petera63]

This "opinion" certainly wins the stupidityaward of the day.

[arle]

This award brought to you by the perennial winner of the crude insults award. Petey here had three gold medals in schoolyard bullying by the time he was repeating fifth grade!

[janmarie]

LOL!

[wm1066]

Didn't PBS do a show about this Mosaic awhile ago? maybe 4 years ago? I remember hearing about it. It takes alot of work to preserve it.

[Durango]

That was in Turkey.

At a site that was about to be destroyed by the flooding of a dam.

Romans were into mosaics. They found very cool ones as far away as Britain.

[wm1066]

No, the one I'm referring to was in Isreal somewhere. I think it was in the ancient town Caesarea.

[PiscesPrincess]

Why would someone who has no knowledge of ancient times and archeology come to this article and post du.mb remarks.

[arle]

I don't know. Why did you come here?

[PDXTransplant]

Why are you some expert on the subject and feel no one has the right to simply comment? Get real Princess.

[Durango]

When I took archeology I remember the professor saying that in his digs in Israel you did not want to dig in Jewish sites since they were forbidden graven images they were not nearly as interesting as other sites.

Which would seem the case here. Romans made all kinds of interesting objects.

I also recall the Professor talking about a dig in Syria. He said it was at the location of a crusader castle but as you dug down you encountered civilizations going all the way back.

To the beginning.