A Roman-era mosaic that was newly-discovered at Lod, Israel, between June and November is being shown of by the archeologists of the Israel Antiquities Authority. The mosaic was discovered during works for the building of a visitors’ center being constructed to display another mosaic found 20 years earlier at the same location. Now, the public will be able to admire the mosaic for the first time.
“The villa we found was part of a neighborhood of affluent houses that stood here during the Roman and Byzantine periods,” said Excavation Director Amir Gorzalczany, in a statement of the mosaic that was found just a few yards away from the first one that covered the villa’s living room.
The impressive mosaic, measures 36 feet by 42 feet, and lay at the courtyard pavement of the villa. It depicts hunting and hunted animals, fish, flowers in baskets, vases and birds. These are intricately designed, indiating highly developed artistic ability.
The original mosaic has been on a tour to the Metropolitan Museum in New York, the Louvre in Paris, and the Hermitage museum in St. Petersburg. It is currently on display at the Cini Gallery in Venice, Italy, and will return to Lod after the visitors’ center is complete.
