Lod Mosaic Archaeological Center

The mosaic from Lod, with an area of 180 square meters, the largest of its kind in Israel. It was discovered in 1996 during road in Lod, ancient Lydda, southeast of Tel Aviv and preserved after the excavation with a layer of sand. 2009 it was exposed again, rolled up and in the laboratories of the Israeli Antiquities Authority brought to restoration ( IAA). His dated to the third century was based on the most recent mosaic found during the coin that was minted under Diocletian ( 284-305 ).

The mosaic contains no inscription that mentions the founder, as would be typical for mosaics in public buildings. Therefore, it seems to have heard the villa of a shipowner or merchant. Fish, wildlife and two merchant ships can be seen on the mosaic. In the central medallion animals are depicted and not the typical Ophelius or Bacchus, like on pagan mosaics. The owner could have been a Jew or a Christian. For the Ausgräberin Miriam Avissar, a 1965 emigrated from Hamburg to Israel archaeologist, the late Roman mosaic is a Sicilian in style to work.

For the mosaic is in Lod own museum, the Shelby White and Leon Levy Lod Mosaic Archaeological Center built, which will open in 2013. Since September 2010, the mosaic is exhibited in several cities in the U.S. and in Europe ( Paris, Berlin, Waddesdon ).

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