Breathtaking Mosaic Revealed

May 21, 2014

An impressive monastery dating to the Byzantine Period was discovered at Hura, in the northern Negev during a salvage excavation by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). Archaeologists revealed a structure [with] “breathtaking mosaic carpets.”

The prayer hall is paved with a mosaic on which a pattern of leaves is vibrantly portrayed in blue, red, yellow and green colors. The dining room floor is a colorful mosaic pavement depicting floral motifs, geometric decorations, amphorae, baskets and also a pair of birds. The mosaic carpets also include four Greek dedicatory inscriptions denoting the names of the monastery's abbots and the dates when the pavements were constructed. These inscriptions also aided archaeologists in dating the monastery to the second half of the sixth century.

Various pottery assemblages were discovered during the monastery excavations. In addition, numerous and sundry glass vessels and coins, ascribed to the Byzantine Period, were discovered. These finds indicate there was a rich material culture in the monastery.

Source: Excerpts of article by Edgar Asher, Ashernet

Photo Credit: Ashernet/IAA