Credit: Sussita Expedition/Courtesy of the University of Haifa
Posted on 09/19/2010 5:32:52 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
A wall painting (fresco) of Tyche, the Greek goddess of fortune, was exposed during the 11th season of excavation at the Sussita site, on the east shore of the Sea of Galilee, which was conducted by researchers of the University of Haifa. Another female figure was found during this season, of a maenad, one of the companions of the wine god Dionysus.
"It is interesting to see that although the private residence in which two goddesses were found was in existence during the Byzantine period, when Christianity negated and eradicated idolatrous cults, one can still find clear evidence of earlier beliefs," said Prof. Arthur Segal and Dr. Michael Eisenberg of the Zinman Institute of Archaeology at the University of Haifa, who headed the excavation. The city of Sussita is located within the Sussita National Park under the management of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, which has accompanied and assisted the excavation teams this season in enabling the continuation of excavation work and the conservation of the archaeological finds.
During the course of the excavations conducted by the team from the University of Concordia under the direction of Prof. Mark Schuler, in a residence that appeared, by the quality and complexity of its construction, to belong to one of the city notables, the excavators reached an inner courtyard with a small fountain at its center. Near the fountain they found a fresco of Tyche, who was apparently deified as the city's goddess of fortune. Her head is crowned, her youthful gaze is focused, and she has abundant brown hair beneath her crown. According to the researchers, artistic analysis has indicated that the wall painting may be dated to the end of the Roman period or the beginning of the Byzantine period (3rd?th centuries C.E.).
(Excerpt) Read more at eurekalert.org ...
Credit: Sussita Expedition/Courtesy of the University of Haifa
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The forum of Sussita spreads out over a plain in the center of the city.
In the south-western part of the forum, there are the ruins of a stone staircase that led from the forum level to a large underground water reservoir.
Most of the monumental structure from the Roman period was excavated in the first season of the dig
This excavation area is found north of the Roman-period monumental structure, across the decumanus maximus. The northern complex includes several sections
A mosaic floor, including its lime-covered western portion, is in a fairly good state of preservation, with just small gaps.
Exquisite dove uncovered during 2001 excavation at Sussita.
btt
Thanks!
Great. They found a painting of Tyche, but it was just by chance.
No, it was their good fortune.
Tookie ping! Tyche was the patron goddess of Caesarea Maritima. Much beloved of ancient traders, her crown was a depiction of city walls (sort of an ancient skyline) and she was often depicted with her hand on a rudder.
Hey, when it comes to luck it never hurts to hedge your bets, you know like carrying a lucky coin, or rabbits foot, or John Kerry's happy hat . . . .
I have two goddesses in my Condo, my ex-wife and her late twenties daughter.
Thanks 668 - Neighbor of the Beast.
:-))
Sure, you can smile, they’re not living in your condo!
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