Part of the mosaic floor from a fifth-century C.E. villa. (Itzik Ben-Malki)
Posted on 04/18/2005 6:35:32 PM PDT by nickcarraway
A 500-square-meter mosaic depicting an intricate design of flamingos, peacocks, ducks and other animals that adorned the floor of a fifth-century C.E. villa, was unearthed recently on a hill overlooking the Mediterranean near Caesarea.
Parts of the floor were first discovered in the 1950s by archaeologist Shmuel Yeivin. However, it was not fully excavated at the time due to budgetary constraints.
This time, after an initial week-long excavation by Dr. Yosef Porat and Peter Gendelman of the Israel Antiquities Authority, the authority refused to continue the dig, citing a lack of funds. The Caesarea Development Corporation has agreed to pay for conservation so the floor can be put on display.
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One expert, who is not connected with the dig but visited the site two weeks ago, told Haaretz the villa is "the most impressive ever discovered so far in Israel."
The floor was apparently part of a central courtyard in the two-story villa, which covered 1.5 dunams and was destroyed during the Arab conquest in 640 C.E.
A table was discovered in one of the rooms and its glass was created using a previously unknown technique, apparently involving gold leaf. Other parts of the villa, including the second floor, also contained spectacular mosaics.
This is not the first case in which a budgetary dispute has ensued over the
excavation of a mosaic. In the 1990s, an American-Jewish donor agreed to fund restoration of a magnificent fourth-century mosaic discovered in Lod, but demanded it be transfered to the Israel Museum in Jerusalem for display. The Lod municipality, however, insisted that it remain
(Excerpt) Read more at haaretz.com ...
Part of the mosaic floor from a fifth-century C.E. villa. (Itzik Ben-Malki)
ping
Cool!
How beautiful.
...destroyed during the Arab conquest in 640 C.E.
Seems to come up a lot. Not much we can do about 640 anymore, but it's time for the world to condemn shelling Buddhas and destroying antiquities found under the Temple Mount. Condemning murder would be OK too. Maybe I'll write Kofi at the UN, he can start with the Sudan.
Kofi's been pretty busy fending off accusations. Why not write to Kojo, who, I believe, is unemployed, has time on his hands, and presumably his father's ear?
Kojo – male Kojo was born on November 5, 2001, at the Zoo to Mandara and Kuja. He lives with the family group. Kojo was named in the Starbucks naming contest in April 2002. His name means "born on a Monday."
Distinguishing features:
Kojo is a juvenile who has a white rump patch. He is most often found with his mother.
A C130 filled with rilfes and ammunition would solve their problems, but instead, the UN is disarming the victims... AGAIN.
GGG Ping, it's a great one!
Good one! You must have been hanging onto that photo for the proper occasion. LOL.
Clinton? That the guy who was going to fix bayonet and jump in a trench (a trench? no one calls them that) to defend Israel. He's making sure womankind survives. I've heard he's buying a yacht, calling it an ark, and boarding one of each species, blond, brunette, et al
If we gave the Islamofascists a little reminder of some of the places they don't want to see destroyed, they might pay better attention.
No, I thought of gorilla Kojo right away. He's cute. I had to think a minute to make the connection with Kofi. I should read the UN news more often.
My thought exactly!
Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on, off, or alter the "Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list --
Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
The GGG Digest -- Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)
"the palace covered 1.5 dunams"...
1.5 dunum, dunham = 0.3706581 acre
1.5 dunum, dunham = 16,145.8656251 square foot
http://www.onlineconversion.com/area.htm
Whoa, condemning murder? Stirrin' up a hornet's nest with that idea. ;')
Key Finds In Temple Mount Trash Heap
Washington Times | 4-16-2005
Posted on 04/16/2005 3:21:20 PM PDT by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1385166/posts
The Temple Mount's Jewish History: More Than a Matter of Faith
Camera | 11APR05 | Tamar Sternthal
Posted on 04/11/2005 8:27:52 AM PDT by familyop
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1381423/posts
Thanks for saving me the trouble; that was going to be my next stop.LOL
I get so mad when I read about 'running out of funds' on these projects, I could just scream. When was the last time physicists ran out of money and had to quit building a new: oh, wait. Didn't I hear something about a 'Supercollider"? Never mind. :(
Looks like Vegas.
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