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Israeli archaeologists unveil Byzantine mosaic, table
Middle East Times ^ | September 20, 2005

Posted on 09/22/2005 1:02:58 AM PDT by nickcarraway

CAESAREA, Israel -- Israeli archaeologists on Monday unveiled a Byzantine mosaic that had been buried under sand dunes for 50 years, along with a newly discovered, highly rare table dating from the same era.

The so-called mosaic "carpet" measuring 16 meters (53 feet) by 14.5 meters, was uncovered in the Israeli coastal resort of Caesarea and has been dated by archaeologists to the fifth and sixth centuries.

Bordered by a frieze of running animals, including lions, panthers, wild boars, antelope, elephant, dog and bull, interspersed with fruit trees, remains of the floor were first found during military exercises in 1950.

A full-scale excavation program got underway in 1955 and preservation work began in 2004.

The unique decorative glass design table, inlaid with gold encrusted glass platelets in various shapes, was found lying face down in rubble nearby.

Rounded on one side, the table is a common shape in the Roman and Byzantine periods, although archaeologists said that they knew no other similarly decorated item uncovered in organized excavation of a late Byzantine structure.

The finds were uncovered at a mansion that probably belonged to a most important person at the time in Caesarea, and perhaps in the entire province of Palestine Primae, an excavation organizer said.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Israel; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: byzantine; israel; letshavejerusalem; palestine; roman; romanempire; rome
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1 posted on 09/22/2005 1:02:58 AM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

What years were the Byzantine era? Anybody know?


2 posted on 09/22/2005 3:30:44 AM PDT by Finalapproach29er (Americans need to remember Osama's "strong horse" -"weak horse" analogy. Let's stop acting weak.)
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To: Finalapproach29er

Never mind, I found it. Sorry.


3 posted on 09/22/2005 3:31:16 AM PDT by Finalapproach29er (Americans need to remember Osama's "strong horse" -"weak horse" analogy. Let's stop acting weak.)
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To: nickcarraway

Any Pictures?


4 posted on 09/22/2005 4:16:23 AM PDT by NH Red
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Comment #5 Removed by Moderator

To: NYer

Ping for Eastern Christians!


6 posted on 09/22/2005 5:38:44 AM PDT by Convert from ECUSA (tired of all the shucking and jiving)
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To: Finalapproach29er
What years were the Byzantine era? Anybody know?

Byzantine is a term applied to Romans/Greeks after they turned from paganism to the Christianity. So it starts with the conversion of emperor Constantine in IV century, them with the Germanic invasions in the West in V, VI, VII, VIII centuries the Christian Rome got reduced to the Greek speaking West. Palestine was under Christian rule from IV century to VII th century. It was in that time that the Jerusalem was reestablished and rebuilt because of the Christian pilgrims.

In VII century Muslims overrun Palestine and later North Africa and Syria so Byzantine Empire got reduced to Greece, Asia Minor (todays Turkey), Balkans and southern Italy. The last remaining parts of Byzantine empire (Constantinople and parts of Peloponnesus were destroyed by Muslims in XV century

7 posted on 09/22/2005 6:56:08 AM PDT by A. Pole (For today's Democrats abortion and "gay marriage" are more important that the whole New Deal legacy.)
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To: NH Red; nickcarraway
Any Pictures?

Found these through a Jerusalem Post article:
Caesarea Byzantine mansion site inaugurated


8 posted on 09/22/2005 7:05:30 AM PDT by Constitution Day
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To: Constitution Day

That is exquisite.


9 posted on 09/22/2005 7:07:29 AM PDT by mewzilla (Property must be secured or liberty cannot exist. John Adams)
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`Impressive' villa mosaic unearthed near Caesarea
Haaretz | April 17, 2005 | Amiram Barkat
Posted on 04/18/2005 6:35:32 PM PDT by nickcarraway
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1386290/posts


10 posted on 09/22/2005 7:31:04 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Down with Dhimmicrats! I last updated by FR profile on Sunday, August 14, 2005.)
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To: nickcarraway; blam; FairOpinion; Ernest_at_the_Beach; StayAt HomeMother; 24Karet; 3AngelaD; asp1; ..
Thanks Nick.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. Thanks.
Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on or off the
"Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list or GGG weekly digest
-- Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)

11 posted on 09/22/2005 7:31:38 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Down with Dhimmicrats! I last updated by FR profile on Sunday, August 14, 2005.)
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To: DaveLoneRanger

Ooops! Thanks DLR!


12 posted on 09/22/2005 7:33:19 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Down with Dhimmicrats! I last updated by FR profile on Sunday, August 14, 2005.)
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To: MarMema; Kolokotronis; jb6; kosta50

Eastern Orthodox ping


13 posted on 09/22/2005 8:50:46 AM PDT by eleni121 ('Thou hast conquered, O Galilean!' (Julian the Apostate))
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To: nickcarraway

It's amazing when artifacts from Byzantium are found intact. So much was looted, destroyed and stolen by Muslims and other assorted hoodlums...and continues to be.


14 posted on 09/22/2005 8:54:54 AM PDT by eleni121 ('Thou hast conquered, O Galilean!' (Julian the Apostate))
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To: Constitution Day

wow awesome


15 posted on 09/22/2005 9:19:20 AM PDT by visualops (www.visualops.com)
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To: SunkenCiv

VERY cool, just beautiful.


16 posted on 09/22/2005 9:33:56 AM PDT by agrace (Where were you when I founded the earth? Tell me if you know so much. Job 38:4)
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To: A. Pole

Wow. I didn't know that. Thanks for the info.


17 posted on 09/22/2005 2:07:03 PM PDT by Finalapproach29er (Americans need to remember Osama's "strong horse" -"weak horse" analogy. Let's stop acting weak.)
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To: Finalapproach29er
with the Germanic invasions in the West in V, VI, VII, VIII centuries the Christian Rome got reduced to the Greek speaking West

Sorry, I meant "Greek speaking East"

18 posted on 09/22/2005 2:18:05 PM PDT by A. Pole (For today's Democrats abortion and "gay marriage" are more important that the whole New Deal legacy.)
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To: eleni121

Thanks! I love this stuff!


19 posted on 09/22/2005 5:04:46 PM PDT by Kolokotronis (Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!)
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To: nickcarraway
Israeli archaeologists on Monday unveiled a Byzantine mosaic that had been buried under sand dunes for 50 years, along with a newly discovered, highly rare table dating from the same era.

Let's see...50 years ago was during the Eisenhower Administration. Any chance that the table was made of Formica? :^)

20 posted on 09/22/2005 5:12:49 PM PDT by Cowboy Bob (Liberalism cannot survive in a free and open society.)
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