“Exceptional” mosaic uncovered under Syrian house
A virtually intact mosaic that is 1600 years old has been uncovered in central Syria and is said to be the rarest of its kind.
The mosaic, measuring 20 x 6 metres, was found under a building in Rastan in northern Syria’s Homs province, which has been besieged since 2011.
With many of Syria’s cultural items and archaeological finds being damaged after more than a decade of war, the discovery of this intact mosaic has been described as the most important archaeological find since the start of the conflict.
"What is in front of us is a discovery that is rare on a global scale," Hamman Saad, a senior official at Syria’s General Directorate of Museums and Antiquities, told the Associated Press.
The mosaic depicts mythical scenes of the Trojan and Amazon wars, including the Roman sea god Neptune and 40 of his mistresses, as well as Hercules slaying Amazonian queen Hippolyta.
The General Directorate of Museums and Antiquities shared the news on social media, along with images of the mosaic and excavation process, describing the find as “one of the most important paintings technically and archeologically, it may be exceptional and rare worldwide”.
While Syria has been considered a treasure trove for archaeologists since it is home to some of the most well-preserved relics from ancient civilisations, many of these items have been destroyed or looted during the civil war.
It has also fuelled a black market selling small items such as coins and statuettes, as reported by the BBC.
The mosaic was first found in 2018 during the drilling and exploration of a house in Rastan, with the General Directorate of Museums and Antiquities saying that it dates back to the 4th century AD.
Image: DGAM (Facebook)