After traveling all over the world and returning to Israel, the Lod Mosaic Visitor Center was launched

It is considered one of the most spectacular mosaics found on a global scale, and after years of traveling around the world, he returned to Israel and "received" his own visitor center: the 1700-year-old Lod mosaic was displayed today in the city where it was discovered 26 years ago. )

Ziv Reinstein

27/06/2022

Monday, 27 June 2022, 14:16 Updated: 14:56

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1,700-year-old Lod mosaic (EYECON, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority)

After years of "tour" in the most important museums in the world, including the Metropolitan in New York, the Louvre in Paris, the Alts Museum in Berlin, the Hermitage in St. Petersburg and more, the magnificent Lod Mosaic - one of the most beautiful discovered in Israel and around the world. The beginning of the 4th AD, returned to Lod, and it will be presented to the general public starting this summer.

Today (Monday) the Municipality of Lod and the Israel Antiquities Authority launched the "Lod Mosaic Archaeological Center named after Shelby White and Leon Levy", in the presence of the donor, Mrs. Shelby White, the Mayor of Lod Adv. Yair Revivo, and the Director of the Antiquities Authority Mr. Eli Escozido.

The event was attended by representatives of the Leon Levy Foundation, senior officials of the Israel Antiquities Authority, the Ministry of Tourism, the Lod Municipality and dignitaries.

The mosaic in the city of Lod was discovered in 1996 by the late archaeologist Miriam Avishar from the Israel Antiquities Authority, during an archeological excavation before the expansion of Hechalutz Street in the city. The mosaic dates to the Roman period - late 3rd or early 4th century AD. The mosaic was covered at the end of the excavation, until in 2009 the Israel Antiquities Authority, with the generosity of the Leon Levy Foundation and Shelby White, found a budget for its re-exposure and removal for preservation, and finally for its return to the site as an archeological center open to the public.

More on Walla!

Lust for the eyes: A rare 1,700-year-old mosaic was discovered in a villa in Lod

To the full article

"Received" its own visitor center.

Lod Mosaic (Photo: Israel Antiquities Authority, Nicki Davidov)

The mosaic was discovered in 1996 by the late archaeologist Miriam Avishar (Photo: Israel Antiquities Authority, Skyview)

It is about 17 meters long and 9 meters wide (Photo: Israel Antiquities Authority, Emil Aljem)

The central part of the magnificent Lod Mosaic (Photo: Walla! NEWS system, Israel Antiquities Authority)

The mosaic - the floor of the villa's lounge hall

The mosaic, which is exceptional in the quality of its construction, its contents and its state of preservation, actually served as the floor of the villa's lounge hall, which was part of a neighborhood of wealthy houses in Lod during the Roman and Byzantine periods.

It is about 17 meters long and about 9 meters wide, and it consists of colorful rugs that describe in detail mammals, birds, fish, plant species and even vessels.

Its design is influenced by the mosaics of North Africa.

It is interesting to note that, unlike other mosaics from the period, there are no descriptions of humans.

During the construction of the mosaic center, the Israel Antiquities Authority unveiled another colorful mosaic, which was part of the villa's courtyard, and was also incorporated in the center and is part of the visit experience.

The mosaic site is located in the northeast of the city of Lod, near the entrance from Ginaton Junction.

Easy access to the Ben Gurion Airport, and two of the main roads in the country: Road number one, which connects Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and Road number six, which connects the north of the country to the south.

Location of the site - near national traffic arteries, allows a high level of accessibility, and its transformation into a site with a nationwide interest.

Its location will make it possible to link it to a tourist route, which will include a number of historical sites in the city.

The mosaic will be presented to the general public

(Discounts for Lod residents and children), and will allow visitors to see and experience it from different angles, as well as learn about the history and archeology of Lod and the preservation of the mosaic, and be impressed by its unique beauty.

The center will seek to connect residents to the important cultural heritage of their city.

This is a unique project of presenting world-class finds in its original site, within a modern structure that respects and communicates with the villa where it once resided.

It is just a pity that instead of making the archeology and history of the Land of Israel accessible to the public, which is already losing in the competition for smartphones, they charge almost NIS 50 per person and keep the public away.

Preservers of the Antiquities Authority in recent works on the mosaic (Photo: Israel Antiquities Authority, Yuli Schwartz)

Consists of colorful rugs depicting mammals, birds, fish and plant species (Photo: Israel Antiquities Authority, Nikki Davidov)

The mosaic dates to the Roman period - the end of the 3rd century or the beginning of the 4th century AD (Photo: Nature and Parks Authority, Assaf Peretz)

1,700-year-old Lod mosaic (Photo: Nature and Parks Authority, Assaf Peretz)

From right to left: Mayor Yair Revivo, donor Shelby White and Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority Eli Escozido (Photo: Israel Antiquities Authority, Yuli Schwartz)

Donor, Mrs. Shelby White: "From the moment Leon and I saw this historic mosaic, we knew how important it is to the city of Lod and the world, and what a contribution it will be to make Lod a cultural center. I am excited to have the opportunity to be part of this mosaic restoration and creation of this museum. It is a dream come true. "

The Mayor of Lod, Adv. Yair Revivo: "After about 26 years since it was first discovered in 1996, we have reached the big day when we inaugurate the" Lod Mosaic Archaeological Center named after Shelby White and Leon Levy ", a center of local pride and connection to a long history The years of the city of Lod - one of the oldest in the world! Our dream in a city full of mosaics of cultures, comes true before our eyes at the inauguration of one of the most important museums, which will place Lod on the world tourism map. That's where he is. "

Director General of the Israel Antiquities Authority, Mr. Eli Escozido: "Today, after years, the last piece of the Lod Mosaic project is completed, with the inauguration of the Visitors Center in his honor. This event is a very exciting milestone for the Antiquities Authority For the benefit of the general public. "

Vision of the Center, Mosaic Preservation and Curators: Israel Antiquities Authority

Building Design: Architect Amit Nemlich - Nemlich Architects

Landscape Planning: Architect Orna Ben Zioni, Architect Edith Israel - Landscape Architecture

Planning and Execution Content, Display and Multimedia: Industry - Content, Technology Design Ltd.

Project Management: Ed Lilach Neumark - Act of

Supervision Supervision: Goni Engineering Ltd.

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