The Mona Lisa Mosaic National Bird Park (Nature and Parks Authority)
The Tzipori National Park is known for its coveted treasures and fascinating finds from the past, including architectural interiors in unique historical preservation, water cisterns, magnificent mosaics and more.
All of these are joined by a rare and beautiful mosaic floor, which was uncovered near the water reservoir in the National Garden almost 30 years ago and is currently undergoing a conservation process.
The mosaic was described by Dr. Zvika Tzuk, an archaeologist at the Nature and Parks Authority who uncovered the mosaic. "About a hundred meters north of the western end of the reservoir, the southeast corner of the mosaic floor was exposed.
The mosaic, which is made of high quality, includes a central carpet in the pattern of flower columns, in red and pink tones, bordered by a frame of strips in black, red and white, and in strips of medallions designed from stylized vine braids.
The eastern medallions are large, while the southern ones are smaller.
The medallions depict a bird (partridge?), fish, grapes, curled vines, vine leaves, cherries and a Kinners flower, as well as geometric cross-like decorations.
The eastern row of medallions is bordered by a black strip, beyond which are four rhombuses.
"The varied colors of the mosaic include red in three shades, as well as gray, black, blue, white, yellow, brown, pink and purple. A large number of tiles were discovered on top of the mosaic floor. The similarity of this floor to the floor of the church in Nahariya allows it to be dated to the 6th century AD. About 30 meters to the west is a vaulted tomb, decorated with a large cross above the southern arch. It therefore seems that the floor belongs to a church or a Christian burial structure. Today the floor has been opened for preservation and in the future it will also be opened for public visits."
"One of the beneficiaries in the mosaic is a pair of fish, known in Christian symbolism."
The new bird mosaic (Photo: Israel Nature and Parks Authority)
The mosaic includes a central carpet in the pattern of rows of flowers and medallions fashioned from stylized grape vines (photo: Nature and Parks Authority)
"The floor was opened for conservation and in the future it will also be opened for public visits" (Photo: Nature and Parks Authority)
About 65,000 Christians visit Tzipori a year
According to Mittal Roizer Aharon, director of the Tzipori National Garden, "Tzipori National Garden is one of the biggest crowd-pleasers in the north of the country, and attracts both domestic and foreign tourism. As a site only 5 km from Nazareth, the potential for Christian tourism is huge.
Today, about 65,000 Christians visit the site - about 40% of all annual visitors.
The site also contains an archaeological complex 'Miriam's Path', which includes the Crusader Church of Santa Ana to the west of the site.
Today, the remains of the eastern cathedral can be seen on the site, but it has not been opened to the public since the end of the excavations 5 years ago."
According to her, about 30 years ago a magnificent mosaic was partially uncovered, apparently from a burial church of a Christian family from the city's families.
"One of the beneficiaries of the mosaic is a pair of fish, known for its distinctive Christian symbolism. The mosaic is located on the visitor's axis, near the water reservoirs, and in an excellent location for public access. Researchers have compared the style of the mosaic to the impressive church from the 6th century AD that was excavated in Nahariya. Next to this mosaic, we can see across The area is a carved vaulted grave, and a cross is engraved at its entrance," she added.
"I believe that excavating and making the church and its complex of graves accessible can be a lever for incoming Christian tourism, especially in light of the proximity to Nazareth, Kfar Kana and other important Christian sites."
The slip apparently belonged to a burial church of a Christian family from the city's families (photo: Nature and Parks Authority)
The floor was exposed near the water reservoir in the Tzipori National Park (photo: Nature and Parks Authority)
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