BIBLE HISTORY DAILY

Byzantine Masterpiece Unveiled

Stunning 1,500-year-old mosaic goes on display

The IAA conservation team working on the mosaic’s preservation. Courtesy Emil Aladjem, IAA.

One of the most impressive mosaics ever discovered in southern Israel has been put on display for the first time. Discovered in 1990 at the site of Khirbet Be’er Shema, about 15 miles west of Be’er Sheva, the Be’er Shema mosaic comprises 55 medallions that depict hunting scenes, animals, and scenes of everyday life. After undergoing extensive preservation, the large Byzantine mosaic now serves as an important and visible feature of the area’s cultural heritage.

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A Mosaic in the Negev

Crafted from thousands of small stones in a variety of colors, as well as pieces of pottery and glass, the mosaic originally adorned a Byzantine monastery situated in a large settlement along the ancient Nabatean-Roman spice trail. According to Shaike Lender, one of the directors of the excavation that uncovered the mosaic, the mosaic “presents 55 richly detailed medallions—with mythological characters, baskets of fruit, exotic animals, scenes from everyday life, hunting scenes, and more. The mosaic was clearly made by the hand of a true artist.”

The Be’er Shema mosaic. Courtesy Emil Aladjem, IAA.

Excavations of the monastery also revealed a large winepress and warehouses with storage jars, suggesting that the monastery supported itself by producing wine. Meanwhile, the settlement served as a waystation for travelers passing along the desert road on their way to or from Gaza on the Mediterranean coast. Although much of the settlement dates to the Byzantine period (c. 324–634 CE), it likely already existed in the earlier Roman period (c. 37 BCE–324 CE) when it served the same purpose.

Since its discovery in 1990, the Be’er Shema mosaic has slowly deteriorated, left exposed to the elements and threatened by local agricultural activity. As part of the Israel Antiquities Authority’s “Antiquities Right at Home” project, the mosaic underwent extensive preservation and restoration work. It was then removed from its original location and taken to the nearby regional council complex, where it could be displayed for the public. For this purpose, a section of the council complex has been converted into an archaeological garden.

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