Predators and Prey: A Roman Mosaic from Lod, Israel

Past Horizons ^ | Monday, April 14, 2014 | Waddesdon Manor (source)

[SunkenCiv]

One of the oldest surviving complete Roman mosaics dating from 1,700 years ago, a spectacular discovery made in Lod in Israel, will go on show at Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire, UK... from 5 June – 2 November 2014.

Measuring eight metres long and four metres wide, and in exceptional condition, the Lod mosaic depicts a paradise of birds, animals, shells and fishes, including one of the earliest images of a rhinoceros and a giraffe, richly decorated with geometric patterns and set in lush landscapes.

Ancient city of Lydda

The mosaic was accidentally discovered in 1996, during highway construction work in the Israeli town of Lod, the site of the ancient city of Lydda, just a few miles from Tel Aviv. Lydda was destroyed by the Romans during the Jewish War in 66 AD. It was later re-founded by Hadrian, remained in Roman hands until becoming a Christian city, and eventually succumbed to Arab conquerors in 636 AD.

Mystery surrounds the Lod mosaic: it is thought to have been laid in approximately 300 AD, forming the floor of a private house of a wealthy patron. The rest of the mudbrick walls, once covered with frescoes, had collapsed and preserved the mosaics, but the full extent of the entire complex has yet to be determined. The juxtaposition of animal hunting scenes and a marine scene, combined with the lack of human figures on any of the floors, makes the Lod mosaic uniquely interesting.

The public reaction to the discovery has been extraordinary. When the mosaic was uncovered for a single weekend, over 30,000 people travelled to Lod to see it.

[SunkenCiv]

The Lod floor mosaic, late third C.E., Israel Antiquities Authority. Photo: © Israel Antiquities Authority/Nicky Davidov

[SunkenCiv]

[SunkenCiv]

This triggered a memory.

Mosaic: The Original Browser
http://nsf.gov/about/history/nsf0050/internet/mosaic.htm

Mosaic, First Real Web Browser, Turns 20
http://www.technewsdaily.com/16513-mosaic-web-browser-turns-20.html

NCSA Mosaic (2.77MB, March 22, 2001, Windows 95/NT/98/2000)
http://download.cnet.com/NCSA-Mosaic/3000-2356_4-14610.html

[NEMDF]

Interesting, and the mosaic is beautiful. A great art form, IMHO (and I am not much into “art”).

[ckilmer]

interesting bit of free association.

[BenLurkin]

Beautiful.

[colorado tanker]

Wow, this is in amazing condition!

[ApplegateRanch]

Thanks; love seeing it after curation. I remember seeing the photos of it when first found.

[SunkenCiv]

[SunkenCiv]

I believe there was one (or more) topics back at that time. Or maybe not, since it was in the 1990s. ;’)

[SunkenCiv]

Yeah, those floors were tough, too; in some parts of the empire there was a sort of crawl space (for heating) and the floors were supported on stacks of broken pottery or flagstones, anything that would level up the floor and not get in the way of the circulation of hot air. Even those floors have preserved some of these mosaics. Of course, if was saw the interiors of these homes back when they were new, we’d probably say, tacky, gaudy, tasteless. :’)

[SunkenCiv]

There are three more shots of stuff, detail of the overview, worth checking out. :’)

[SunkenCiv]

[singing] Good day, I hear the robin sing, good day, the thrush is on the wing...

[BlackVeil]

Of course, if was saw the interiors of these homes back when they were new, we’d probably say, tacky, gaudy, tasteless. :’)

It's those nouveau riche types, who make a fortune on the trade in Persian indigo and Athenian pottery. One has a villa out our way, even the roof is in bright colours ... ridiculous. I hope Caesar sends his tax collectors after them ...

[SunkenCiv]

Of course, if the rich folks of Pompeii would have had access to naugahyde, we’d have preserved fabric upholstery from the Roman Empire, so, there’s a hypothetical upside...

[SunkenCiv]

Wow, did Zero take that title now? ;’)

[SunkenCiv]

YouTube: The Lod Mosaic: The Discovery of an Ancient Roman Mosaic [The Met]