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2000 YEARS MOSAIC ART
Israel is a country with a rich history in mosaic art. The Greeks and the Romans introduced this form of art and it's use continued until today.
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OLDEST GREEK MOSAIC OF ISRAEL
200 BC - Tel Dor Israel
The earliest evidence of a Greek temple in Israel has been discovered at Tel Dor, 25 miles south of Haifa, dates to the first or second century B.C. Along with Greek temple columns and fragments of the superstructure a headless statue of the Greek winged goddess Victory (Nike, in Greek) was found and a beautiful section of floor mosaic depicting women wearing hats full of flowers and fruits. According to archaeologist the temple was dismantled in a revival of Jewish traditionalism at Dor that occurred briefly in 100 or 99 B.C., when the Jewish king, Alexander Jannaeus, took control of the city. The destruction was part of a crusade by the Hasmonean dynasty to wipe out all pagan symbols. This period of history is contained in the Book of Maccabees that follows the end of the Bible's Old Testament and in the writings of the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus.
Photo Yoav Dotan (see link)
HERODIUM BATHHOUSE MOSAIC
24 -15 BC - Israel
Herod the Great built a palace within the fortress of Herodium. The lavish palace was built between 23 and 15 BC atop Herodium for all to see. The palace itself consisted of four seven storie towers, a bathhouse, courtyards, a theatre, banquet rooms as well as extravagant living quarters for himself and his guests. The Jews built a synagogue at Herodium which can still be seen today. .The Roman bathhouse dived in three parts with hot and cold baths An impressive dome is still in good condition today despite thousands of years of earthquakes and wars. One of the hot baths, the tepidarium, had mosaic floors and frescoes just like the living quarters of the palace.
MASADA MOSAIC
37 BC - 4 AD - Masada
A beautiful mosaic was uncovered in the Masada fortress complex, dating to the reign of King Herod the Great (37 BCE to 4 CE). Part of the Palace of King Herod this richly colored mosaic pavement cantains circles and border ornaments of plant and geometric designs. This palace is the largest building found on the site. (See for more information on Masada).
Photo by: Carole Raddato
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'GOD JESUS CHRIST' MOSAIC
Picture: Vesafis Tzferris
230 AD - Megiddo Israel
“The ‘God Jesus Christ’ mosaic, discovered in 2005 beneath the British-built Megiddo Prison in northern Israel, is one of the earliest known attestations of belief in Christ’s divinity, dating to around 230 CE. Inscribed in Greek, it reads: ‘The god-loving Akeptous has offered the table to God Jesus Christ as a memorial,’ likely referring to a woman who funded a communion table for Eucharist ceremonies.
“The mosaic was located in a large residential structure rather than a formal church. In the third century, churches did not yet exist and Christians were often persecuted. The room with the mosaic likely served as a private prayer space, similar to regional ‘domus ecclesiae,’ such as the House of Peter in Capernaum. The Akeptous inscription confirms the site predates the Byzantine era. Early Christian worship here used tables rather than altars, and remnants of a table were found between the mosaics. The floor features geometric designs and the Christian fish symbol, with no crosses present.”site.
'LADY OF THE GALILEE' MOSAIC
3th Century AD Zippori/Sepphoris
“Zippori was a major Roman and Byzantine city in Lower Galilee and an important Jewish center during the Byzantine period. Its colonnaded streets reflect Greco-Roman influence, and the presence of both synagogues and churches indicates that Jews and Christians lived side by side. The city’s wealth is evident in its architecture and richly decorated mosaic floors. Among its most famous discoveries is the ‘Mona Lisa of the Galilee,’ a central mosaic panel in the banquet hall of the Dionysus House, depicting a beautiful woman amid mythological scenes of Dionysus. The villa, built in the 3rd century on a hill east of the fortress, was destroyed by the earthquake of 363 CE, which affected much of the Galilee and surrounding regions.”
LOD MOSAICAIC
300 AD - LOD, ISRAEL
The Magnificent Lod Mosaic is a mosaic floor dated to ca. 300 CE discovered in 1996 in the Israeli town of Lod. Believed to have been created for a private villa, it is one of the largest (180 m²) and best-preserved mosaic floors uncovered in the country. It depicts land animals, fish and two Roman ships.
Photo: public domain
MOSAIC OF TIRAT ZVI
4th-6th century AD - Tirat Zvi
Tirat Zvi (meaning Zvi fortress) is a religious kibbutz in the Beit She'an Valley near ruins of a late roman-Byzantine era synagogue. The synagogue has a beautiful menorah mosaic.
Photo: Ariel Manor/אריאל מנור
HUQOQ SYNAGOGUE
4th - 6th century AD
In Huqoq in Israel’s lower eastern Galilee the remains of a Late Roman or Byzantine synagogue can be found. The Synagogue contains extraordinary mosaics like images of Jonah, biblical judge Samson and other biblical themes. Although archaeologists have found mosaics in three other synagogues in this area of the Galilee, the example from Huqoq is unprecedented. It’s the earliest securely identified image of Samson in a synagogue in Israel. Samson was popular among Jews and Christians and often mentioned in both Rabbinic literature and in the texts of the early Church Fathers. Fascinating is the mosaic that possibly depicts Alexander the Great meeting the high priest of Jerusalem!
Photo by: Alon Feltzor
Also important are two female faces and an inscription, found on a mosaic by archaeologist and art historian Karen Britt and described by Jodi Magness in “Samson in the Synagogue”. Karen Britt suggests the women might be personifications of the seasons or female donors to the synagogue, as indicated by their placement on either side of the inscription, which refers to rewards for good deeds.
Photo: Jim Haberman
HAMMAT TIBERIAS SYNAGOGUE
4th Century AD - Tiberias
One of the finest ancient mosaic floors in Israel can be found in Hammat Tiberias. The extraordinary mosaic floor of a 4th-century synagogue, which bears the name of the town of Tiberias, is highly colorful and a wonderful workmanship. The mosiacs show Greek and Aramaic inscriptions, geometrics and the specific Jewish symbols like the seven branched menorah, sjofar, lulav and Torah scrolls. (See also Ancient Synagogues)
KHIRBET SAMARAH SYNAGOGUE MOSAIC
4th century AD
Synagogue mosaic floor depicting a temple facade with a Torah ark. The khirbet Samarah synagogue is a Samaritan Synagogue located near modern day Nablus. It was constructed in the fourth century AD. Outside the synagogue was a mikveh and inside the Khirbet Samara synagogue, a beautiful mosaic was found. Unfortunately only this exquisitely crafted mosaic floor remains. It is adorned with ornamental frames, plants, fruits, jugs, cups, a candelabrum, empty bird cages and a Torah shrine are depicted. The Khirbet Samara mosaics does not depict animals or humans. The Samaritans strictly interpreted the Second Commandment’s proscription of images. The only exception is the appearance in some late drawings of the cherubim (rendered like birds) in the Tabernacle. This contrasts to contemporaneous Jewish synagogue mosaics, which depict not only animals and humans, but even Greek mythological figures such as the sun god Helios. This representation would have been abhorrent to the Samaritans. More information on the differences between Jewish and Samaritan synagogues can be found in this article.
Photo: Praisethelorne
ZIPPORI MOSAIC WITH ZODIAC
5th Century AD - Zippori/Sepphoris
The Zodiac Mosaic in a synagogue Zippori (Sepphoris in Roman Time). There are seven ancient synagogues in Israel with mosaics of the Zodiac (Beth Shean, Hammat-Tiberias, Yafia, Beit Alpha, Husifa, Na'aran, Khirbet Susiya). Included in the Mosaic are biblical scenes that occured on earth such as the binding of Isaac, the consecration of Aaron and the daily sacrifice. On another side the throne of God is portrayed. Based on numismatic evidence, the synagogue appears to have been built in the first half of the fifth century. The Bimah (raised platform where the Torah is read) was located in the western wall and was not oriented towards Jerusalem as in other synagogues of that era. (See also Ancient Synagogues)
Photo by: Dr. Avishai Teicher
BEIT ALPHA SYNAGOGUE MOSAIC
5th-6th Century AD - Beit Alpha
The Synagogue originally stood in a Jewish village and is dated around the 5th or 6th century AD ( Byzantine Periode). The 1500 year old mosiacs have been well preserved. The beautiful mosaic floor is illustrating a Zodiac, the Ark, and the binding of Isaac. (See also Ancient Synagogues)
BEIT SHEAN MOSAIC
Mosaic from 5th-7th century synagogue in northern Beit Shean, possibly Samaritan. The mosaic can now be seen in the Israel Museum.
Photo : DavidBena
HOUSE OF LEONTIS
Odysseus and the Nile Mosaic floor from "The House of Leontis" in Beth Shean, 6th century AD. This mosaic was found in a private house in Beit She'an instead of a synagogue or church. It combines classical themes (pagan) influences with Jewish art.
Photo: Yair Haklai
SUSYA SYNAGOGUE MOSAIC
4th-5th century AD - Susya near Hebron
An Hebrew inscription in a mosaic from an ancient Synagogue in Susya, an ancient Jewish village in Har Hebron. The mosaic reads: "May he be remembered for good, the holy one of my lord [and] my rabbi, the honorable Issi ha-Kohen the son of the Rabbi, who made this mosaic and plastered its walls with lime, how that he willingly contributed [of his fortune] in the supper of his son, Rabbi Yohanan ha-Kohen the scribe, the son of the Rabbi. May peace be upon Israel. Amen."
Photo by : Dafna Tal
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HORVAT MIDRAS
5th - 7th century AD - Horvat Midras
Khirbet Midras in the Judean Hills dates to the 10th century BC until the 4th century AD. Excavations have revealed a Byzantine era church, burial caves and tunnels used by rebels during the Bar Kochba revolt, a columbarium cave and a unique burial pyramid. The small Byzantine basilica has exquisitely decorated mosaic floors and is believed to have been active between the 5th and 7th centuries AD.
Photo: Zeevveez:
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ARMENIAN MOSAIC
6th century - Jerusalem
The 6th Century Armenian mosaic inscription is from the Old city of Jerusalem (Musrara quarter, north of the Damascus Gate). It is one of the significant Armenian inscriptions from Israel that was redicovered at the end of the 19th century.
Photo by Dickran Kouymjian, Wikimedia
HAMAT GADER MOSAIC
5th - 8th Century
This beautiful mosaic was part of the Synagogue floor in Hamat Gader and is now displayed in the main entrance of the Supreme Court in Jerusalem. The mosaic, which is estimated to date from the beginning of the 5th century, The mosaic is decorated with two lions and two cypress trees, three rare inscriptions in Aramaic stating the names of the donors to the building of the Synagogue.
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Photo: wikimedia commons: Olevy
BYZANTINE CHURCH MOSAICS
NAHARIA
6th Century AD - Nahariya
In the heart of the city of Nahariya, hides a Byzantine church whose mosaic floor remains intact and the decorations are among the most beautiful found in the churches of the Galilee. The birth of the church in the Christian settlement in the Western Galilee in the 6th century AD, on the road between Antioch and Acre, a road paved by Nairon Caesar. The church is of a large basilica type with three apse and an impressive 28 meters long in the large and complete mosaic floor and the spectacular decorations along with the interesting fact that it is built on a slope from west to east.
Photo made and edited by: David Mossari, Elad Hershkovitz, Lazar Nahariya
MASS BURIAL GRAVE MOSIAC
7th century AD - Possibly related to Persian destruction of 614 AD
The Mamilla cemetery in Jerusalem was in use from the eighth–seventh centuries BCE through the Byzantine period. Among its burial caves, one was exceptional in both form and contents, containing large accumulations of human bones. In front of the cave stood a small chapel with painted plaster walls, including traces of a fresco depicting an angel with outstretched hands. The mosaic floor was decorated with three crosses and a four-line Greek inscription reading: ‘for the salvation and redemption of those known only to God.’ Excavation of the cave revealed hundreds of skeletons. Anthropological analysis showed a predominance of relatively young individuals, with women outnumbering men, suggesting death by a sudden and violent event. Associated finds included cross-shaped pendants, candlestick lamps, and approximately 130 coins, the latest a gold issue of Emperor Phocas (602–610 CE). These findings identify the burial as Christian and date it to the early seventh century, likely connected to the Persian conquest of Jerusalem. The cave’s location near Jaffa Gate corresponds with a site described by Strategius as a place where Christians were massacred during the invasion.
ISLAMIC MOSAICS OF HISHAMS PALACE
8th century - Jericho
Mosaic art in Israel cannot do without an example of the beautiful Islamic mosaic art. The Mosaic's of Hisham's palace are one of the largest floor mosaics in the world. Restoration was recently completed and the fantastic mosaics are ready for visitors to admire. Hisham's palace (Khirbat al-Mafjar) is an important early Islamic archaeological site of the Umayyad dynasty. The palace as a so-called desert castle and it consists a bathroom complex, an audience hall, a pool, a mosque, gates, a fountain, and the palace. The mosaics are of an exceptional quality.
The Umayyad Calips Walid I build a large palace and mosque during the early 8th century on the shores of lake Galilee. The palace was decorated with beautiful carvings and mosaic's that can still be seen.
KHIRBET AL MINYA MOSAICS
Photo by: Boris Carmi
Photo by Tamar Hayardeni
CHURCH OF NATIVITY MOSAICS
Church of Nativity (Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Armenian Apostolic Church) - Betlehem.
RAMLA MOSAIC
9th Century CE - Ramla
“This 9th-century mihrab mosaic floor from Ramla depicts a prayer niche indicating the direction of Mecca. Executed in colored stone tesserae, it includes Kufic Arabic inscriptions including al-qibla and ‘and be not negligent’ (Qur’an 7:205), intended to encourage devotion and prayer. While the mihrab is the focal point of every mosque, symbolizing sacred space through the niche form—similar to apses in churches and Torah shrines in synagogues—this unique example comes from the floor of a private house. It likely marked a designated area for prayer and is the only known mihrab motif executed as a floor mosaic, recalling the visual language of early Islamic prayer rugs.”
AI-generated picture. Original in the Israel museum
MOSAICS OF FIRST CHURCH OF CONSTANTINE
The Church of Nativity in Bethlehem has beautiful floor mosaics which lie below the current church floor level. These ancient mosaics date back to when the church was built by the Roman emperor Constantine in the fourth century. They survived the destruction during the Samaritan revolt in 529 AD. The chuch was rebuild in 565 AD but only in 2016 these amazing mosiacs have been rediscovered. The mosiacs depict floral motifs, fruits like pomegranates, colourful geometric patterns but also a beautiful angel.
Photo: Britchi Michela
MEDIEVAL WALL MOSAICS
The recently restored beautiful mosaics were made by an artist named Basilius in the 12th century. By then, the church was already one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the Holy land. The mosaics portrays saints, patriarchs and Jesus, Joseph and Mary and the 12 apostles.
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MONASTERY OF THE CROSS MOSAIC FLOOR
11th century AD - Jerusalem
The Monastery of the Holy Cross (see also Important Monasteries), built in the 5th-6th cent. A.D. but destroyed by the Persians in 614 AD. It was rebuilt by a Georgian King in the 11th century. Since then, it has been ransacked many times but never destroyed. A beautiful mosaic floor and wall paintings of high qualty are preserved in it. Formerly Armenian Orthodox, the monastery is currently occupied by monks of the Jerusalem Patriarchate of the Greek orthodox church.
Photo by : Bukvoed
MOSAIC OF CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS
12th Century AD- Jerusalem
Station 11 of the Via Dolorosa ('Way of the cross') is where Jesus was nailed to the cross. This can bee seen in the beautiful 12th century mosaic inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, It is in the Franciscan Chapel of the Nailing of the Cross. In the Roman era some crucifixion victims were attached to the cross by rope and some were nailed. The surrounding mosaics date from the 20th Century (and were made by Antonio Barluzzi).
Photo by :Fallaner
DOME OF THE ROCK: OTTOMAN TILEWORK
1843 - Jerusalem
Under Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem was extensively restored between 1545 and 1566, replacing its original Umayyad mosaics with Ottoman tilework—a rare example of such decoration on a building’s exterior. The project used diverse techniques like cuerda seca and underglaze painting, and was likely carried out locally, despite the region's lack of a ceramic tradition. A craftsman named Abdallah of Tabriz is mentioned, suggesting influence from Persian artisans. This restoration reinforced Jerusalem’s religious importance and influenced the growing Ottoman use of Iznik tiles in imperial architecture.
Beautiful Ottoman Tilework on the Dome of the Rock. Photo: Andrew Shiva (wikimedia)
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ARMENIAN DEDICATION TILE
1843 - Jerusalem
The Louvre houses many fascinating artefacts related to Jerusalem. A cladding tile from 1843 with an Armenian inscription dedicated to Saint Agop (Saint Jacob/Saint James) can be found (see link below).
Example of the beautiful Armenian art of ornamental tiling. Photo by Lantuszka (Wikimedia)
MOSAIC NEAR TOMB OF SAINT GEORGE
1893 - Lod
St. George, the most important soldier-saint in the Christian tradition, was born in Lod (Lydda). His remains are kept in the crypt of the Greek-Orthodox church. The church was first constructed in the Byzantine period, rebuilt by the Crusaders, and rebuilt during the late Ottoman period. St George was born and lived in the 3rd century AD in the city of Lod (Lydda). George, an early Christian, served as a Roman tribune and died in Asia Minor in 303. According to one of the legends, George was a victim of the last and most severe of persecutions of the Christians in the Roman empire. Diocletian ( Caesar 284-305) issued an edict in 303 AD, instructing that all Christians should be purged from the Roman Army. During the army’s roll call in the city he was stationed, Nikomedia, the edict was announced, and George – who until then secretly practiced Christian faith – tore up the letter. This revealed his secret, and the court sentenced him to death.
Photo: AnonymousAnonymous27
JOHN THE BAPTIST MOSIAC
1910 AD - Church of Dormition
John the Baptist mosaic in Church of the Dormition
Photo: Deror Avi (Wikimedia C.)
CHURCH OF ALL NATIONS MOSAICS
4th & 20th century mosaics - Jerusalem
ORIGINAL FLOOR MOSAICS
4th Century AD
The Church of All Nations, standing near the foot of the Mount Olives in Jerusalem is built over the rock on which Jesus is believed to have prayed in agony the night before he was crucified. 4th Century floor mosaics were found from the original Byzantine church. These are preserved under glass and can still be seen. The architect then decided to copy this 4th-century mosaic design in the floor of the modern church, to suggest a spiritual continuity throughout the ages of faith.
FACADE MOSAIC
1924 AD
Completed in 1924, it is the third church on the site. Its design blends the façade of a typically Roman basilica with a roof of 12 small domes that suggest an Eastern character. An important feature of the church is a mosaic at the top of the façade that is supported by Corinthian columns. In the gold mosaic, Christ is depicted as the connection between God and man and this richly-coloured triangular mosaic makes the church a Jerusalem landmark.
Photo: Xiquinhosilva
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CALVARY CHAPEL MOSAICS - CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE
1930 CE - Jerusalem
Some beautiful mosaics within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre were created in the 1930's by the Famous Italian architect Antonio Barluzzi. The arch leading into the chapel (that also has 12th century mosaics) is decorated with two Old testament verses in Latin. The first verse is from Isaiah 53:7 "He was led as a lamb to the slaughter" and shows the words Ovis (lamb) and Occisionem (slaughter). The second, including the words Dolores Nostros (our suffering) is from Isaiah 53:4 : "Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted." These two verses stress that the drama here arises not from victimization by some enemy but from voluntary self sacrifice. This is in accordance with the Nostra Aetate, the Vatican's declaration from 1965 on the relation of the Catholic Church with non-Christian religions, stating among other things that the Jews should not be condemned for their role in bringing about the death of Jesus.