(Israel Antiquities Authority) A monumental synagogue building dating to the Late Roman period (ca. 4th-5th centuries CE) has been discovered in archaeological excavations at the ancient Jewish village of Huqoq in Israel's Galilee. Excavations have revealed portions of a stunning mosaic floor with a scene depicting Samson placing torches between the tails of foxes (see Judges 15). In another scene, two human faces flank a circular medallion with a Hebrew inscription. "Only a small number of ancient synagogue buildings are decorated with mosaics showing biblical scenes, and only two others have scenes with Samson," said Prof. Jodi Magness of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
2012-07-03 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive