Mosaic Floor of 1,500-year-old 'Boutique Hotel' Found in Jerusalem
Christian pilgrims flocked to 6th-century Jerusalem, especially to giant Nea Church built by Abbot Constantine during Emperor Justinian's religious reforms
Cleaning the mosaic found in what seems to be a pilgrim's hotel in Jerusalem. The mosaic mentions both the Emperor Justinian and Abbot Constantine
Tomb of unknown saint found in Israel, archaeologists deduce
Were there Jewish Temples on Temple Mount? Yes
Ancient Romans, Jews invented trash collection, archaeology of Jerusalem hints
Roman legion camp from 2nd century C.E. found at Megiddo
While digging to lay a cable network by the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem's Old City, workers uncovered an intact mosaic with Greek writing on what seems to have been the floor of an ancient version of a boutique hotel 1,500 years ago.
The writing reads: "In the time of our most pious emperor Flavius Justinian, also this entire building Constantine the most God-loving priest and abbot, established and raised, in the 14th indiction," according to Leah Di Segni, of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, an expert on ancient Greek inscriptions.
Inside the Hagia Sophia, which Emperor Justinian also had built, starting in the very first year of his reign, in Istanbul, Turkey. Murad Sezer, AP
"'Indiction' is an ancient method of counting years, for taxation purposes. Based on historical sources, the mosaic can be dated to the year 550 or 551 C.E.," Di Segni says.
Both she and David Gellman, the director of the excavation on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority believe the mosaic decorated the floor of what had probably been a hotel for pilgrims flocking to Jerusalem as Christianity took hold of the Eastern Roman Empire, which became known as the Byzantine Empire.
Under Emperor Flavius Justinian (482-565), the Byzantine Empire reached new heights – and completed its conversion from paganism to Christianity. In the year 543 C.E. Justinian had a vast, architecturally elaborate church built on Mount Zion. Dedicated to Mary, mother of Jesus, it was called the New Church of the Theotokos, or, the Nea Church. (Where Jesus walked: Churches in Jerusalem)
'In the time of our most pious emperor Flavius Justinian, also this entire building Constantine the most God-loving priest and abbot, established and raised, in the 14th indiction'
The Nea was the biggest church in Jerusalem and one of the largest in the entire empire, and reportedly included a hospital, monastery and accommodation. Its abbot was Constantine, which explains why he and the emperor were mentioned in the inscription.
Mosaic mentioning Emperor Justinian found by Damascus Gate Assaf Peretz, IAA
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The Nea Church was considered so important that it even appears on the famous 6th-century mosaic Madaba Map of ancient Jerusalem (in the upper right corner of the city).
The Nea Church was badly damaged by the Persian invasion of Jerusalem in the year 614. Its remains – at least, the stones that hadn't been re-purposed over the ages - were partially excavated in 1970, during archaeological exploration of the ancient Jewish quarter after the Six Day War in 1967.
In one sense, finding the extraordinary mosaic by Damascus Gate was little surprise, say the archaeologists. For centuries, Damascus Gate had been the main northern entry point to Jerusalem, so it would naturally brim with archaeological remains, Gellman explains. "In the Byzantine period, with the emergence of Christianity, churches, monasteries and hostels for pilgrims were built in the area north of the gate, and the area became one of the most important and active areas of the city," he says.
Excavating the New Church of the Theotokos, also known as The Nea Church Avi Deror
"The fact that the inscription survived is an archaeological miracle," Gellman adds. The archaeological remains in that area had been severely damaged by infrastructure groundwork over decades, he explains. "We were about to close the excavation when all of a sudden, a corner of the mosaic inscription peeked out between the pipes and cables. Amazingly, it had not been damaged."
An inscription previously found in the vaults of the Nea Church also mentions both Constantine and the Emperor Justinian.
Santa Katarina or Saint Catherine's Monastery, in the Sinai, also built by Emperor Justinian Hussein Talal, AP
Justinian would reign from 527 C.E. to 565 C.E., during which time he would become famous for his judicial reforms, many of which seem strikingly modern, including protection for prostitutes, and for wives against extravagant husbands. The Nea Church in Jerusalem was far from his only architectural achievement: Justinian is also credited with building Saint Catherine's Monastery in the Sinai, in his very first year of rule, to encompass the chapel of the Burning Bush. Today the site is Greek Orthodox and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sketch of the text of the 6th-century mosaic found by Damascus Gate Assaf Peretz, IAA
And, Justinian is credited with the erection of the magnificent Hagia Sophia basilica in Istanbul. Built on the ruins of previous churches, the Hagia Sophia would be converted into a mosque in 1453, then into the museum it is today in 1935.
Ruth Schuster
Haaretz Correspondent
Mosaic
Cleaning the mosaic found in what seems to be a pilgrim's hotel in Jerusalem. The mosaic
mentions both the Emperor Justinian and Abbot Constantine.
Tomb of unknown saint found in Israel, archaeologists deduce
Were there Jewish Temples on Temple Mount? Yes
Ancient Romans, Jews invented trash collection, archaeology of Jerusalem hints
Roman legion camp from 2nd century C.E. found at Megiddo
Mosaic Floor of 1,500-year-old 'Boutique Hotel' Found in Jerusalem
Christian pilgrims flocked to 6th-century Jerusalem, especially to giant Nea Church built by Abbot Constantine during Emperor Justinian's religious reforms
Tomb of unknown saint found in Israel, archaeologists deduce
Were there Jewish Temples on Temple Mount? Yes
Ancient Romans, Jews invented trash collection, archaeology of Jerusalem hints
Roman legion camp from 2nd century C.E. found at Megiddo
While digging to lay a cable network by the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem's Old City, workers uncovered an intact mosaic with Greek writing on what seems to have been the floor of an ancient version of a boutique hotel 1,500 years ago.
The writing reads: "In the time of our most pious emperor Flavius Justinian, also this entire building Constantine the most God-loving priest and abbot, established and raised, in the 14th indiction," according to Leah Di Segni, of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, an expert on ancient Greek inscriptions.
Inside the Hagia Sophia, which Emperor Justinian also had built, starting in the very first year of his reign, in Istanbul, Turkey. Murad Sezer, AP
"'Indiction' is an ancient method of counting years, for taxation purposes. Based on historical sources, the mosaic can be dated to the year 550 or 551 C.E.," Di Segni says.
Both she and David Gellman, the director of the excavation on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority believe the mosaic decorated the floor of what had probably been a hotel for pilgrims flocking to Jerusalem as Christianity took hold of the Eastern Roman Empire, which became known as the Byzantine Empire.
Under Emperor Flavius Justinian (482-565), the Byzantine Empire reached new heights – and completed its conversion from paganism to Christianity. In the year 543 C.E. Justinian had a vast, architecturally elaborate church built on Mount Zion. Dedicated to Mary, mother of Jesus, it was called the New Church of the Theotokos, or, the Nea Church. (Where Jesus walked: Churches in Jerusalem)
'In the time of our most pious emperor Flavius Justinian, also this entire building Constantine the most God-loving priest and abbot, established and raised, in the 14th indiction'
'In the time of our most pious emperor Flavius Justinian, also this entire building Constantine the most God-loving priest and abbot, established and raised, in the 14th indiction'
The Nea was the biggest church in Jerusalem and one of the largest in the entire empire, and reportedly included a hospital, monastery and accommodation. Its abbot was Constantine, which explains why he and the emperor were mentioned in the inscription.
Mosaic mentioning Emperor Justinian found by Damascus Gate Assaf Peretz, IAA
It turns out there's a reason why so many people rage-quit the old classics like Metroid and Mega Man.
The Nea Church was considered so important that it even appears on the famous 6th-century mosaic Madaba Map of ancient Jerusalem (in the upper right corner of the city).
The Nea Church was badly damaged by the Persian invasion of Jerusalem in the year 614. Its remains – at least, the stones that hadn't been repurposed over the ages - were partially excavated in 1970, during archaeological exploration of the ancient Jewish quarter after the Six Day War in 1967.
In one sense, finding the extraordinary mosaic by Damascus Gate was little surprise, say the archaeologists. For centuries, Damascus Gate had been the main northern entry point to Jerusalem, so it would naturally brim with archaeological remains, Gellman explains. "In the Byzantine period, with the emergence of Christianity, churches, monasteries and hostels for pilgrims were built in the area north of the gate, and the area became one of the most important and active areas of the city," he says.
Excavating the New Church of the Theotokos, also known as The Nea Church Avi Deror
Excavating the New Church of the Theotokos, also known as The Nea Church Avi Deror
"The fact that the inscription survived is an archaeological miracle," Gellman adds. The archaeological remains in that area had been severely damaged by infrastructure groundwork over decades, he explains. "We were about to close the excavation when all of a sudden, a corner of the mosaic inscription peeked out between the pipes and cables. Amazingly, it had not been damaged."
An inscription previously found in the vaults of the Nea Church also mentions both Constantine and the Emperor Justinian.
Santa Katarina or Saint Catherine's Monastery, in the Sinai, also built by Emperor Justinian Hussein Talal, AP
Justinian would reign from 527 C.E. to 565 C.E., during which time he would become famous for his judicial reforms, many of which seem strikingly modern, including protection for prostitutes, and for wives against extravagant husbands. The Nea Church in Jerusalem was far from his only architectural achievement: Justinian is also credited with building Saint Catherine's Monastery in the Sinai, in his very first year of rule, to encompass the chapel of the Burning Bush. Today the site is Greek Orthodox and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sketch of the text of the 6th-century mosaic found by Damascus Gate Assaf Peretz, IAA
And, Justinian is credited with the erection of the magnificent Hagia Sophia basilica in Istanbul. Built on the ruins of previous churches, the Hagia Sophia would be converted into a mosque in 1453, then into the museum it is today in 1935.
Ruth Schuster
Haaretz Correspondent
Inside the Hagia Sophia, which Emperor Justinian also had built, starting in the very first year of his reign, in Istanbul, Turkey. Murad Sezer, AP
read more: http://www.haaretz.com/
read more: http://www.haaretz.com/
Mosaic mentioning Emperor Justinian found by Damascus Gate Assaf Peretz, IAA
read more: http://www.haaretz.com/
Santa Katarina or Saint Catherine's Monastery, in the Sinai, also built by Emperor Justinian Hussein Talal, AP
read more: http://www.haaretz.com/
Sketch of the text of the 6th-century mosaic found by Damascus Gate Assaf Peretz, IAA
read more: http://www.haaretz.com/
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