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Huqoq Mosaic

Mosaic of an inscription flanked by female faces, fifth century C.E. Excavated by the Huqoq Excavation Project. Photograph by Jim Haberman.

Excavations at the ancient site of Huqoq have uncovered portions of the synagogue’s mosaic floor, which contained biblical and possibly apocryphal scenes adorning the aisles. So far, these scenes have included portraits of female faces, a Hebrew inscription, depictions of Samson’s victories over the Philistines (the episodes of the foxes and the gate of Gaza from Judg 15-16), and a possible collage of martyr and battle scenes from 1-4 Maccabees.

Mosaic of Inscription with Faces

Dug up, often from an archaeological site.

A site where older artifacts are dug up or otherwise revealed.

A West Semitic language, in which most of the Hebrew Bible is written except for parts of Daniel and Ezra. Hebrew is regarded as the spoken language of ancient Israel but is largely replaced by Aramaic in the Persian period.

Artwork composed of small pieces of material—glass, stone, pottery—arranged in patterns or depicting persons and scenes.

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