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6th Century Byzantine Mosaic Church Found West of Jerusalem

Published October 24th, 2019 - 06:34 GMT

The remains of a sixth-century Byzantine church dedicated to an unnamed "glorious martyr" with elaborate mosaics, a rare crypt and a large collection of lamps were unveiled in central Israel on Wednesday, AFP said.

The complex, which spans over a third of an acre, was found during salvage excavations ahead of the construction of a new neighbourhood for the city Bet Shemesh, west of Jerusalem, according to AFP.

The mosaics in the church depict themes from nature, such as leaves, birds and fruit, as well as geometrical elements, with imported capitals topping pillars, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority, which carried out the excavation.

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Timnah Goloubin (L), an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, shows on October 23, 2019 a mosaic church floor of an Eagle symbol of the Byzantine Empire in the Israeli town of Beit Shemesh. A magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp

Timnah Goloubin (L), an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, shows on October 23, 2019 a mosaic church floor of an Eagle symbol of the Byzantine Empire in the Israeli town of Beit Shemesh. A magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp

The magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp

The magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp

Timnah Goloubin, an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, shows on October 23 2019 the ancient church crypt in the Israeli town of Bet Shemesh. A magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp

Timnah Goloubin, an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, shows on October 23 2019 the ancient church crypt in the Israeli town of Bet Shemesh. A magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp

Binyamin Storchan (C), an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, shows on October 23 2019 an ancient church crypt in the Israeli city of Bet Shemesh. A magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp

Binyamin Storchan (C), an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, shows on October 23 2019 an ancient church crypt in the Israeli city of Bet Shemesh. A magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp

Timnah Goloubin, an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, shows on October 23, 2019 the ancient church crypt in the Israeli city of Bet Shemesh. A magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp

Timnah Goloubin, an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, shows on October 23, 2019 the ancient church crypt in the Israeli city of Bet Shemesh. A magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp

Timnah Goloubin (L), an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, shows on October 23, 2019 the ancient church crypt in the Israeli city of Bet Shemesh. A magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp

Timnah Goloubin (L), an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, shows on October 23, 2019 the ancient church crypt in the Israeli city of Bet Shemesh. A magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp

A general view of an ancient church in the Israeli town of Bet Shemesh on October 23, 2019. A magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp

A general view of an ancient church in the Israeli town of Bet Shemesh on October 23, 2019. A magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp

Timnah Goloubin (L), an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, shows on October 23, 2019 a mosaic inscription in ancient Greek mentioning a donation received from Emperor Tiberius II, in the Israeli town of Bet Shemesh. The magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp

Timnah Goloubin (L), an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, shows on October 23, 2019 a mosaic inscription in ancient Greek mentioning a donation received from Emperor Tiberius II, in the Israeli town of Bet Shemesh. The magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp

Timnah Goloubin (L), an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, shows on October 23, 2019 a mosaic church floor of an Eagle symbol of the Byzantine Empire in the Israeli town of Beit Shemesh. A magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp
The magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp
Timnah Goloubin, an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, shows on October 23 2019 the ancient church crypt in the Israeli town of Bet Shemesh. A magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp
Binyamin Storchan (C), an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, shows on October 23 2019 an ancient church crypt in the Israeli city of Bet Shemesh. A magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp
Timnah Goloubin, an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, shows on October 23, 2019 the ancient church crypt in the Israeli city of Bet Shemesh. A magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp
Timnah Goloubin (L), an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, shows on October 23, 2019 the ancient church crypt in the Israeli city of Bet Shemesh. A magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp
A general view of an ancient church in the Israeli town of Bet Shemesh on October 23, 2019. A magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp
Timnah Goloubin (L), an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, shows on October 23, 2019 a mosaic inscription in ancient Greek mentioning a donation received from Emperor Tiberius II, in the Israeli town of Bet Shemesh. The magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp
Timnah Goloubin (L), an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, shows on October 23, 2019 a mosaic church floor of an Eagle symbol of the Byzantine Empire in the Israeli town of Beit Shemesh. A magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp
Timnah Goloubin (L), an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, shows on October 23, 2019 a mosaic church floor of an Eagle symbol of the Byzantine Empire in the Israeli town of Beit Shemesh. A magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp
The magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp
The magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp
Timnah Goloubin, an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, shows on October 23 2019 the ancient church crypt in the Israeli town of Bet Shemesh. A magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp
Timnah Goloubin, an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, shows on October 23 2019 the ancient church crypt in the Israeli town of Bet Shemesh. A magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp
Binyamin Storchan (C), an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, shows on October 23 2019 an ancient church crypt in the Israeli city of Bet Shemesh. A magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp
Binyamin Storchan (C), an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, shows on October 23 2019 an ancient church crypt in the Israeli city of Bet Shemesh. A magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp
Timnah Goloubin, an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, shows on October 23, 2019 the ancient church crypt in the Israeli city of Bet Shemesh. A magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp
Timnah Goloubin, an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, shows on October 23, 2019 the ancient church crypt in the Israeli city of Bet Shemesh. A magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp
Timnah Goloubin (L), an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, shows on October 23, 2019 the ancient church crypt in the Israeli city of Bet Shemesh. A magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp
Timnah Goloubin (L), an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, shows on October 23, 2019 the ancient church crypt in the Israeli city of Bet Shemesh. A magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp
A general view of an ancient church in the Israeli town of Bet Shemesh on October 23, 2019. A magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp
A general view of an ancient church in the Israeli town of Bet Shemesh on October 23, 2019. A magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp
Timnah Goloubin (L), an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, shows on October 23, 2019 a mosaic inscription in ancient Greek mentioning a donation received from Emperor Tiberius II, in the Israeli town of Bet Shemesh. The magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp
Timnah Goloubin (L), an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, shows on October 23, 2019 a mosaic inscription in ancient Greek mentioning a donation received from Emperor Tiberius II, in the Israeli town of Bet Shemesh. The magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, was discovered during a three-year excavation near a residential area. MENAHEM KAHANA / afp

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