Late-antique monastery and inscribed mosaic excavated near Kiryat Gat

ARCHAEOLOGY: Byzantine-era monastery mosaic discovered in southern Israel. “Blessed are you when you come in and blessed are you when you go out” (Deuteronomy 28:6), is inscribed in ancient Greek on the mosaic floor (JNS).

The monastery’s colorful mosaic floor features crosses, lions, doves, an amphora (a ceramic maritime shipping jug), flowers and geometric patterns. The biblical inscription in Greek is set in its center.

The article has photos and a link to an IAA YouTube video.

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