Mosaics from Huqoq and a new Pompeii fresco

DECORATIVE ART: Newly revealed 5th century mosaics a kaleidoscope of Jewish and secular imagery. Archaeologist Jodi Magness started to excavate the Galilean village of Huqoq to put to rest a decades-old academic debate. Then she found mosaics and the site just keeps on giving (Amanda Borschel-Dan, Times of Israel). This article covers the Huqoq mosaics, but also discusses the Huqoq excavation more generally. An interview with Prof. Jodi Magness, the chief excavator, gives the background on how and why she chose the site.

Background on the Huqoq excavation and its mosaics is here and many links.

And since we also like to keep track of the archaeology of Pompeii, let's note that a new mythologicaly-themed fresco has just been discovered there: Sensual fresco of queen and swan discovered in ancient Pompeii bedroom. Archaeologists say the figure of Leda being impregnated by Jupiter in bird form was a fairly common home decoration theme in town destroyed by Mount Vesuvius eruption in A.D. 79 (AP).

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