Scientists find 1,500-year-old mosaic with Bible verse that ‘blesses all who read it’

Archaeologists have discovered a 1,500-year-old monastery near Israel with an intricate mosaic floor that features a Bible verse blessing all who read it.

At the center of the intricately designed floor there is an inscribed verse in ancient Greek that reads: “Blessed are you when you come in and blessed are you when you go out.” The discovery was made near the Israeli city of Kiryat Gat, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced Monday.

The monastery dates back to the fifth through sixth centuries CE, which was during the rule of the Byzantine empire. Those years saw the spread of Christianity and the construction of significant religious sites such as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, DailyMail.com reported.

“This is the largest and most significant Roman and Byzantine period site uncovered in this area,” excavation leaders Shira Lifshitz and Maayan Margulis said. The mosaic floor also features crosses, lions, doves, an amphora (a ceramic maritime shipping jug), flowers and geometric patterns- a first-of-its-kind discovery.

“The mosaic discovered in Kiryat Gat is one of the most unique ever found in Israel,” Mark Avrahami, head of artistic conservation at the IAA, said in the statement. It is so unique because of the incorporation of very small stones into its geometric pattern, which served to highlight the cross-shaped decorations, according to the researchers.

“‘Transferring mosaics is a complex process that requires great skill and precision,” Avrahami said, but the floor will soon be moved to the IAA’s mosaic workshop for preservation before being put on public display in the city of Kiryat Gat.

The dig also uncovered remains of at least ten buildings, a winepress and a large warehouse building. As well as a treasure trove of artifacts from the monastery and the surrounding site, including imported wares, coins, marble elements, and metal and glass vessels.

“The findings indicate a succession of settlement starting from the early Roman period (1st century CE) and through until the end of the Byzantine period (end of the 6th century CE),” the team said. The settlement is situated on a central road junction connecting the mountain region to the coastal plain, and apparently served the area’s smaller settlements as well as travelers passing by.

“The discovery of the site highlights the historical richness of Kiryat Gat and its surroundings, shedding light on the centrality of the region in antiquity,” Svetlana Talis, Director of the Southern Region at the Israel Antiquities Authority, said.

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