Lod Mosaic

Believed to have been created for a private villa, it is one of the largest (180 m2) and best-preserved mosaic floors uncovered in the country.

After an overseas tour of several years it opened in the purpose-built Shelby White and Leon Levy Lod Mosaic Archaeological Center in June 2022.

[6][7] The patterns depict birds, fish, animals and plants, in addition to providing detailed images of Roman-era ships.

They further suggest that it may have been commissioned as a kind of ex-voto, a thank offering in fulfillment of a vow made upon being delivered from grave danger, in this case, shipwreck.

Other maritime historians demur,[10] but Haddad and Avissar point to what appear to be torn ropes, a broken mast and damaged steering oars, together with the central placement of the damaged ship in the mosaic and the fact that it is apparently about to be swallowed by a giant fish as an artists representation of disaster at sea.