Nestled among residential buildings in southern Israel, two Roman-era tombs filled with ornate and colorful paintings are being revealed to the public after archaeologists managed to preserve the ancient artwork. Visitors will soon be able to enter the underground tombs and, for the first time, appreciate representations of Greek mythological characters, plants and animals.
The tombs are at least 1,700 years old, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority. One was discovered at the site of the city of Ashkelon along the Mediterranean coast nearly a century ago, filled with sand. Archaeologists excavated to reveal a hall with four adjacent troughs. A figure of Demeter, the goddess of agriculture, covers part of the ceiling alongside images of nymphs holding jugs and children picking grapes.
The second tomb, even older, was moved from a nearby location. Its decoration includes human figures, birds and other images of the plant and animal world.
Mural paintings of this size are very rare due to the region’s humid climate, but the relatively closed structure protected them, the antiquities authority said.
The tombs were cleaned, the pigments in the painting colors were accentuated and the structures stabilized to allow visitors to enter, he said. The site will officially open during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot in October.
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This content was originally published in Roman-era tombs with lavish paintings revealed in southern Israel on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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