Israel Nature and Parks Authority Repairs 1,500-Year-Old Beit Alfa Mosaic
Twenty specialists completed a one-day stabilization and cleaning operation on the ancient synagogue floor to protect the Byzantine-era artwork.
By Vikram Harrison ·
Twenty conservation specialists from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority completed a one-day operation earlier this week to preserve the 1,500-year-old mosaic floor of an ancient synagogue in northern Israel.
The team, led by the INPA Archaeology and Heritage Division, worked at Beit Alfa National Park. They cleaned the surface, stabilized loose stones, and reinforced vulnerable areas in a task that would normally require several days. The specialists refilled gaps between the stones with binding materials compatible with the original construction, a technique known as repointing.
The INPA documented the condition of the mosaic before and after the work. This record supports ongoing monitoring and planning for future maintenance of the site.
The synagogue dates to the end of the fifth century CE during the Byzantine period. The structure includes a courtyard, a corridor, a rectangular main hall containing the mosaic, a second-story balcony, and an additional room. An Aramaic inscription on the floor, though partially missing on the right, indicates the work was laid during the reign of Justinian I, who ruled from 527 to 565.
A separate Greek inscription names the artists, Marianus and his son Hanina. Their workshop is believed to have been located in Beit She'an, where the pair are also named in local inscriptions.
The floor consists of three colorful panels. The first depicts the Ark of the Covenant, topped by a pediment with a shell motif and birds. Seven-branched menorahs flank the ark, accompanied by a shofar, a fire pan, an etrog, a lulav, and two lions. The second panel shows the twelve signs of the zodiac in Hebrew, surrounding the Greek sun god Helios driving his chariot. Four female figures at the corners of the frame represent the seasons. The third panel illustrates the Binding of Isaac, showing Abraham holding a knife over his son, both identified by Hebrew names. A hand and the biblical command to Abraham appear above them.
Professor Eleazar Lipa Sukenik of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem uncovered the mosaic in 1928. Sukenik was an early recognizer of the importance of the Dead Sea Scrolls and aided the Israeli government in purchasing them. His son, Yigael Yadin, later served as the second chief of staff of the IDF and conducted archaeological work at Masada, Tel Megiddo, and other sites.
Orit Bortnik, director of the INPA Archaeology and Heritage Division, stated that the mosaic contains more than 800,000 tiny stones laid side by side approximately 1,500 years ago. She described the conservation operation as an example of dedicated professionals working together to preserve heritage for future generations.
