The Syrian directorate of antiquities announced on Wednesday the discovery of a rare mosaic panel that experts say dates back to the Roman era in Homs province, an area previously held by the opposition forces.
Syrian state news agency SANA reported that the large mosaic panel had been unearthed in the city of al-Rastan, adding that “the panel has no parallel in the world”.
The director of excavation studies and the archaeological mission in al-Rastan, Humam Saad, told DPA that the discovery actually took place in 2018, but that due to the control of opposition forces the mosaic could not be uncovered. Following the return of Bashar Assad’s regime forces archaeologists were allowed to reveal the mosaic with a length of 20 metres and a width of 6 metres. Archaeologists believe that more remains are to be found under the mosaic.
The find features two main scenes. One depicts soldiers carrying swords and shields are seen with the names of Greek leaders who took part in the Trojan War. The mosaic also portrays Neptune, Ancient Roman god of the sea, and 40 of his mistresses.
“It is not the oldest of its kind, but it’s the most complete and the rarest,” Saad said. “We have no similar mosaic.”
“What is in front of us is a discovery that is rare on a global scale,” Saad told the Associated Press, adding that the images are “rich in details, and includes scenes from the Trojan War between the Greeks and Trojans”.
In Ancient Greek and Roman mythology, demigod hero Hercules slayed Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons, in one of his 12 labours.
“We can’t identify the type of the building, whether it’s a public bathhouse or something else, because we have not finished excavating yet,” Saad told the AP.
Despite Rastan’s historical significance in the country, Saad says there have not been significant excavation efforts in the town prior to the country’s armed conflict.
“Unfortunately, there were armed groups that tried to sell the mosaic at one point in 2017 and listed it on social media platforms,” he added.