The Mosaic Center in Lod
After traveling around the world and returning to Israel, the Mosaic Center was launched in collaboration with the Israel Antiquities Authority, the Lod Municipality, the Lod Economic Company, and donors Shelby White and Leon Levy.
After years of “touring” the world's most important museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Louvre in Paris, the Altes Museum in Berlin, the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, and more, the spectacular Lod Mosaic – one of the most beautiful ever discovered in Israel and the world – served as the floor of the reception hall of a villa that was part of a neighborhood of wealthy homes in Lod during the Roman and Byzantine periods. It is approximately 17 meters long and 9 meters wide and consists of colorful panels depicting mammals, birds, fish, plants, and even boats in great detail. Its design is influenced by North African mosaics. It is interesting to note that, unlike other mosaics from the same period, there are no depictions of human beings. During the construction of the Mosaic Center, the Israel Antiquities Authority uncovered another colorful mosaic, which was part of the villa's courtyard, and it was also incorporated into the center and is part of the visitor experience.
The Mosaic in Lod was discovered in 1996 by the late archaeologist Miriam Avishar of the Israel Antiquities Authority during an archaeological excavation prior to the expansion of Halutz Street in the city. The Mosaic dates back to the Roman period, late 3rd or early 4th Century CE. Due to a lack of funds for the preservation and development of the site for display, the Mosaic was covered at the end of the excavation. That is, until 2009, when the Israel Antiquities Authority, with the generous support of the Leon Levy Foundation and Shelby White, found the budget to uncover it again, preserve it, and finally return it to the site as an archaeological center open to the public.
The Mosaic is now on display to the general public, allowing visitors to view and experience it from different angles, learn about the history and archaeology of Lod and the preservation of the mosaic, and admire its unique beauty. The Mosaic Center seeks to connect residents to the important cultural heritage of their city. This is a unique project, presenting a world-class find in its original location, within a modern structure that respects and connects with the villa that once stood there.
The visitor center is located in the northeast of Lod, near the entrance to the Givaton Intersection. This junction is easily accessible from Ben Gurion Airport and two of the country's main highways, Route 1 and Route 6. The site's location near national traffic arteries allows for excellent accessibility and makes it a site of national interest.
The new Mosaic Center is a dignified building and an impressive entrance to the city, connecting visitors to a tourist route that includes spectacular historical sites that are undergoing restoration and preservation as part of the development of the Old City, including Khan al-Hilu, the Adaraba Museum of the History of the Talmudic Scholars (Tannaim,) the House of Arches, and more.