HS2 archaeologists discover Anglo-Saxon burial ground
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A stunning 1,300-square-foot mosaic has been uncovered in Syria, depicting scenes from the legendary Trojan War, in one of the rarest discoveries yet. The Trojan War was a significant conflict between the ancient Greeks and the people of Troy, present-day Turkey, 2,000 years ago. This mosaic is considered one of the “rarest- ever” found because of how well-preserved it has been. The artwork was dated back to the Roman era, approximately 1,600 years ago, and depicts soldiers carrying swords and shields, along with their names. These soldiers battled the Amazons, a race of fierce female warriors, who fought alongside the people of Troy.
This mosaic is one the latest to have been discovered in Rastan in northern Syria’s Homs district, which was recaptured from rebels by the government in 2018 following years of bloodshed.
A year before losing the territory, armed groups attempted to sell pieces of the priceless mosaic by listing it on social media platforms.
Announcing the discovery on Wednesday, archaeologists said that they have so far uncovered 65 feet of the detailed mosaic in what may have been the floor of an ancient bathhouse.
Dr Humam Saad, the associate director of excavation and archaeological research at the directorate, said that more investigation needs to be carried to out into the large artwork.
He observed that among the scenes the mosaic depicts is a rare portrayal of ancient Amazon warriors who fought alongside the people of Troy.
He told the AP: “What is in front of us is a discovery that is rare on a global scale,” adding that the images they found were “rich in details”, and depicted scenes from the Trojan War between the Greeks and Trojans.
The Amazons, a race of women warriors, were believed to have fought alongside Troy in the war and were believed to have lived in the region of modern-day Ukraine.
Among the Amazons, two of the best-known queens were Penthesilea, who took part in the Trojan War, and her sister Hippolyta, who found and died at the hands of Hercules during one of his 12 labours.
The mosaic also portrays Neptune, the ancient Roman god of the sea, and 40 of his mistresses, and is regarded as the most important archaeological discovery in Syria since the conflict began in the region 11 years ago.
The 4th-century property was bought by Lebanese and Syrian businessmen from the neighbouring country’s Nabu Museum, who donated it to the Syrian state.
Dr Saad continued: “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.” Each of the panels was filled with square-shaped, small colourful stones that measured about half an inch on each side.
Sulaf Fawakherji, a famous actress in Syria and a member of the Nabu Museum’s board of trustees said: “There are other buildings, and it’s clear that the mosaic extends far wider. Rastan historically is an important city, and it could possibly be a very important heritage city for tourism.”
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Despite the town’s historical significance, Dr Saad noted that armed conflict in the region made excavation difficult.
According to Greek myth, the Trojan War took place when the city was attacked by the Greeks after Paris of Troy took Helen from her husband Menelaus, king of Sparta.
The decade-long war is regarded as a pivotal moment in Greek mythology, and most classically was narrated through Homer’s Iliad, the core of which described a period of four days and two nights.
Meanwhile, other parts of the war have been described in a number of epic poems, fragments of which have survived to illuminate us today. Stories from this war have provided storytellers with enough material to last centuries, and were retold by Roman poets like Virgil and Ovid.
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