In the Syrian city of Al-Rastan, in the province of Homs, a team of archaeologists has unearthed a magnificent mosaic dating back to Roman times and depicting the Trojan War, the sea god Neptune, along with 40 of his mistresses, as well as the demigod Hercules as he kills the Amazonian queen Hippolyta. Archaeologists say this is the first significant find in the area since the start of the long Syrian civil war in 2011.
The mosaic, which measures about 1,300 square feet, or 20 by 6 meters, is inlaid with colorful tiles, which Humam Saad, the associate director in charge of the excavation, described as “rich in detail.” “What we are looking at is a rare discovery on a global scale,” Saad told the Associated Press. “Since we have not yet finished the excavation, we cannot identify whether the mosaic was part of a public bath or another building.”
Despite Rastan’s historical importance as an ancient city dating back some 4,000 years, the area witnessed some of the worst conflicts during the Syrian civil war when it was used as a rebel stronghold before Syrian government forces recaptured it in 2018. “Unfortunately, at some point in 2017, some armed groups tried to sell the mosaic and put it up for sale on social media platforms,” Saad said.
The looting- if not outright destruction- of cultural heritage is a constant problem in Syria. In 2015, UNESCO warned of “looting on an industrial scale” by groups in areas where conflict devastated civilian populations, including Homs and Apamea, a city founded in 300 BC. The oasis city of Palmyra, located in south-central Syria and a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 2,000-year-old Roman-era colonnades, has been severely damaged by ISIS militants since the conquest of large parts of the country in 2015. With the latest discovery in Rastan, hopes are slowly being rekindled that Syria’s long-endangered antiquities and cultural heritage will finally be protected and cared for.
