Visitors to Southern Israel can now admire one of the most elaborate Byzantine mosaics ever discovered in the country. Soon after it was unearthed in 1990 at the site of Khirbet Beer Shema, about 15 miles west of Beer Sheva, the mosaic pavement was quickly reburied to protect it from the elements. Now, after extensive conservation, the re-excavated mosaic has been relocated to a nearby archaeological park for public display. The mosaic originally adorned the central nave of a sixth-century basilica church dedicated to St. Stephen, traditionally identified as the first Christian martyr (Acts 7:54–60). The church was part of […]
