An 1,800-year-old Roman building was exposed this month during excavations at the walls around Jerusalem National Park in the City of David.
The 3,280-square-foot building is believed to have been part of a mansion of a wealthy individual. The center of the two-story structure features a large open courtyard surrounded by columns and galleries in between the rows.
“We know of no other buildings in Israel from the Roman period which have a similar plan to that of the building from the City of David,” says Dr. Doron Ben-Ami, Excavation Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority. “This is truly one of the most remarkable archaeological discoveries in Israel in quite some time.”
A large quantity of fresco fragments with painted designs consisting of geometric and floral motifs were found in the collapsed ruins. Also, a marble figurine in the image of a boxer with a gold earring and 1,600-year-old coins were discovered on the floors of the building.
www.goisrael.com
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