Two ancient tombs, adorned with vibrant wall paintings and dating back nearly 2,000 years, will soon be accessible to the public in southern Israel, following extensive conservation efforts. The Israel Antiquities Authority made this announcement on Tuesday.
The tombs, initially unearthed by British archaeologists in the 1930s, were filled with sand and contained captivating wall paintings. These artworks depicted lively grape vines interwoven with images of birds, animals, and mythological figures. For almost a century, the tombs remained closed to the public to prevent damage to the delicate paintings.
As urban development advanced and new apartment complexes emerged in the vicinity, local officials opted to transform the ancient site into an educational park. This initiative included refurbishing the tombs to accommodate public tours.
Anat Rasiuk, an archaeologist with the Antiquities Authority, expressed awe at the preservation of the tomb’s paintings, despite the challenging conditions posed by proximity to the sea, including humidity, sand, and wind.
Located just a few hundred meters from the coastline, the tombs are believed to have served as resting places for Roman aristocrats around 1,700 years ago. This period marked Ashkelon’s prominence as a Roman city. The elaborate paintings adorning the vaulted ceilings and walls showcase nymphs adorned with lotus wreaths, birds, deer, children harvesting grapes, a figure playing Pan’s flute, and Greek mythological characters such as Demeter, the goddess of earth and grain. Also depicted is the head of Medusa, whose snake-like hair is a notable feature adapted into Roman mythology.
During the conservation process, experts relocated some of the plaster paintings off-site for restoration, while others were meticulously cleaned or touched up using pigments that matched the original paints. Additionally, another tomb from the 2nd century, discovered in the 1990s and also featuring vivid wall art, was transferred to the new park to ensure its preservation.
These ancient tombs will be available for public viewing within the new park during the Sukkot holiday in October. The park also boasts other archaeological finds from Ashkelon, including ancient sarcophaguses, wine presses, and olive presses, juxtaposed against the backdrop of modern apartment buildings.
Ashkelon, situated roughly 10 kilometers (6 miles) north of the Gaza Strip, is a city steeped in archaeological significance. Beyond its Roman heritage, it was once inhabited by the Philistines during the early Iron Age, about 3,000 years ago. Discoveries in Ashkelon’s ancient cemeteries have provided crucial DNA evidence suggesting that the Philistines possibly originated from Europe more than 4,000 years ago, a mystery that has long puzzled archaeologists.
The city has witnessed turmoil; it endured a barrage of rockets during the initial phase of the Gaza conflict. Furthermore, in May, vessels involved in constructing a U.S.-built pier in Gaza, which ultimately proved unsuccessful, washed ashore on the Ashkelon coast amid severe weather conditions.
