Mosaics of Tzippori

The town of Tzippori (Sepphoris) was located on the top of a chalk hill, in Lower Galilee, west of Nazareth. Following the Roman conquest, Tzippori was declared the capital of the Galilee by the Romans in 55 B.C.

Tzippori was a home to the Sanhedrin (highest judicial council of the ancient Jewish nation) in the first half of the 3rd century. The Sanhedrin, headed by Rabbi Yehudah Hanassi, moved here from Bet Shearim. The town has been diversely populated: Jews, Romans, later Christians, Crusaders, Arabs lived here.

Now Tzippori is a national park near an agricultural settlement. We saw a number of interesting archaeological remains there: Roman theatre (not as large as in Caesarea), a small Crusader citadel, network of streets and ruins of buildings. And really impressive are Roman and Byzantine mosaics. There is a reconstructed Roman villa, whose floor is covered with 3rd century well-preserved, colourful mosaic, which depicts scenes from Roman cults. There is a frame of medallions, one of which portrays a woman; this ancient portrait is dubbed "Mona Lisa of the Galilee".

Another fascinating mosaic floor is in the so-called "Nile mosaic building" (remains of a public building from Byzantine period). This work by 5th century artists depicts some hunting scenes, and Egyptians celebrating the high waters of Nile.

The recently unearthed water reservoirs, north of the town, are also very impressive (because of their size). The reservoirs were connected with the town by large aqueducts.