Large Mosaic Detail

View looking down on a large, intricate mosaic floor that is in a section of the Western Herodian Palace on Masada.  Note the red border and the double rolling-wave design in black.  In the center was a circle with rosettes that was bordered by a vine design with fruit.

If you look carefully at the bottom and the right side of the image you can see remnants of the plaster base material with vertical lines in it—evidently these lines helped guide the artisans "lay the mosaic carpet!"

The mosaic is one of the earliest from the land of Israel—that is, it dates to the reign of Herod the Great (ca. 37–4 BC).

For a brief description of the Western Palace Click Here.