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View of the Orpheus Mosaic that was in the dining room of a large mansion. In the center of the mosaic is Orpheus playing his harp in the presence of animals. In the lower portion are three panels that depict villa life. The plain white and black areas are where couches were located upon which the dinners would recline.
This is one of the larger houses (55 x 92 feet) that was located in the Lower Eastern city of Sepphoris. It was built in the third century and destroyed by an earthquake in AD 363. It was rebuilt with plainer mosaics and eventually, a church was built over the structure.
The mosaic in the dining room (triclinium) of the first house is of special interest. It features Orpheus, the mythological musician who was famous for charming anything or anyone who would listen to him: people, animals, trees, and even rocks!
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem excavated the house in 1995, and after restoration, the mosaic was placed on display in 2005.
