Orpheus

View of the central portion of the Orpheus mosaic.  Here we see Orpheus playing his harp in the presence of animals. Orpheus was the mythological musician who was famous for charming anything or anyone who would listen to him: people, animals, trees, and even rocks! The plain white and black areas on the sides are where couches were located upon which the dinners would recline.

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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 house was excavated by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1995, and after restoration, it was placed on display in 2005.