Board Game

Board Game

View of the left of three frames in the lower portion of the Orpheus mosaic that depicts two men playing a "board game"—possibly dice.


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!