Unearthing A Masterpiece at the Penn Museum

Dates:
February 10-May 19

Overview

One of the world’s largest and best-preserved ancient floor mosaics ever excavated lands in Philadelphia for the final stop on its American tour before it heads on to its permanent home in Israel.

Unearthing a Masterpiece: A Roman Mosaic from Lod, Israel will be spread over a gallery floor at the Penn Museum (University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology and Anthropology), taking up more than 300 square feet and inspiring audiences with its 2,000-year-old intricacy and splendor.

Discovered during the widening of a road in Israel in 1996, the spectacular mosaic floor is composed of seven panels that are symmetrically divided into two large “carpets.” The mosaic is believed to come from the home of a wealthy Roman living in the Eastern Roman Empire about at 300 CE.

The exhibition features three of the most complete and impressive panels depicting various animals including birds, fish, lions, tigers and more. Among the intriguing elements on display are the footprints of workers believed to have been involved in laying the floor nearly 1,700 years ago.

Click here for more details on the mosaic.

Hours and Tickets

The Penn Museum is open:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10am-5pm
Wednesday: 10am-8pm
Thursday-Sunday: 10am-5pm

Tickets to the Penn Museum are available online. Click the button below to purchase tickets online.