bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

sponsorType

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Agence France-Presse

The Israel Antiquities Authority announced on Tuesday it will open to the public two Roman-era tombs decorated with murals of mythological figures.
The tombs, which date back over 1,600 years and were discovered over half a century apart, are located near the port of Israel’s southern city of Ashkelon, nestled between a residential area and a public garden.
The first tomb, dating back to the 4th century, was discovered by a British expedition in the 1930s.
It is decorated with depictions of nymphs wearing lotus flower crowns, children playing the flute, and various birds and animals.

The second tomb, dating from the second century and used to bury several generations of an aristocratic family, was discovered in the 1990s by Israeli archaeologist Elena Kogan-Zehavi.
“You can only imagine the level of surprise that awaited me when, as a young archaeologist, I entered the structure, which was covered in a lot of rubbish,” Kogan-Zehavi told journalists during a visit to the site on Tuesday.
“Only eight painted tombs have been discovered so far” in Israel, she said.
Out of those, only the two in Ashkelon, which will open for group visits as of October, “are accessible to the public”, Kogan-Zehavi said.
Ashkelon boasts more than 3,000 years of history and “was a very important city” in Roman times, added the archaeologist.
The city’s mayor, Tomar Glam, said in a statement that “we are ... ensuring a place of honour for its glorious past”.


‘Open the gates of hell’: US and Israel present united front on Gaza and Iran

Israeli strike kills 3 Palestinian police officers in Gaza

Hezbollah demands Lebanon reverse ban on Iranian planes

China signals willingness to boost Israel ties despite strains from Gaza conflict

Israel

Israel to open Roman-era tombs to the public

A worker points to an ancient wall of the archeological tomb site in Ashkelon, Israel on Tuesday. Photo: AP

Archaeologist Elena Kogan Zehavi shows an ancient fresco inside one of two ancient Roman tombs in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Israel military rescues Hamas hostage, father of 11, from Gaza tunnel

Qaid Farhan Alkadi, right, and Brigadier General Itzik Cohen talk after his rescue. Photo: Israeli Defence Forces via AP

A helicopter at a site in Gaza, where hostage Qaid Farhan Alkadi was recovered. Photo: Israel Defence Forces via Reuters

Qaid Farhan Alkadi on a helicopter after his rescue. Photo: Israel Defence Forces via Xinhua

Qaid Farhan Alkadi exits a helicopter after his rescue. Photo: Israel Defence Forces via AFP

Ancient ‘elite’ grave may illuminate tale of the years that led to rise of Genghis Khan

The discovery of an ancient grave belonging to an “elite woman” offers valuable insights into the rise of the Mongolian Empire. Photo: SCMP composite/Archaeological Research in Asia

The grave, located within the fort of Khar Nuur, belonged to an elderly woman who seemingly lost all her teeth prior to her death. Photo: Archaeological Research in Asia

Fragments of a silver cup above. The burial lacks a stone-built surface feature, which is often a characteristic of traditional Mongol graves. Photo: Archaeological Research in Asia

When Genghis Khan rose to power, the region evolved from a remote area lacking central authority into the heartland of a vast world empire. Photo: National Palace Museum

Stunning murals discovered in small Tang-era tomb depict eighth-century everyday life

Archaeologists in northern China recently unveiled a small brick tomb containing stunningly preserved and exquisite murals from the 8th century. Photo: SCMP composite/chinanews.com/Wikipedia

The murals on all sides of the tomb, excluding the floor, showcase scenes of daily life during the Tang dynasty (618-907) against a white background, highlighting the cultural richness of that era. Photo: Xinhua

The figures depicted throughout the mural look like the same two people, prompting archaeologists to speculate that they were the owners of the tomb. Photo: Xinhua

Face of 75,000-year-old Neanderthal woman unveiled by UK researchers

The rebuilt skull and a physical reconstruction of the face and head of a 75,000-year-old Neanderthal woman named Shanidar Z are seen at the University of Cambridge, England, on April 25. Photo: AFP

The rebuilt skull of a 75,000-year-old Neanderthal woman is seen at the University of Cambridge. Photo: AFP

Associate professor Emma Pomeroy poses for a photograph with the rebuilt skull and a physical reconstruction of the face and head of a 75,000-year-old Neanderthal woman at the University of Cambridge, England, on April 25. Photo: AFP

Israel and Hezbollah trade most intense fire in months – then pull back

A Hezbollah UAV being intercepted by the Israeli air force over northern Israel on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Smoke and fire on the Lebanese side of the border with Israel, after Israel carried out pre-emptive strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. Photo: Reuters

Smoke billows from an area targeted by an Israeli air strike between the southern Lebanese border villages of Zibqin and Yater. Photo: AFP

Houses in the northern city of Acre, Israel, damaged from rocket fire from Lebanon. Photo: EPA-EFE

News

World

Middle East

The tombs, which date back more than 1,600 years and were discovered over 50 years apart, are decorated with murals of mythological figures


The tombs, which date back more than 1,600 years and were discovered over 50 years apart, are decorated with murals of mythological figures.


History

Archaeology and palaeontology

Italy

Tourism