The mosaic is "not the oldest of its kind, but it is the most complete and rare," Humam Saad, who is in charge of excavations and archaeological studies in Syria at the General Directorate of Museums and Antiquities, said Wednesday. He added that there is "no other like it." Among other things, it shows scenes of the Trojan War.

The mosaic, about 20 meters long and six meters wide (66 x 20 feet), was found under a building in Rastan, a city in the northern Syrian governorate of Homs. Rastan, a rebel stronghold, saw fierce fighting in the Syrian war. In 2018, Homs was recaptured by the Syrian government after years of civil war. The mosaic also portrays Neptune, the ancient Roman god of the sea, and 40 of his mistresses.

Plans to continue excavations

Part of the mosaic was reportedly discovered under a house several years ago, while opposition members were digging tunnels during the civil war. The site, which dates back to the 4th century, was donated to the Syrian government after being bought by Syrian and Lebanese businessmen with ties to the Nabu Museum in neighboring Lebanon.

Archaeologist Saad told news agency AP, "We can't identify the type of the building, whether it's a public bathhouse or something else, because we have not finished excavating yet." There is speculation that the mosaic may actually be larger still, with trustees from the Nabu Museum voicing hope that they will be able to purchase other buildings in Rastan with an eye to securing further heritage sites.  

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Archaeological finds endangered in Syria

During the civil war, many important archaeological sites in Syria were destroyed and looted. The oasis city of Palmyra is the best-known example: The terrorist organization Islamic State (IS) blew up the 2,000-year-old cultural monuments of Palmyra because they saw them as buildings of "infidels."

But some rebels also sought to cash in on such items of cultural value. Syrian archaeologist Saad told the Associated Press that rebels had tried to sell parts of the mosaic illicitly online in recent years.

db, js/msh (AFP, AP, dpa)

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Israeli airstrikes hit Latakia, says Syrian state media

The raids hit the main port through which goods flow into Syria. Israel has declined to comment on the attacks.

Latakia is the main port through which food and other crucial supplies enter Syria. It is close to Russia's main airbase in the country, Hmeimim. The attack targeted the port's goods yard, setting light to a number of containers but without causing casualties. According to the state-controlled Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the fires were later extinguished. "Our air defenses repelled the Israeli aggression in Latakia," a Syrian military source told SANA.

What is the Israeli position on the airstrikes?

An Israeli Defense Forces spokesman declined to discuss the attack, saying that Israel's military does not comment on foreign reports. Israel has however acknowledged that it targets the bases of Iran-allied militias in the country. Israel has said that the Iranian presence on its northern border with Syria is a "red line," justifying its attacks on facilities within Syria. Some of the strikes in the past had targeted the main airport in the Syrian capital of Damascus.

What has been Israel's role in the Syrian Civil War?

Since the beginning of the Syrian Civil War in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes on Syrian territory. It has targeted Syrian government positions, as well as Iran-backed forces allied to the Syrian government, including the Shiite militia Hezbollah.

On November 24, Israeli strikes killed five people in the west of Syria's Homs province, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The UK-based organization also reported two additional Israeli attacks in October, one of which killed five pro-Iranian fighters near Damascus and one that killed nine government soldiers near the T4 airbase east of Palmyra.

Syria and Israel have had a territorial dispute over the Golan Heights since 1967. Israel and Iran have also been involved in a proxy conflict lasting decades, with Israel a major opponent of Tehran's nuclear program.

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