Israel will present to the public for the first time this week an “impressive” mosaic accidentally discovered in what was a wealthy neighborhood in Roman and Byzantine times, officials said yesterday.The colorful mosaic measuring some 11 by 13 meters (36 by 43 feet) discovered in Lod in central Israel is believed to have been the courtyard pavement of a “magnificent villa,” the Israel Antiquities Authority said. It is the second such mosaic found in the area, following another uncovered in the 1990s that was the floor of the villa’s living room 1,700 years ago and has since been exhibited in prestigious museums worldwide. The authority called the first mosaic “breathtaking” and “among the most beautiful” in Israel. It depicts roaring lions, elephants in battle, giraffes and dolphins.

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