Egypt unearths ancient mosaic floor in Sinai
http://www.chinaview.cn 2005-08-25 16:57:33
CAIRO, Aug. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- A multicolored mosaic floor dating back to the 2nd century has been unearthed in the Sinai peninsula, the Egyptian Gazette reported on Thursday.
The 9x15m floor was discovered 25 km east of the Suez Canal byan Egyptian-Polish excavation team working in Sinai, Zahi Hawass,secretary general of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities,was quoted as saying.
Hawass said the floor, constructed of glass, pottery, limestone and marble, was "the most beautiful mosaic antiquity discovered in the area."
The team is now working on the mosaic in order to move it to the el-Arish National Museum in northern Sinai, where it will be displayed alongside other antiquities discovered in the area, Hawass said.
He said the discovery site in Sinai is already famous for the "Blosium" Roman theater, which is the biggest Roman theater in Egypt with a 110-meter-long stage.
Mohammed Abdul-Maksoud, head of the Lower Egypt Antiquity Department and head of the excavation team, said the mosaic discovery was made during the ongoing restoration work being carried out on the theater.
"Unfortunately, the mosaic floor was significantly damaged by the Israeli army which used it as a military camp during the occupation," Maksoud said.
Israel seized Sinai during the 1967 Middle East War and returned it to Egypt after a peace treaty was signed in 1979. Enditem
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