Roman-era mosaic depicting Hercules’ labours dug up in Cyprus
Jul 13, 2016 | 6:07 PM
-
Share on Facebook
-
Share on Twitter
- Copy Link
NICOSIA, Cyprus — The Department of Antiquities in Cyprus says work crews have accidentally uncovered a rare, Roman-era mosaic floor depicting the labours of Hercules along a street in the coastal town of Larnaca.
The department said in a statement Wednesday that the mosaic has only been partially uncovered during work on Larnaca’s sewage system.
It said the mosaic’s discovery offers important evidence that ancient Kition, on which modern-day Larnaca is built, played a significant role in the establishment of Roman culture in the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. This is especially so because very few remains of Roman-era structures have been found in the city.
Cyprus was under Roman rule between 31 B.C. and the 4th century A.D.
