'Rare' Roman mosaic found in Rastan, Syria

A 1,600-year-old virtually intact Roman mosaic has been discovered successful cardinal Syria.

The mosaic, measuring 20 x 6m (65.5 x 20ft), was recovered nether a gathering successful Rastan adjacent Homs, which was held by rebels successful the civilian warfare until 2018.

Showing mythical scenes including the Trojan and Amazon wars, it is said to beryllium the rarest of its kind.

Many of Syria's archaeological treasures person been damaged aft much than a decennary of war.

But the latest find is being described arsenic the astir important archaeological find since the commencement of the struggle successful 2011.

"What is successful beforehand of america is simply a find that is uncommon connected a planetary scale," Hamman Saad, a elder authoritative astatine Syria's General Directorate of Museums and Antiquities, told the Associated Press.

He added that the mosaic was affluent successful detail, portraying the Roman oversea deity Neptune and 40 of his mistresses, arsenic good arsenic Hercules slaying the Amazon queen Hippolyta.

Rastan was a rebel stronghold and country of aggravated warring until it was captured by Syrian authorities forces successful 2018.

Syria is considered a treasure trove for archaeologists, being location to immoderate of the champion preserved relics of past civilisations including the Umayyad mosque successful Damascus and the past metropolis of Palmyra.

But overmuch has been destroyed oregon looted successful the civilian war. In 2015 the Islamic State radical overran Palmyra causing devastation successful the city.

The chaos has besides fuelled a achromatic marketplace successful smaller items specified arsenic coins and statuettes.