Israel’s Megiddo Mosaic Makes History at Museum of the Bible
- Milton Quintanilla Crosswalk Headlines Contributor
- Updated Oct 18, 2024
The Megiddo Mosaic, which dates back to the third century, is now on display at Washington D.C.'s Museum of the Bible. According to CBN News, the Megiddo Mosaic was discovered during the construction of a prison and is considered to be Israel's greatest discovery since the Dead Sea Scrolls. Following its recent premiere at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., curators said that it has drawn in thousands of visitors from across the globe.
"We now have rediscovered it and came to witness Christianity [from] so far back," said Deshaun Mills, a visitor from Jacksonville, Florida.
These ancient artifacts contain stories spanning across generations.
The desire to learn was evident among teenagers to history teachers like Maurice Corollo.
"What we teach is something that is an artifact," said Corollo. "Something that is real and something that, most importantly, is interesting (and) really profound for students."
"When I heard about this mosaic and read the story behind it, I got the same kind of chills and the same kind of goosebumps," said Dr. Bobby Duke, who serves as the Interim Chief Curatorial Officer and Director of the Scholars Initiative at the Museum of the Bible.
Despite questions about the Megiddo Mosaic's authenticity, Dr. Duke confirmed that it dates back to the third century, during a period before Christianity was recognized as an official religion in the Roman Empire.
"I would say the question we get asked the most often is, is it real?" he said. "It does date back to the third century AD 230."
Included in the Megiddo Mosaic is a communion table and a design showing two fish: early symbols of Christianity with hand-crafted geometric patterns.
"To make the designs that we see even around this flooring here, I mean, that takes hours and hours and hours," said Duke.
The Megiddo Mosaic was initially buried under a newly built maximum-security prison, and archaeologists accidentally re-discovered it in 2005.
"I think the thing that excites me the most is, we never know what the next excavation is going to show and demonstrate," Dr. Duke said.
"No one before 2005 would have ever dreamed we would have found something as beautiful and significant as this. What's around the corner?"
The Megiddo Mosaic will remain on display at the Museum of the Bible through July 2025.
Photo Credit: ©X/NBC4Washington
