Extraordinary Roman-era wall paintings dating back more than 1,700 years in Ashkelon are being revealed to the public for the first time as the municipality and the Israel Antiquities Authority said on Tuesday that restoration work was completed.

The site was first discovered in the 1930s, about 300 meters from the beach; a sand-filled vaulted tomb. The tomb structure was excavated by a British expedition and dated to the early 4th century CE, and is comprised of a hall with four adjacent burial troughs. This passageway is decorated by a range of paintings, impressive in quality and skill, including depictions of the Greek mythological goddess Demeter, nymphs with heads adorned with wreaths, a figure playing Pan’s flute, and most notably, Medusa, whose hair was made of snakes.

A second vaulted tomb was discovered in the 1990s. Its walls are adorned with images of humans, birds and other nature scenes.

However, due to the fragility of the artwork and the challenges of conservation, the paintings remained largely inaccessible.

“Ancient wall paintings are usually not preserved in Israel’s humid climate. As the paintings were in a relatively closed structure it protected them, to some extent, for decades. Naturally, exposure of the centuries-old paint to air and moisture caused fading and weathering,” explained Mark Abrahami, head of the Israel Antiquities Authority’s art conservation branch.

“We had to conduct a long and sensitive process to stop and repair the ravages of time and weathering. Some paintings had to be removed from the walls for thorough treatment in the Israel Antiquities Authority’s conservation laboratories, until they were returned to the site. The other walls of the structure were cleaned, the pigments in the colors of the paintings were accentuated, and the entire building was strengthened and stabilized to preserve it for future generations,” Abrahami said.

Ashkelon is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with a history that spans over 5,000 years. Located on the Mediterranean coast of Israel, about 50 kilometers south of Tel Aviv, Ashkelon has been a significant center of commerce, culture, and politics throughout its long history and is mentioned numerous times in the Bible.

It became a major city during the Roman period, known for grand public buildings, including bathhouses, theaters, and basilicas. The city also developed a reputation for producing fine wines, which were exported throughout the Roman Empire. Christianity spread in Ashkelon during the Byzantine period, and several churches were built in the city.

Other Ashkelon heritage projects undertaken in recent years include the development of a large public park centered around an ancient industrial site, the conservation of a mosaic adjacent to a playground incorporating archaeological elements, as well as the “Sarcophagus Courtyard” where ornate Roman Era stone coffins found in and around Ashkelon are on display.

“Ashkelon is one of the world’s oldest cities, and as we shape and design the city’s future, we ensure a place of honor to its glorious and rich past,” said Mayor Tomer Glam.  “In recent years we have made a real revolution in the realm of historical site preservation. We made sites accessible to the city’s residents and to the general public, and then organized events and produced educational, cultural and touristic programs with the aim of connecting the city’s history to its present.”

Photo by Emil Aladjem/Israel Antiquities Authority