Syria uncovered a large, intact mosaic that dates back to the Roman era, describing it on Wednesday as the most important archaeological discovery since the country’s conflict began 11 years ago.
Journalists were shown the mosaic in the central town of Rastan near Homs, Syria’s third-largest city.
The mosaic, at 120 square metres, was found in an old building that Syria’s General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums was excavating. Lebanese and Syrian businessmen from the neighbouring country’s Nabu Museum bought the property, which dates from the fourth century and donated it to the Syrian state. Each panel was filled with small, square, colourful stones measuring about half an inch on each side.
Humam Saad, associate director of excavation and archaeological research at the directorate, said among the scenes the mosaic shows is a rare portrayal of Ancient Amazon warriors in Roman mythology.
“What is in front of us is a discovery that is rare on a global scale,” Mr Saad told The Associated Press, describing the images as being “rich in details” and including scenes from the Trojan War between the Greeks and Trojans.
In Ancient Greek and Roman mythology, the demigod hero Hercules slayed Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons, in one of his 12 labours.
The mosaic also portrays Neptune, Ancient Roman god of the sea, and 40 of his mistresses.
“We can’t identify the type of the building, whether it’s a public bathhouse or something else, because we have not finished excavating yet,” Mr Saad told the AP.
Sulaf Fawakherji, a famous actress in Syria and a member of the Nabu Museum’s board of trustees, said she hopes they can buy other buildings in Rastan, which she says is filled with heritage sites and artefacts waiting to be discovered.
“There are other buildings, and it’s clear that the mosaic extends far wider,” Fawakherji told the AP. “Rastan historically is an important city, and it could possibly be a very important heritage city for tourism.”
Despite Rastan’s historical significance in the country, Mr Saad says there had not been significant excavation efforts in the town before the armed conflict in the country.
“Unfortunately, there were armed groups that tried to sell the mosaic at one point in 2017 and listed it on social media platforms,” he said.
Syrian heritage sites have been looted and destroyed over the past decade of violent conflict.
Among the most notable incidents was the ISIS terrorist group taking Palmyra, a Unesco World Heritage Site with 2,000-year-old towering Roman-era colonnades and priceless artefacts, and partially destroying a Roman theatre. Meanwhile, Syria’s cash-strapped government has slowly been rebuilding Aleppo’s centuries-old bazaar after reclaiming it from armed opposition forces in 2016.
Rastan was once a major opposition stronghold and a point of intense clashes, before the Syrian government reclaimed the city in 2018.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
ICC men's cricketer of the year
2004 - Rahul Dravid (IND) ; 2005 - Jacques Kallis (SA) and Andrew Flintoff (ENG); 2006 - Ricky Ponting (AUS); 2007 - Ricky Ponting; 2008 - Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI); 2009 - Mitchell Johnson (AUS); 2010 - Sachin Tendulkar (IND); 2011 - Jonathan Trott (ENG); 2012 - Kumar Sangakkara (SL); 2013 - Michael Clarke (AUS); 2014 - Mitchell Johnson; 2015 - Steve Smith (AUS); 2016 - Ravichandran Ashwin (IND); 2017 - Virat Kohli (IND); 2018 - Virat Kohli; 2019 - Ben Stokes (ENG); 2021 - Shaheen Afridi
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Who is Allegra Stratton?
- Previously worked at The Guardian, BBC’s Newsnight programme and ITV News
- Took up a public relations role for Chancellor Rishi Sunak in April 2020
- In October 2020 she was hired to lead No 10’s planned daily televised press briefings
- The idea was later scrapped and she was appointed spokeswoman for Cop26
- Ms Stratton, 41, is married to James Forsyth, the political editor of The Spectator
- She has strong connections to the Conservative establishment
- Mr Sunak served as best man at her 2011 wedding to Mr Forsyth
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
