While many are damaged with age and partially lost to the elements, others remain in strikingly good condition.
More than functional floors, these mosaics were works of art which continue to inspire art lovers today.
Measuring over 150 acres, the mosaic of Hisham’s Palace is now open to the admiring public.
The famous Tree of Life mosaic from the bathhouse at Hisham’s Palace. (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)
Hisham’s Palace is a complex just outside the ancient city of Jericho.
The ruins were rediscovered in the late 19th century.
They are named for caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik, ruler of the Umayyad Caliphate from 724 to 743.
Hisham’s Palace, West Bank, Palestine. (Photo: MichaelDarter at English Wikipedia viaWikimedia Commons,CC BY-SA 3.0)
The palace was built during his rule and may have been occupied by the caliph’s nephew.
The complex contains a palace, mosque, pavilion, agricultural buildings, and a bathhouse.
Their $12-million efforts can now be appreciated by the public.
Among the masterpieces of the mosaic is the famous tree of life design in the bathhouse.
The expansive mosaic floor of an ancient desert palace in Palestine has been restored.
The famous Tree of Life mosaic from the bathhouse at Hisham’s Palace.
Hisham’s Palace, West Bank, Palestine.
