The ancient synagogue at Huqoq, a small village in the lower Galilee, has produced some of the most stunning mosaic floors ever found in Israel. Excavated since 2011 by a team from the University of North Carolina, the 5th-century synagogue has revealed mosaics of extraordinary quality depicting scenes that are unique in ancient Jewish art.
The Mosaics
The Huqoq mosaics include depictions of Samson carrying the gates of Gaza, the parting of the Red Sea (with Egyptian soldiers being swallowed by giant fish), Noah’s Ark, and the Tower of Babel. The quality of the workmanship rivals the best Roman mosaics anywhere in the Mediterranean, and the biblical scenes are rendered with a narrative energy and detail that is unparalleled in ancient synagogue art.
Most remarkably, one panel depicts two female faces that may represent the seasons or personifications of biblical themes. The artistic sophistication of these mosaics has forced scholars to reconsider assumptions about the cultural life of Jewish communities in the late Roman Galilee.
Ongoing Excavations
The excavations at Huqoq are ongoing, and new discoveries continue to emerge each season. The site is not yet fully open to the public, but some of the finds are displayed in museums and traveling exhibitions. As excavations progress, Huqoq is likely to become one of the most important archaeological sites in northern Israel.
Visit with Hoshen Tours
Hoshen Tours monitors the progress at Huqoq and includes it in itineraries when access is available, combining it with the ancient synagogues of the Galilee and the Golan Heights.