THE HANDSTAND OCTOBER ISSUE 2010

Ariha unveils massive carpet mosaic
Mon Oct 11, 2010 2:59PM
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The ancient city of Ariha (Jericho) has unveiled one of the largest carpet mosaics of the Middle East dating back to some 1,200 years ago. The 900-square-meter mosaic is adorned with geometric and floral patterns and has been unveiled as part of Ariha's 10,000th birthday celebrations. The mosaic comprising of small red, blue and ocher square stones covers the floor of the main bath house of an Ariha Islamic palace which was destroyed in an eighth-century earthquake. Since being excavated in the 1930s and 1940s, the mosaic has been hidden under layers of canvas and soil to protect it against sun and rain. Archeologists have estimated that at least USD 2 million is needed to build a roof above the mosaic. Award-winning Swiss architect Peter Zumthor has proposed a shield which looks like a large upended wooden crate and has presented a model of his design at the site. The colorful carpet will be displayed for a week and covered up again until a roof is built to protect it against rain, Palestinian archaeologist Hamdan Taha said. A smaller mosaic in the audience room has also attracted lots of attention with its beautiful pattern of two gazelles nibbling at the leaves of an apple tree, the Associated Press reported. Ariha is located near the Jordan River in the West Bank in the occupied Palestinian territories and is known as the lowest permanently inhabited site on earth. TE/CS/MMN