Murals which were discovered in vaulted tombs of age 1,700 years old and located near the Ashkelon marina are becoming accessible to the public, as the Israel Antiquities Service announced today Tuesday.

The paintings depict mythological Greek characters such as Demeter, Medusa and the nymphs and include floral decorations and images related to nature.

The head of the Israel Antiquities Authority’s art conservation branch, Mark Abrahami, explained that the paintings were preserved over the centuries by the humidity of the environment due to their location within closed burial structures.

He added, “Of course, exposure of the centuries-old paint to air and moisture caused fading and weathering. We had to carry out a long and delicate process to stop and repair the wear and tear of time and weathering. Some paintings had to be removed. from the walls for thorough treatment’, after which they returned to their original position.

“A rich and glorious past”

One of the tombs was first discovered in the 1930s by a British archaeological expedition and is believed to date back to the 4th century AD. An additional tomb, dating from the 2nd century AD, was relocated from a different location to its current location in the 1990s.

Tomer Glam, the mayor of Ashkelon, said of the project: “Ashkelon is one of the oldest cities in the world, and as we shape and plan the city’s future, we ensure an honorable place for its glorious and rich past.