After years of excavation, archaeologists have begun restoration work on a rare Roman mosaic in Cyprus. The object is almost 2000 years old.
The mosaic – 25 meters long – shows the chariot race at the Roman hippodrome. There are also inscriptions in Greek, indicating the names of the riders and the nicknames of the horses. Scientists believe that this work adorned the floor of one of the luxurious houses in the 4th century CE.
The object was discovered in 1938, in the Cypriot village of Akaki, in the place where the railway tracks ran. However, excavations did not start until 2013, and the entire mosaic was excavated from the ground in 2016. The authorities, in order to avoid damage to the find by rain and unfavourable weather conditions, ordered the object to be covered.
Recently, archaeologists have started restoration work to remove the top layer of dust and dust from the mosaic, which can take up to several years.
The mosaic is the only find of its kind in Cyprus, and one of nine works depicting a race at the hippodrome in the entire Roman world.
