THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

Rare Late Roman mosaic with Solomon's Knot discovered beneath modern ... Archaeologists excavate the ancient city of Smyrna underneath the modern urban fabric of İzmir and have uncovered a rare mosaic-floored room that offers new insights into Late Antique daily life and belief systems. The discovery was made along the Agora’s North Street during year-round excavations conducted as part of Turkey’s “Heritage for the Future” project, which protects and researches archaeological remains hidden within densely built cities. The newly uncovered mosaic floor measures three by four meters and consists of interlocking twelve-sided geometric panels, a decorative motif widely used during the Late Roman period. At the center of the design is a striking Solomon’s Knot motif, formed by intertwined loops. This symbol appears across many cultures and historical periods and is commonly interpreted as an apotropaic sign, intended to protect people and spaces from misfortune, envy, and harmful forces often described as the “evil eye.” The mosaic belongs to a building dated between the fourth and sixth centuries CE, when Smyrna was a well-planned urban center reconstructed after the time of Alexan…

Protective “Solomon's Knot” mosaic uncovered in ancient Smyrna Image Credit : AA By: Mark Milligan Date: January 6, 2026 Archaeology Protective “Solomon’s Knot” mosaic uncovered in ancient Smyrna Archaeologists have uncovered a rare mosaic room in the ancient city of Smyrna, featuring a central “Solomon’s Knot” motif believed to have served as a protective symbol against evil and misfortune during Late Antiquity. The discovery was made along the Agora North Street during year-round excavations conducted under the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s “Heritage for the Future” project. The initiative aims to safeguard and promote key archaeological sites across Türkiye, many of which lie beneath today’s densely built urban areas. - Advertisement - The newly exposed mosaic floor measures approximately three by four metres and is composed of interlocking twelve-sided geometric panels, a decorative style widely used in the Late Roman period. At the centre lies the Solomon’s Knot, formed by intertwined loops that have appeared across multiple cultures and historical eras. Archaeologists interpret the symbol as an apotropaic device intended to ward off harmful forces, envy, and the …

Ancient Mosaic Room Featuring "Solomon's Knot" Unearthed in Smyrna to ... Archaeologists excavating in central İzmir have uncovered an exceptional mosaic-floored room in the ancient city of Smyrna. At its center is a striking Solomon’s Knot motif, thought to have functioned as a protective symbol against envy and the “evil eye” during Late Antiquity. The find was made along the North Street of the Smyrna Agora as part of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s year-round Heritage for the Future Project. The mosaic floor, measuring approximately 3 by 4 meters, is composed of interwoven geometric panels and vegetal patterns, with the symbolic knot placed prominently at the centre. Excavation director Prof. Dr. Akın Ersoy of İzmir Katip Çelebi University noted that this is the first mosaic pavement discovered at the site in almost 70 years, underscoring both its rarity and its scientific importance. A Planned City of the Hellenistic World Rebuilt according to a new urban plan after the time of Alexander the Great, Smyrna became one of the eastern Mediterranean’s most significant port cities. Now known as İzmir, it prospered under Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine rule, developi…

1,500-year-old Smyrna mosaics reveal hidden messages in sacred motifs ... A1,500-year-old mosaic discovered at the ancient city of Smyrna in Izmir is providing archaeologists with valuable insights into the symbolic world, beliefs and artistic traditions of Late Antiquity. The mosaic was uncovered during excavations conducted under the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s “Heritage for the Future Project” at the Agora of Smyrna. Archaeological work is continuing in the structure known as the “Mosaic Room,” located on the Northern Street of the ancient city. The mosaic floor, measuring approximately 5 by 2.5 meters, features a complex design composed of interlocking 12-sided panels, geometric patterns, and botanical motifs. The decoration includes triangles, squares and various geometric arrangements, along with plant figures such as a heart-shaped ivy leaf. Excavation director Professor Dr. Akin Ersoy of Izmir Katip Celebi University said the mosaic has been dated to the period between the fourth and sixth centuries A.D. He noted that archaeologists have also identified traces of walls surrounding the area, allowing researchers to better understand the original structure. …

Ancient Mosaic Room Featuring "Solomon's Knot" Unearthed in Smyrna to ... Credit: AA Archaeologists working in the heart of İzmir have uncovered a remarkable mosaic-floored room in the ancient city of Smyrna , revealing a striking Solomon’s Knot motif believed to have served as a protective symbol against envy and the “evil eye” during Late Antiquity. The discovery was made along the North Street of the Smyrna Agora as part of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s year-round Heritage for the Future Project. Measuring roughly 3 by 4 meters, the mosaic floor features interlaced geometric panels and vegetal designs, with the symbolic knot positioned prominently at its center. According to excavation director Prof. Dr. Akın Ersoy of İzmir Katip Çelebi University, this is the first mosaic pavement found at the site in nearly 70 years, making the discovery both rare and scientifically significant. A Planned City of the Hellenistic World Founded on a new urban plan following the era of Alexander the Great, Smyrna was one of the most important port cities of the eastern Mediterranean. Known today as İzmir, the city flourished under Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine rule, serving a…

Ancient Smyrna mosaic in Türkiye reveals symbols of love, loyalty Geometric and plant motifs uncovered in a roughly 1,500-year-old mosaic at the ancient city of Smyrna located in Izmir, western Türkiye, are offering new insight into how people in...