Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Two Greek-Inscribed Marble Busts Unearthed, Displayed at MUZA

6/17/2026

30 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Two marble busts with a Greek inscription were uncovered in a Byzantine winepress pit during excavation.
MUZA museum announced the busts were recovered in Binyamina-Giv'at Ada and will be shown publicly.
Archaeologists think the busts were moved from a villa in Caesarea before being hidden in Byzantine pit.
The busts will be exhibited at MUZA’s Ceramics Pavilion and remain on view through summer.

History

Historical Context

In 527 Justinian I launched an empire-wide building program that rebuilt cities across the eastern Mediterranean; his architects reshaped urban landscapes, and many artworks were repurposed from provincial sites such as Caesarea. The marble busts now displayed in Israel’s MUZA museum illustrate how that 6th-century patronage redistributed art, linking the artifacts to the same Byzantine revitalization that produced Hagia Sophia in 537.

1 of 2

Story summary

Two marble busts with a Greek inscription were uncovered in a Byzantine winepress pit during excavation.
MUZA museum announced the busts were recovered in Binyamina-Giv'at Ada and will be shown publicly.
Archaeologists think the busts were moved from a villa in Caesarea before being hidden in Byzantine pit.
The busts will be exhibited at MUZA’s Ceramics Pavilion and remain on view through summer.

1 / 2