The cornerstone of the “Shelby White and Leon Levy Lod Mosaic Archaeological Center” was laid today in a festive ceremony with participation of Mayor Yair Ravivo, Israel Antiquities Authority Director Yisrael Hasson, and the donor for the establishment of the center, Mrs. Shelby White.
It will become the permanent home of the famous Lod mosaic, which served as the floor of a living room erected in Lod during the Byzantine period. It has been viewed by hundreds of thousands of visitors in the most important museums throughout the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Louvre, and the Hermitage. A second colorful mosaic which was also part of the villa, will also be incorporated in the museum.