Mona Lisa of the Galilee

Scientists had the archaeological equivalent of an orgasm upon discovering a beautiful mosaic face under the dust of the ancient city of Sepphoris, near Nazareth. The 1,800-year-old woman's knowing and lively visage earned her the title Mona Lisa of the Galilee. This video provides a bird's eye view of the excavation process and all the history attendant to the curious multicultural city of Sepphoris, said to be the home of the Virgin Mary's parents. As college students and professors from Duke University and Hebrew University conduct the slow, hot dig, history poses several questions. Did Jews and Romans live peaceably in Sepphoris? What about the pagan symbols found at the site? These and other questions lead archaeologists to conclude that people from many faiths at least temporarily co-existed in or regularly traveled to Sepphoris. After posing and suggesting answers to these mysteries, the video dramatically concludes with the transport of the 'Mona Lisa' mosaic to a museum. This delicate operation is breathtaking. Recommended for archaeology departments and religious history buffs. Audience: H, C, P. (A. Laker)