Rare pagan masterpiece emerges near where St Paul spread teachings of Christianity

Excavators recently uncovered an ornate Roman mosaic at an archaeological site in Turkey, near where the Apostle Paul helped spread Christianity beyond the Levant.The mosaic was found at Aspendos, an ancient city about 25 miles east of Antalya in southern Turkey, the country's Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced in June.It was discovered on Theater Street in Aspendos, which connects the city's acropolis — or citadel — with its theater.ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNEARTH ANCIENT TREASURE CACHE AT BIBLICAL CITY CONNECTED TO GENESISAspendos lies just miles from Perga, the biblical city mentioned in Acts 13:13 and 14:25 where the Apostle Paul traveled during his first missionary journey.Pictures of the mosaic show a depiction of the youthful river god Eurymedon, framed by geometric patterns and aquatic imagery.Officials said the god is "depicted holding and wearing reed leaves."1,740-YEAR-OLD ROMAN COIN BEARING EMPEROR'S NAME FOUND AS ENGLAND RAIL DIG REVEALS CLUES"He leans against an amphora from which water flows, symbolizing nature's abundance and the life-giving power of water," the translated statement said.Archaeologists believe the pagan mosaic once formed the floor of a pool built in the early 3rd century A.D.The mosaic floor covers roughly 20 by 25 feet and "is believed to continue into areas that have not yet been excavated," officials said."Researchers believe the structure was subdivided into separate rooms following the 262 A.D. earthquake."ANCIENT ESTATE TIED TO GROUP IN THE BIBLE UNEARTHED WITH 'FASCINATING' TREASURES IN ISRAELDepictions of the river god Eurymedon are exceptionally unusual in ancient mosaics, according to Turkish officials.