Star of David with a Cross Found in Roman-Byzantine Mosaic in Türkiye: Rare Symbolism Unearthed in Unexpected Discovery

The 35-square-meter mosaic also contains a six-line petition written in Ancient Greek

In an extraordinary discovery in southeastern Türkiye, a Roman–Byzantine-era mosaic featuring a Star of David with a Christian cross embedded inside has been unearthed during a burial excavation in Ergani, Diyarbakır. The 35-square-meter mosaic floor, which also includes a six-line inscription in Ancient Greek, was accidentally revealed in March 2025 when villagers were digging a modern grave in a rural cemetery.

A Burial That Revealed Antiquity

The find occurred in the Özbilek neighborhood of Ergani, where locals encountered colorful mosaic fragments during the burial of a community member. Recognizing the potential historical value of the discovery, they promptly reported it to local authorities. The Diyarbakır Museum Directorate dispatched an archaeological team the same day. Initial assessments dated the mosaic to the Late Roman to Early Byzantine period, roughly between the 4th and 6th centuries CE.

Symbolism That Bridges Faiths

The most striking feature of the mosaic is its iconography: a Star of David enclosing a cross—a highly unusual combination not commonly found in ancient artworks. Archaeologists also documented a six-line inscription in Ancient Greek, interpreted as a votive or petitionary text. While full translation is ongoing, experts suggest it may reflect personal or communal appeals made to divine powers.

“This could have belonged to a villa or a high-status building,” said Mehmet Çelebi, Deputy Director of the Diyarbakır Museum. “Its iconography strongly suggests cultural and religious interweaving. The placement of a cross inside the Star of David is not a random decoration—it points to a complex social and spiritual identity during the transitional phase of Late Antiquity.”

Preserved in Place: A Site Within Memalan Ancient City

The location of the mosaic lies within what is known as the ancient city of Memalan, a largely unexcavated archaeological zone. Due to its significance, Türkiye’s Cultural Heritage Preservation Board ruled to preserve the site in situ (in place). The mosaic has been covered with protective geotextile layers and fenced off. New burials in the area have been permanently suspended.

Religious and Cultural Layers Intertwined

The discovery sheds light on a region where early Christianity, Judaism, and Greco-Roman traditions likely coexisted. While the cross-in-star motif may appear contradictory at first glance, scholars emphasize its possible link to early Jewish-Christian communities or syncretic religious practices in eastern Anatolia.

“This is not just an artwork—it’s a fragment of a much larger story about identity, faith, and adaptation in a changing empire,” Çelebi noted.

Further excavations are expected, as the site has been recognized as one of the most symbolically rich archaeological discoveries in southeastern Türkiye in recent years.

Cover Image: An archaeologist delicately excavates a Late Roman–Early Byzantine mosaic at the Ergani site in southeastern Türkiye. The floor features a rare Star of David enclosing a Christian cross, along with a six-line Ancient Greek petition. Photo: DHA