Lod, Ancient settlement in Central District, Israel
Lod is a settlement in the Central District of Israel, located around 15 kilometers southeast of Tel Aviv across the Sharon Plain. Streets run through residential areas with multi-story buildings, commercial zones and open spaces, spreading at roughly 65 meters above sea level.
The place received the name Diospolis under Roman rule in 200, after existing for centuries as a Jewish scholarly settlement. Later the city passed under Byzantine, Arab and Ottoman control, before becoming part of the modern Israeli state in the 20th century.
Neighborhoods carry names like Rabin and Neve Yerek, while commercial districts sit beside residential blocks. Residents of different faiths share markets and public squares, where Hebrew and Arabic inscriptions appear side by side on shopfronts.
Ben Gurion Airport lies roughly 8 kilometers to the north and is reachable by road and rail connections. Visitors find shops and restaurants along main streets, while buses and trains run regularly between the city and other regions.
A Roman floor mosaic from the third century shows sea creatures, hunting scenes and geometric patterns, uncovered during construction work. The discovery offers insight into the craftsmanship and daily themes of that period, as preserved pieces like this are rare.
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