Archaeologists in northern Israel have uncovered a Roman-era gate they suspect is the entrance to an ancient pagan location.
Israeli archaeologists believe they may have uncovered an ancient sanctuary of the Greek god Pan in the north of the country.
During excavations carried out by the Zinman Institute of Archaeology at the University of Haifa, the team discovered this giant Roman gate in the ancient city of Hippos, which is believed to have led into a sanctuary dedicated to the worship of Pan, the god of flocks and shepherds who, in Greek mythology, is depicted as half man and half goat.
The height of the original gateway is estimated to have been about 20 feet, and part of a much taller structure located just outside the ancient city limits.
According to Michael Eisenberg, head of the archeological team said, “Now that the whole gate has been exposed, we not only have better information for dating the mask, but also a clue to its function.”
