Peacock of Shellal - Gaza Byzantine Mosaic Postcard

Peacocks of Shellal I-IV - gouache, watercolour and pencil on paper.

Peacocks of Shellal is inspired by the Shellal Mosaic, a Byzantine floor mosaic found in April 1917 on a hill in Gaza, by Australian Imperial Forces, who discovered a trench abadoned by Turkish troops. Thirty Australian Diggers were diverted to dig the mosaic floor out of Palestine using whatever rudimentary tools they had. Despite damage caused by the actions of the war, the Shellal Mosaic "pavement" was considered a fine artefact to include in the yet to be built Australian War Memorial in Canberra. It has been on permanent display there since 1941.

Original artwork by Helen Nieuwendijk for the Australian Friends of Palestine Association afopa.com.au