The museum is named after the parable told by Jesus concerning a man who was robbed, beaten and left for dead. He was subsequently found and aided by a ‘Good Samaritan’ even though Samaritans and Jews were, by no means, on good terms at that time. The parable, today, for Christians symbolizes friendship, brotherhood, and mercy.
In the 6th century, a large monastery was built here, with a cistern in its center. The floor of the prayer house was constructed out of tiny mosaic tiles, most of which were taken from the grounds by pilgrims, who wanted something to remember their journey by. Today, as you enter the building, you will see an enormous ‘Gaza mosaic’ depicting all kinds of animals. This is a reconstruction of the original design, comprised of over 1.6 million tiles!
The building in which the museum is housed was, in Ottoman times, an inn for travelers. Today, it is the only mosaic museum of its kind in Israel (and one of only three in the world). Without a doubt, it is a treasure trove for anyone interested in archaeology. The mosaics there have been collected from churches and synagogues around Israel.
Many of the mosaics have Hebrew, Greek and Samaritan inscriptions on them, with designs that are typically geometric (as was customary in Byzantine times). Others are adorned with animals and flowers. During the preservation process, many of these mosaics have been cast in natural substances like lime and sand, just as they would have been centuries ago.