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PHOTO: ASSAF PERETZ, COURTESY OF THE ISRAEL ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY

ON THE COVER: At the Church of the Glorious Martyr near Beit Shemesh, Israel, archaeologists uncovered multiple mosaics, including this elaborate sixth-century pavement. It shows an eagle within a floral wreath. Above the eagle is a Greek inscription that says XC NIKA, which is short for ???st?? ????, or “Christ conquers,” a common phrase in Christograms.