Elim mosaic detail, Huqoq Excavation Project. Copyright Jim Haberman. All rights reserved. Courtesy: UNC-Chapel Hill. Credit: Copyright Jim Haberman
Posted on 07/02/2019 1:13:15 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
First: Chapter 7 in the book of Daniel describes four beasts which represent the four kingdoms leading up to the end of days. This year our team discovered mosaics in the synagogue's north aisle depicting these four beasts, as indicated by a fragmentary Aramaic inscription referring to the first beast: a lion with eagle's wings. The lion itself is not preserved, nor is the third beast. However, the second beast from Daniel 7:4 - a bear with three ribs protruding from its mouth - is preserved. So is most of the fourth beast, which is described in Daniel 7:7 as having iron teeth.
Second: We've uncovered the first depiction of the episode of Elim ever found in ancient Jewish art. This story is from Exodus 15:27. Elim is where the Israelites camped after leaving Egypt and wandering in the wilderness without water. The mosaic is divided into three horizontal strips, or registers. We see clusters of dates being harvested by male agricultural workers wearing loincloths, who are sliding the dates down ropes held by other men. The middle register shows a row of wells alternating with date palms. On the left side of the panel, a man in a short tunic is carrying a water jar and entering the arched gate of a city flanked by crenellated towers. An inscription above the gate reads, "And they came to Elim."
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Elim mosaic detail, Huqoq Excavation Project. Copyright Jim Haberman. All rights reserved. Courtesy: UNC-Chapel Hill. Credit: Copyright Jim Haberman
Definitely a “Wow - look at this!” moment for those folks.
I wish they’d posted more images. The one they did post is gorgeous.
That one is the best preserved, apparently.
Nice- thanks much.
Most likely it is, but they don’t have to be perfect to be appreciated. It would be nice if they’d realized that.
At least we know they exist, and what a cool find it is.
bfl
5th century would not be ancient Judaism
The fall of Rome in the west hadn't happened yet, that's the dividing line between antiquity and the Middle Ages.
This one looks nearly intact; while I do really, really like mosaics, they, uh, vary widely in quality. The Romans and the people in the Roman Empire really liked things colorful. Mosaics were also used to communicate more mundane messages in a less colorful style, like this famous entrance vestibule floor:
A glass shield now protects the House of the Tragic Poet, where tourists can see the dog with the inscription "Cave Canem" - Latin for "Beware of the dog". ©EPA
Yes. But ancient Judaism is something different and older, pre return from Babylon
That doesn't have much of a bearing, but there were various periods -- at the very least, there was some kind of Pre-Abrahamic belief set, and probably more than one; another one during the era from Abraham through the beginning of the Egyptian Bondage; the period in Egypt lasted some centuries, so some other things probably crept in; the Mosaic/Tabernacle period that covered the Wandering, the Conquest, and the Judges period, and the emergence of the various prophets; the Kingdom period which saw the building of the Temple and later the schism, and ending with several destructions (the Assyrians exiled the 10 "lost tribes" which eliminated the rival house of worship; the Babylonian captivity); the repatriation under Cyrus and rebuilding of the Temple and recovery of at least one lost OT book (possibly Deuteronomy); and the period thereafter which includes Hellenistic influence and interference, the Roman influence, domination, conquest, and eventual destruction of the 2nd Temple, and the rise of rabbinical Judaism as well as various mystical offshoots, basically the Talmudic period which persists today.
That one looks in excellent condition. I do like the more colorful ones but this one’s a beauty simply because it’s in such great shape.
The fact these artifacts remain intact and maintain their colors after so many years is the fascinating thing and makes seeing these finds so interesting.
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