Complete
Linguistic features:
Formulae:
Quotations from literary texts:
Dating:
AD 501
-
AD 600
Language:
Hebrew
Monumental:
Medium:
mosaic
Visible:
Accessible:
Has figural depiction:
Has iconoclastic damage:
Activities commemorated:
; mosaic
Funds:
; unknown
Price:
unknown
Placement:
Mosaic floor, central nave, in the centre of the mosaic floor, between the Isaac scene and the Torah shrine scene
People mentioned:
Description
date: 6th c. description: Mosaic inscription with signs of Zodiac description in Hebrew founded in central nave, in the centre of the mosaic floor, between the Isaac scene and the Torah shrine scene. Dimensions: It is the largest panel of the mosaic in the Beth Alpha synagogue (the diameter of the circle is 3,12 m, contained within a rectangle 3,55 x 3,75 m Helios and four-horse chariot is a central figure in the Zodiac Wheel. The 12 zones around the central figure are filled with the signs of Zodiac. The year begins with the first month of spring, which is represented by ram (Aries). It is situated to the right of the central figure of Helios. The following signs of Zodiac: bull (Taurus), twins (Gemini), crab (Cancer), lion (Leo), maiden (Virgo), man with scales (Libra), scorpion (Scorpio), man with a bow (Sagitarius), heavily destroyed image of a goat (Capricornus), man standing beside a well or cistern (Aquarius) run counter-clockwise and end with the image of two fish (Pisces). The corners of this square panel feature the 4 Seasons as winged women or cherubs showing only the upper part of the body. All signs of Zodiac and seasons are labelled with Hebrew captions. The figures of Season, however, do not correspond to the months. The Spring is placed next to the summer month, Summer near the autumn months and so on. טלא שור תאומים סרטן ארייה בתולה מוזנים עקרב קשת [גדי] ודלי ודגים תקופת ניסן תקופת תמוז תקופת תישרי תקופת טבת ṭlʾ šwr tʾwmym srṭn ʾryyh btwlh mwznym ʿqrb qšt [gdy] wdly wdgym tqwpt nysn tqwpt tmwz tqwpt tyšry tqwpt ṭbt 'Aries Taurus Gemini Cancer Leo Virgo Libra Scorpio Sagittarius [Capricorn] and Aquarius and Pisces Spring season Summer season Autumn season Winter season' commentary: 1. Slightly different form the usual - Ṭaleh (טלה) 10. Nothing is left in the mosaic here, but it could be nothing else. Avigad, N. "Beit Alpha" The New Encyclopedia of Archeological Excavations in the Holy Land. Jerusalem, 1993: 190-192. Hachlili, R.. The Zodiac in Ancient Jewish Synagogal Art: A Review, Jewish Studies Quarterly Jewish Studies Quarterly Vol. 9, No. 3 (2002), pp. 219-258. https://www.jstor.org/stable/40753310 Magness, J. The Archaeology of the Holy Land From the Destruction of Solomon’s Temple to the Muslim Conquest, Cambridge University Press 2012: 301-304. Sukenik, E.L. The Ancient Synagogue of Beth 'Alpha. Jerusalem, 1932.
Author:
Tomasz Barański
Added by:
Martyna
Created:
2022-10-20 11:42:17
Last update:
2023-12-10 18:18:27
Building:
Synagogue
Site:
Beth Alpha; Beit Alpha
Description:
Dimensions: surface: m
Condition: Mosaic inscription with signs of Zodiac description in Hebrew founded in central nave, in the centre of the mosaic floor, between the Isaac scene and the Torah shrine scene. Helios and four-horse chariot is a central figure in the Zodiac Wheel. The 12 zones around the central figure are filled with the signs of Zodiac. The year begins with the first month of spring, which is represented by ram (Aries). It is situated to the right of the central figure of Helios. The following signs of Zodiac: bull (Taurus), twins (Gemini), crab (Cancer), lion (Leo), maiden (Virgo), man with scales (Libra), scorpion (Scorpio), man with a bow (Sagitarius), heavily destroyed image of a goat (Capricornus), man standing beside a well or cistern (Aquarius) run counter-clockwise and end with the image of two fish (Pisces). The corners of this square panel feature the 4 Seasons as winged women or cherubs showing only the upper part of the body. All signs of Zodiac and seasons are labelled with Hebrew captions. The figures of Season, however, do not correspond to the months. The Spring is placed next to the summer month, Summer near the autumn months and so on.
Text:
Date: 501 CE - 600 CE
6th c.
Findspot: Unknown
Original location: Palestine Beth Alpha (Beit Alpha) 32.516111, 35.430278 Synagogue Mosaic floor, central nave, in the centre of the mosaic floor, between the Isaac scene and the Torah shrine scene
Current repository: Unknown
Text type: mosaic inscription
Summary:
Mosaic inscription with Zodiac in Hebrew script from Beth Alpha (Beit Alpha). AD 501 - AD 600.
Changes history: 2022-10-20 Tomasz Barański Creation; 2023-12-10 Martyna Swierk Last modification; 2023-12-10 Martyna Swierk Preparation of EpiDoc file
Publication details: University of Warsaw; Warsaw;
Available under licence CC-BY 4.0
; @2021Translation
'Aries
Taurus
Gemini
Cancer
5Leo
Virgo
Libra
Scorpio
Sagittarius
10[Capricorn]
and Aquarius
and Pisces
Spring season
Summer season
Autumn season
Winter season
Commentary
1. Slightly different form the usual - Ṭaleh (טלה) 10. Nothing is left in the mosaic here, but it could be nothing else.
Bibliography
- N., Avigad,1933, Beit Alpha, The New Encyclopedia of Archeological Excavations in the Holy Land, Jerusalem, 190-192. R., Hachlili,2002, The Zodiac in Ancient Jewish Synagogal Art: A Review, Jewish Studies Quarterly Jewish Studies Quarterly 9 3, 219-258. J., Magness, 2012, The Archaeology of the Holy Land From the Destruction of Solomon’s Temple to the Muslim Conquest, Cambridge, 301-304. E.L., Sukenik, 1932, The Ancient Synagogue of Beth Alpha, Jerusalem.