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naturalistic in execution, and unlike group II the
animals at Gaza and Hazor-Ashdod frequently
extend outside the medallions. Furthermore, this
is the earliest group of inhabited vine scroll mosaics
in Paleastina made during the early 6th century,
dated by inscriptions: the Gaza synagogue to
508/9, and the Hazor-Ashdod church to 512.
The Gaza-Maiumas synagogue pavement
shows coherence in the natural portrayal of the
animals. For instance, the lioness feeds her cub
in one medallion (pl. VII.14a) while in the next
two in the same row a ferocious tigress pounces
on a terrified fleeing donkey (pl. VII.5a). This
contrasts with the placid, subdued, and passive
depiction of most of the beasts on the pavements
of the later group II.
The Gaza mosaic has a unique feature, namely
a Greek inscription flanked by peacocks in a
medallion in the central column; a similar pattern
the ‘inhabited scrolls’ mosaic pavements 115
Figure VI-4 Group I pavements: a. Gaza synagogue; b. Hazor-Ashdod church; c. #Asida church.
is found on the hall mosaic of the lower chapel of
Priest John at Mukhayyat on Mt. Nebo, where
an inscription is flanked by two horned stags in
the last row of the inhabited vine scroll pavement
(Piccirillo 1993: 176, fig. 240). The first row at
Gaza is entirely destroyed, but might also have
shown lions flanking a vase, like the other two
designs of this group.
The general design at Gaza and Hazor-’Ashdod
seems to place more emphasis on the horizontal
rows of the composition.
However, some features characteristic of the
organization and order of the composition, which
develop further in later group II, are already
apparent. These include the stylization and geometric
manner of the scrolls, vine trellis, and
grapes; the alternating rows of animals and birds
and the leaning to symmetrical heraldic composition.
Still, the rigid symmetry characteristic of