Untitled

Figure XII-6. Hall A mosaic, Monastery of Lady Mary,
Beth She"an.
mosaics of room L, the synagogue pavement,
and the middle panel in the House
of Leontis are all filled with birds and
beasts (figs VI-10, VI-13, pl. XII.4b).
iv. Details of decoration are also similar: the
bird in the left-hand corner of room L
and the birds in the wide ornate border
of the synagogue pavement are similar;
the execution of the animals is similar:
there is a resemblance between the ram
and buffalo in the synagogue, the giraffe
and buffalo in room L, and the cow in
the House of Leontis (figs. XII-11a-c).
mosaicists, workshops, and the repertory 257
Figure XII-7. Chapel G mosaic, Monastery of Lady Mary,
Beth She"an.
Rendition of eyes in all the beasts, in room
L, synagogue, and House of Leontis mosaics
is similar. The guinea-fowl flanking a
vase and inscription in the synagogue may
be compared with a similarly constructed
bird in the House of Leontis: the same
free, curved line may be seen in the birds’
bodies and legs (fig. XII-12c,d).
v. Human figures bear a resemblance to each
other in both the House of Leontis and
room L: Odysseus is similar, particularly
in his hair, to the hunter in the upper left
medallion in room L. In his posture he