Untitled

mosaic pavements adorning buildings in the hellenistic–early roman period 9
a b c
d e f
schematic rosettes enclosed in a circle occur in
almost all aspects of Jewish art: on mosaics from
Jerusalem and Masada (pls. I.1-4), in architectural
decoration (Avi-Yonah 1950: 69-72; Rahmani
1994: 39-41, figs. 74, 76, 77, 78; Foerster 1995:
149-50; Hachlili 2005: 100-102), on stone tables,
and on a sundial from Jerusalem (Avigad 1983:
figs. 116, 185). In funerary art the rosette fills
the spaces in Doric friezes on tomb façades such
as the Frieze Tomb, and appears on sarcophagi
(Hachlili 2005: figs. III-29-32, 34). It is also the
most frequent motif on ossuaries (Rahmani 1994:
39-41; Hachlili 2005: 100-102).
Mosaic pavements are decorated with several
designs of rosettes:
a. A three-petalled rosette with three petaltips
(fig. I-4a): on a mosaic pavement
in Jerusalem, area F-4 (Avigad 1983:
fig. 163); on Jerusalem ossuaries (Rahmani
1994: nos.37, 74, 106, 583, 603).
b. A six-petalled rosette with segments and
linked petal-tips in two colours (fig. I-4b):
on a mosaic in the bathroom of a mansion,
in room D1, and in Area 0-2, Jerusalem
(Avigad 1983: fig. 162, 164; 1989:
49-50); on Jerusalem ossuaries (Rahmani
1994: nos. 1, 15 central rosette, 69; 147,
231, 248, 375, 448, 460-461, 469, 591,
593, 692, 701).
c. A rosette composed of eight petals shaped
as ivy leaves and a central circular disc
(fig. I-4c):
Figure I-4. The rosette motif on mosaic pavements.
on the mosaic of the apodyterium (Oecus
449) in the core bathhouse of the Western
Palace, Masada (Netzer 1991: 251-2,
ill.397, 399; Foerster 1995: 149-50 ills.
256-258, pl. XIV); on Jerusalem ossuaries
(Rahmani 1994: fig. 73, nos.37, 69, 583,
603, 643, 881).
d. Rosettes formed by interlaced six-petalled
rosettes within a circle creating multiple
and interlaced rosettes (fig. I-4d):
1. The central panel of the mosaic of the
antechamber leading to the reception
room (Oecus 456) at the Western
Palace, Masada (Netzer 1991: 249-250,
ills. 393-394; Foerster 1995: 149-50,
ills. 252-255,Pl. XIII).
2. A mosaic at the Herodium bathhouse
caldarium (Corbo 1962-3: fig. 15).
3. The mosaic in the centre of the bathhouse
main tepidarium at Lower Herodium
(Netzer 2001: 111, figs. 145;
2005: 32-33).
Comparable rosettes appear on Doric
friezes at Masada (Foerster 1995: 123-129,
150) and on Jerusalem ossuaries (Rahmani
1994: 39, fig. 74; nos. 105, 406, 653).
e. Multi-petalled rosette (fig. I-4e): on a
mosaic of a vestibule of a bathhouse
complex, Jerusalem (Avigad 1983:
fig. 160-161); on Jerusalem ossuaries,
though most have fewer petals (Rahmani