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pomegranates and cups (Hachlili 2001: 149,
IS3.1, ornamentation b). They are strikingly similar
to those of the stone menorah found at Hammath-Tiberias,
and to other examples such as the
menorah depicted in the Samaritan synagogue
mosaic floor at el-Hirbeh. This has similar arms,
as does the menorah carved on the ’Eshtemo‘a
lintel (Hachlili 2001: fig. VII-1, pl. II-3, IS2.1,
IS3.20, IS4.2). The glass containers are depicted
on the arms without a crossbar, and the flames
in the light fittings face the central arm and the
Torah shrine/ark that they flank.
At Sepphoris, a similar design of the Torah
shrine, partly destroyed, is depicted in the central
panel of the second band (Weiss & Netzer 1996:
18-19; Weiss 2005: 65-77); the panel is divided
into three parts: the central one renders the Torah
shrine portrayed as a façade of six columns, three
on either side, each placed on a pedestal, all six
placed on a stylobate (pl. II.1b, fig. II-10b). The
columns with stylized Ionic capitals support a
Syrian gable decorated in its centre with a conch
and acroteria at the corners. Steps might have
been rendered between the columns. Within this
façade, two doors decorated with square panels,
three on each side, lending a three-dimensional
illusion simulating wooden doors, represent the
ark.
the jewish symbols panel 25
Figure II-11. Mosaic panel of the Ark of the Scrolls flanked by pairs of menoroth and ritual objects: a. Beth "Alpha;
b. Na#aran.
An incense shovel is depicted below the Torah
shrine, which is an unusual and unique position.
Each of the two flanking panels depicts a menorah
with arms decorated with an elaborated kind of
the capital-and-flower design and a tripod base
with stylized animal feet (Hachlili 2001: 148, 161,
IS3.7). The menoroth have a horizontal crossbar
with round glass containers serving as light fittings;
the illuminating flames of the right menorah
lean towards the centre, to the Torah shrine; the
left menorah is depicted identically, namely the
flames tend outwards, away from the centre. Each
menora is flanked by ritual objects, the one on
the left by a lulav bound together with the other
three species and ethrog, all placed in a bowl,
while the menorah on the right is flanked by a
shofar and tongs.
At Susiya the mosaic panel, placed before the
secondary bema, shows the Torah shrine as a
wide façade with four columns, each resting on
a pedestal (Gutman et al 1981). The two central
columns support a Syrian gable decorated
with a conch (pl. II.1c, fig. II-10c). Between these
columns two partly destroyed doors embody the
Ark, decorated with square panels, three on each
side; they are quite similar to the Sepphoris rendition.
The pair of menoroth flanking the Torah
shrine on the Susiya pavement differ entirely,