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32 chapter two Figure II-15. Sanctuaries on the Dura Europos wall paintings, panels WB2, WB3, WB4. similar to the synagogue Torah shrine panel are depicted on Christian mosaic floors in Jordan (pl. II.3). The mosaic of the eastern part of the central carpet at the 6th-century Chapel of Priest John at Khirbat al-Mukhayyat, Mount Nebo (Piccirillo 1993: 174, fig. 228), shows a gabled, fourcolumned shrine decorated with a conch in its tympanum. In the centre between the two inner columns is a dedicatory inscription (not doors of an ark), flanked by two candlesticks; two roosters perch on the tympanum corners and two peacocks and a two trees flank the shrine (pl. II.3a). A different architectural structure of two columns carrying an arcuated lintel decorated with a conch is rendered in the presbytery of the Theotokos chapel in #Ayn al-Kanish (Piccirillo 1998: 359, fig. 228); between the two columns a curtain is suspended from a horizontal rod. Sheep (disfigured) in front of small trees flank the structure, which evokes the edifice with the curtain on the panel of the Beth She"an A synagogue, and also slightly the Susiya Torah shrine panel (pls. II.1c, II.2b). Another example shows a completely different structure rendered on a rectangular mosaic panel in front of the altar of the early 7th-century Chapel of Theotokos at Mount Nebo (Piccirillo 1993: 151, fig. 200). It depicts a stylized shrine

of two columns surmounting an arched top, with an altar and fire within, flanked by two bulls, two gazelles, and two flower clusters (pl. II.3b); the shrine is interpreted as the Temple in Jerusalem and the scene’s meaning is suggested by the inscription of Psalm 51: 21 above the scene. It seems reasonable to infer that the structures depicted in these examples are intended to represent the Jerusalem Temple , either as conceived by an artist consulting a pattern book or as representing an ideal. The iconography differs from the Ark of the Scroll and Torah shrine examples but is similar to the sanctuaries; the Temple structures are usually depicted with a gate while the façades on the synagogue mosaics show double decorated doors of an ark. The basic elements of these sanctuaries including the general form, the columns, the panelled doors, and the decorating conch appear also in Torah shrine architecture and depictions in synagogues of the Land of Israel . * The major architectural feature of the synagogue was the Torah shrine, which became a permanent fixture in the synagogue building from its inception following the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple. Typological differences in the Torah shrines should be attributed to local preferences, popular vogues, or historical development. Built usually on the Jerusalem-oriented wall, the Torah shrine took the structural form of aedicula, niche or apse. All three types of repositories were constructed of stone, were elevated on bases and were approached by steps. The Torah shrine was the receptacle for the Ark of the Scrolls, which was probably made of wood (Hachlili 2000: 161-163). The earliest artistically rendered examples of the Torah shrine and ark appear in the Land of Israel during the 3rd-4th centuries in both synagogal art (on the Hammath Tiberias mosaic) and funerary art (inscribed on walls and painted on stones at Beth She‘arim). In the Diaspora, representations of the Ark of the Scrolls alone, likewise dated to the 3rd-4th centuries, appear on funerary art (on objects and wall paintings of the catacombs of Rome) and on lamps . Often the Torah shrine and the ark are flanked by other images: a pair of menoroth and ritual the jewish symbols panel 33 objects on synagogue mosaic pavements at Beth "Alpha, Hammath Tiberias, Na#aran, Sepphoris, and Susiya. In the Diaspora the ark, sometimes flanked by a menorah and ritual object s, is found on tombstones, in wall paintings, and on gold glasses from the catacombs in Rome (Hachlili 1997, pls. VI-15, 18, 19, 26-28); sometimes the ritual objects only appear, without a menorah. At other times the ark is also flanked with animals. Two lions and two birds flank the ark and the menorah on the mosaic at Beth "Alpha and on gold glasses from the catacombs of Rome (Hachlili 1997, nos. 3, 4, 5 and 7; figs. VI-20, 22, 24). These depictions of the Torah shrine with the two flanking menoroth may represent the actual position of the Torah shrine and menoroth in their prominent place in the synagogue building. The Torah shrine designs appearing in synagogue and funerary art throughout the Land of Israel and the Diaspora are reminiscent of Temple designs (Hachlili 2000: 155-157, figs. 18). Some scholars argue that the designs discussed here as depictions of the synagogue Torah shrine and ark are in fact representations of the Jerusalem Temple. However, the designs differ: in the Temple designs, the structure has a tiled roof and inside the façade and a decorated double closed gate, which sometimes has a lock, rings, and a veil. In the Torah shrine designs the structure is usually depicted as a columned façade with decorated double closed ark doors in the Land of Israel renditions, further proved by the depictions of the ark in the Diaspora examples were the open doors of the ark show clearly the scrolls on the shelves (fig. II-14; Hachlili 2000: 159, figs. 15-17). The Torah shrine and ark representation in Jewish art, especially on the mosaic pavements of synagogues, had symbolic connotations: first, they symbolized the actual form and position of the Torah shrine and the ark in synagogue architecture; second, they were spiritual and religious symbols of the Torah. Torah reading conducted in public was a most important element in synagogue life and ceremonial. The location of the Torah shrine, which is the focal point of the ceremony in the synagogue on the Jerusalem-oriented wall, and its similarity in design to the assumed Temple façade, indicate the relations between them. The connection is enhanced by the aspiration to arouse the memory of the Temple.

32<br />

chapter two<br />

Figure II-15. Sanctuaries on the Dura Europos wall paintings, panels WB2, WB3, WB4.<br />

similar to the synagogue Torah shrine panel are<br />

depicted on Christian mosaic floors in Jordan<br />

(pl. II.3). The mosaic of the eastern part of the<br />

central carpet at the 6th-century Chapel of Priest<br />

John at Khirbat al-Mukhayyat, Mount Nebo (Piccirillo<br />

1993: 174, fig. 228), shows a gabled, fourcolumned<br />

shrine decorated with a conch in its<br />

tympanum. In the centre between the two inner<br />

columns is a dedicatory inscription (not doors of<br />

an ark), flanked by two candlesticks; two roosters<br />

perch on the tympanum corners and two peacocks<br />

and a two trees flank the shrine (pl. II.3a).<br />

A different architectural structure of two columns<br />

carrying an arcuated lintel decorated with<br />

a conch is rendered in the presbytery of the Theotokos<br />

chapel in #Ayn al-Kanish (Piccirillo 1998:<br />

359, fig. 228); between the two columns a curtain<br />

is suspended from a horizontal rod. Sheep (disfigured)<br />

in front of small trees flank the structure,<br />

which evokes the edifice with the curtain on the<br />

panel of the Beth She"an A synagogue, and also<br />

slightly the Susiya Torah shrine panel (pls. II.1c,<br />

II.2b).<br />

Another example shows a completely different<br />

structure rendered on a rectangular mosaic<br />

panel in front of the altar of the early 7th-century<br />

Chapel of Theotokos at Mount Nebo (Piccirillo<br />

1993: 151, fig. 200). It depicts a stylized shrine

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