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the bust of the season Nisan (Spring) is placed
in the upper left corner, with Tammuz (Summer)
and Tevet (Winter) following counter-clockwise.
At Sepphoris and Na#aran Nisan (Spring) is in the
lower left corner, with the other seasons following
counter-clockwise. At Huseifa the only preserved
representation of the seasons is Tishri (Autumn)
and it is located in the upper left corner (Avi-
Yonah 1934: 126-27).
The postures of the Hammath Tiberias and
Sepphoris figures, with their left-turned faces,
and the seasonal attributes, are quite similar. The
Sepphoris seasons are attired in sleeveless dress,
except for Tevet (Winter), which is draped in a
dress that also covers her head. The Beth "Alpha
seasons are winged figures depicted frontally, with
richly coloured jewellery and ornamentations.
As noted, except at Huseifa the seasons are
accompanied by the Hebrew name of the first
month, which stands for the appropriate season
(Tekufah in Hebrew): Tekufat Nisan =Spring, Tekufat
Tammuz =Summer, Tekufat Tishri = Autumn,
Tekufat Tevet = Winter (pl. III.11; fig. III-10). The
names of the seasons are inscribed in each synagogue
in the same fashion and are located in
the same place, usually beside or on either side
of the head of the season; only at Beth "Alpha
are the names inscribed next to the left wing of
the season, with one exception, Tammuz, which
is inscribed next to the right wing. At Sepphoris
each season is also accompanied by the name of
the season inscribed in Greek (as in other mosaics:
see Antioch—fig. III-14).
The four seasons’ representations in each
zodiac are similar in appearance; the faces’ features,
eyes, and some of their jewellery and dress
are alike. Only their divergent attributes identify
them.
The Hammath Tiberias four seasons’ faces are
very much alike; they have oval-shaped heads,
large open eyes gazing towards the upper right.
All have their heads crowned by wreaths, with
different plants characterizing each of the seasons
(pl. III.11). All the seasons wear a sleeveless
tunic, fastened at the shoulders by a clasp; all
are adorned by a necklace, earrings, and bracelets;
they hold in the their right hand an object
appropriate to each, and another object is placed
at their left. The exception is the partly damaged
season of Tevet (winter), which wears a mantle (pallium),
also draped over the head, and is adorned
with earrings.
The Sepphoris the four seasons are depicted
the zodiac panel and its significance 45
in the same manner. The heads turn left; Spring
and Autumn have the same hairstyle, with the
hair combed to the sides and clasped at the top
with a clip, and they are adorned with a small
earring (pl. III.11). Summer, albeit with the same
facial features, wears a round hat with a button
on the top. The Tevet season (Winter) is different
here too, wearing a cloak that covers her head,
as at Hammath Tiberias. All the seasons have
their attributes portrayed alongside their heads;
they hold no object in their hands, although the
assemblage of attributes at Sepphoris is richer
than in the other mosaics.
The four Beth "Alpha seasons are all rendered
en face in the same style, as winged stylized and
schematic female busts, richly jewelled with necklaces
and earrings (pl. III.11); they are depicted
in frontal view, their features and hairstyles are
identical; only the accompanying attributes rendered
around them identify them.
The four Na#aran seasons (pl. III.11) are badly
damaged, but even in what is left they show similarity
in their general shape and dress; the figures
are associated with the appropriate symbol, they
all seem to hold a wand in their right hand, and
an inverted bird appears at their left.
The following descriptions of the seasons
emphasize the similarities and differences in the
separate mosaic figures and their attributes (see
comparable seasons and discussion in Chapter
VIII, pp. 184-191):
Spring (Nisan) (pl. III.11; fig. III-10). The figures at
Hammath Tiberias and Beth "Alpha are adorned
with necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. The Hammath
Tiberias figure is crowned with a wreath of
two large flowers and holds a bowl of fruit in her
right hand with a rose placed next to heron the
left. The Nisan figure at Sepphoris has wavy hair
gathered with a clip, a wreath beneath the hair,
an earring in her left ear, and wears a sleeveless
tunic; a bowl with flowers and a rose branch are
on the left (quite similar to Hammath Tiberias), a
sickle, a flower basket and lilies are on the right.
The Beth "Alpha and Na#aran Springs show similar
attributes: the Beth "Alpha winged figure has
a shepherd’s crook (pedum) and a bird. At Na#aran
the figure holds a shepherd’s crook, with a sheaf
of corn and an upside-down bird placed on either
side of the image.
In the Jewish mosaic design, the symbol of
Spring is the plate of fruit or the shepherd’s
crook. The plate of fruit as depicted at Hammath