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Artistic Influences in Synagogue Mosaics: to the “Place of Prayer” Over the Course Putting the Huqoq Synagogue in Context” of “Many Days,” Declaring, “These Men (P

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Artistic Influences in Synagogue Mosaics: to the “Place of Prayer” Over the Course Putting the Huqoq Synagogue in Context” of “Many Days,” Declaring, “These Men (P HUQOQ MOSAICS continued from page 35 All these colorful, populated mosaics are cer- prophet, having fled aboard a ship from his divinely tainly precious in their own right—as unique works appointed mission of announcing the destruction of of art and a testimony to ancient craftsmanship. the city of Nineveh, is cast into the sea by his ship- But the historical significance of the Huqoq syna- mates (Jonah 1:1–2:1). The scene is surrounded by gogue extends beyond the narrow confines of art numerous marine and maritime images, including history. The Huqoq excavations provide evidence vignettes drawn from daily life: a small fishing boat of a rural Jewish community in Lower Eastern with a man casting a net on the right-hand (east) Galilee that constructed a monumental synagogue side and two men in loincloths wringing out a fish- building paved with magnificent mosaics. Our dis- ing net. Prominently represented in the center of coveries contradict the impression conveyed by Artistic the panel is a large sailing ship manned by five sail- textual sources that Jews suffered under Byzan- ors, two of whom are climbing the mast. A bearded, tine Christian rule. Apparently at least some Gali- partially balding, gray-haired man in the center of lean Jewish settlements flourished in the fifth the ship—perhaps the captain—lowers a rope with a and sixth centuries. The similarities between the loop at the end. Immediately below the rope, Jonah’s Huqoq mosaics and those in the nearby synagogue legs and feet can be seen dangling from the mouth at Khirbet Wadi Hamam—including depictions of of a large fish, which is being swallowed by two Samson, Pharaoh’s soldiers drowning in the Red successively larger fish. The depiction of three fish Sea, and the building of the Tower of Babel— swallowing Jonah is another example of a midrashic suggest that Jewish congregations in this part of Influences embellishment to the Biblical story. Lower Eastern Galilee found these stories particu- In the sky to the left of the ship, three hybrid larly meaningful. in Synagogue Mosaics creatures, each with the thighs, torso, and head of At the same time, our discoveries raise a host of a woman and the wings, rump, and feet of a bird, new questions, including how the Huqoq villagers stand on a storm cloud. The trio is dancing and could afford to construct such a large and richly Putting the Huqoq Synagogue in Context playing musical instruments (a flute and a lyre), decorated building, and when and why the syna- attracting the attention of a sailor who points at gogue was abandoned. Perhaps continuing excava- Karen Britt and Ra‘anan Boustan them from the top of the ship’s mast. The combi- tions will provide some answers. In the meantime, nation of their hybrid form, the storm cloud, and the site of Huqoq is closed to the public. The mosa- the musical performance leaves no doubt that these ics have been removed for conservation, and the bird-women represent Harpies (Greek mythological excavated areas are backfilled. Hopefully the site The excavations in the monumental the scenes depicted in the Huqoq mosaics differ personifications of the storm winds) and Sirens (as will be developed for tourism after our excavations synagogue in the ancient village of Huqoq have sharply from what has long been considered the in Homer’s Odyssey). Although the story of Jonah are completed.4 a unearthed a series of colorful and vivid floor mosaics standard program for ancient synagogues in Galilee— was popular in early Christian art, this is the first 1 For interim reports, see Jodi Magness et al., “Huqoq (Lower populated with figural scenes that have captivated both in terms of artistic themes represented and the definite depiction of the narrative discovered in an Galilee) and Its Synagogue Mosaics: Preliminary Report on scholars and non-specialists alike.* Many of these ways they are employed. So to what extent are the ancient Jewish context. the Excavations of 2011–2013,” Journal of Roman Archaeology works of art are not only remarkably well preserved, stunning Huqoq mosaics unusual, and what do they 27 (2014), pp. 327–355; Jodi Magness et al., “The Huqoq The panel to the south of the Jonah scene shows Excavation Project: 2014–2017 Interim Report,” Bulletin of the but also of surprisingly high quality. reveal about Jewish society in Late Roman Galilee? the construction of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1– American Schools of Oriental Research 380 (2018), pp. 61–131. The evidence amassed at the Huqoq synagogue In tackling the challenges presented by what ini- 9) and God’s punishment of the people for building Also visit the excavation’s website at huqoq.web.unc.edu. since the inception of the project in 2011 is now ripe tially appeared to have been anomalous or unique 2 For a discussion of Samson’s significance, see Matthew a tower intended to reach to heaven. At the center J. Grey, “ ‘The Redeemer to Arise from the House of Dan’: for initial investigations into the features of the Huqoq mosaics, we of the scene, a square tower is under construction. Samson, Apocalypticism, and Messianic Hopes in Late relationship of its decorative pro- have found it productive to con- Various aspects of the process, including the quarry- Antique Galilee,” Journal for the Study of Judaism 44 (2013), gram to other contemporary syna- sider the social, cultural, and eco- pp. 553–589. Mopsuestia ing of stone, woodworking, and an elaborate pulley 3 See Karen Britt and Ra’anan Boustan, The Elephant Mosaic gogues, as well as to the visual and nomic contexts of the local village system, appear around the tower. The workmen are Panel in the Synagogue at Huqoq: Official Publication and Ini- material culture of the wider east- before assessing the extent to which tial Interpretations, Supplementary Series 106 (Portsmouth, differentiated by hairstyles and facial hair, clothing, RI: Journal of Roman Archaeology, 2017). ern Mediterranean world. Indeed, the Huqoq mosaics reflect wider and even skin color in an attempt to portray differ- 4 The following institutions are consortium members of the * The discoveries at Huqoq have regularly been regional and transregional trends. In ent peoples. Amid the ongoing work, divine punish- Huqoq Excavation Project: the University of North Carolina reported in BAR since the launch of the proj- doing so, we have found that Huqoq at Chapel Hill; Austin College (TX); Baylor University; ect in 2011. See Jodi Magness, “Samson in the ment for constructing the tower is represented by Brigham Young University; and the University of Toronto. Synagogue,” BAR, January/February 2013; Jodi provides evidence of a number of the deaths of some of the workmen, who are shown We gratefully acknowledge the funding provided during the Magness, Scholar’s Update: “New Mosaics from MEDITERRANEAN Damascus intersecting trends in mosaic pro- falling headlong from the scaffolding and the ropes 2011–2017 excavation seasons by the consortium members; the Huqoq Synagogue,” BAR, September/October SEA duction that, in our view, should the Kenan Charitable Trust; the National Geographic Society 2013; Jodi Magness, Archaeological Views: “A of the pulley, as well as by a violent fight between Expeditions Council and Waitt Grants Program; the Loeb Lucky Discovery Complicates Life,” BAR, March/ Huqoq prompt a thorough reassessment of workmen. The chaos and violence throughout the Classical Library Foundation; the Carolina Center for Jewish April 2015; Strata: “More Mosaics at Huqoq,” ancient synagogue art.1 panel serve as graphic depictions of the punish- Studies; the International Catacomb Society; Dumbarton BAR, January/February 2017; Strata: “New The two Samson scenes in the Oaks; the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture; the Huqoq Mosaics,” BAR, November/December Jerusalem ment that God exacted from the builders for their Foundation for Biblical Archaeology; and numerous indi- 2017; Strata: “Israelite Spies in Huqoq Mosaic,” N east aisle of the synagogue—Sam- act of hubris. vidual donors. BAR, November/December 2018. son and the Gate of Gaza (Judges 38 May/JUNE 2019 BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY REVIEW 39 ARTISTIC INFLUENCES ARTISTIC INFLUENCES COURTESY UZI LEIBNER/PHOTO BY GABI LARON GABI BY LEIBNER/PHOTO UZI COURTESY Khirbet Wadi Hamam Huqoq JIM HABERMAN JIM Huqoq LARON GABI BY LEIBNER/PHOTO UZI COURTESY Khirbet Wadi Hamam GIANT JUDGE. Samson appears in the synagogue mosa- UNDER CONSTRUCTION. Using a variety of tools and Huqoq ics at Huqoq and at Khirbet Wadi Hamam, both located devices, workmen build a large tower. This scene, which in Lower Eastern Galilee and dating to the Late Roman appears in mosaics at both the Wadi Hamam (see upper period. The scene from Huqoq (see left) is based on right) and Huqoq (see left images) synagogues, shows Judges 15:4–5, where Samson ties together 300 foxes the construction of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1–9). in pairs tail-to-tail with torches and sets them loose Sharing an artistic tradition, these scenes depict workmen in the Philistines’ fields. The scene from Wadi Hamam using—and even fighting over—the same kind of tools. (see above) depicts Judges 15:15–17, where Samson kills a thousand Philistines with a donkey’s jawbone. In both, Samson is portrayed as a giant in a Roman The Helios-zodiac cycle at the center of the soldier’s uniform. nave of the Huqoq synagogue offers an illuminating example. Although a zodiac cycle is included in the in any other ancient synagogue in Roman Palestine: mosaic floors of at least eight other ancient Palestin- the building of the Tower of Babel and Pharaoh’s ian synagogues,3 the design at Huqoq is rare. Zodiac JIM HABERMAN JIM soldiers being swallowed by the Red Sea.
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