Saturday, February 27, 2010

Horned animal within a medallion

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This is the only animal I could come up with for Camera-Critters Sunday while still remaining in this week's tour of the Supreme Court Building.

The horned animal inhabits a floor mosaic found at al Makher in the Western Galilee.
Now he lives on the wall of the Supreme Court.
He is pretty old, from the Roman-Byzantine period.

This 5th or 6th century mosaic carpet and its explanation (see below) adorn the wall at the entrance to the largest courtroom.

Other than the one painting of the founders, the flame of justice, and a mysterious thing I'll show you tomorrow, I saw no art displayed in the complex.
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I love it that beautiful stone mosaics native to this land are what was chosen to hang on the walls.
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And of course, the architecture itself is the true creative and symbolic artwork here in the Supreme Court Building.
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Maybe the Greek readers of this blog can translate fragments of inscriptions?
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16 comments:

  1. Very informative and interesting post Dina, well done!
    Happy Camera Critters
    purrs and love
    Luna

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  2. Beautiful mosaics. It always amazes me that such vibrant, beautiful artwork can survive so much for so long. They're a true treasure.

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  3. hi beautiful Dina.
    I love this beautiful treasure of the horned animal.I found myself wondering what connection this horned animal had with justice..if any anyway it is a beautiful historical peice of art.
    the prior post of the pyramid leads me to consider the various facets of justice and the many angles used to perceive it.

    thanks. shalom.

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  4. Dina: What interesting artifacts. I have a real deer on my site.

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  5. Just fascinating pictures and info. :)

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  6. Very informative Dina and much more interesting than the critters I posted.
    I'm glad you shared your ancient animals with us.

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  7. great post!
    now i have my history lesson finished for today xD

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  8. I found the lettering most interesting.

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  9. Had to google the tsunami warning - was out yesterday and didn't see or hear the news so had no idea what you were talking about.

    Seems we are but its mainly for the Pacific Islands. Usually all we get is higher tides and closed beaches if necessary. Link to ABC news here:

    http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02/27/2832153.htm

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  10. What beautiful mosaics, Dina!
    I've enjoyed them a lot :-)

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  11. A very good place for these beautiful mosaics.

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  12. Very fitting artwork for the walls of an amazing building!

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  13. Beautiful mosaics! The first one is my favourite.

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  14. My wife and I were at a St. Olaf College gala last night with friends. When they live auctioned a trip to Jerusalem with a dinner on the mt of olives, I thought of YOU!

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  15. Shalom all. Thanks for visiting and writing such fun comments.

    Crederae, good question, what does the horned animal have to do with justice. Maybe the judges are often "on the horns of a dilemma"?

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  16. Excellent choice for both contexts, Dina!

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