Obj. ID: 1688
Ancient Jewish Art  The Menorah sarcophagus from Beth She`arim

To the main object: Beth She'arim Catacombs

The sarcophagus has a rectangular body and a high-gabled lid with four acroteria on the corners.

The front is decorated with two red lines between two columns. The left narrow side is depicted with a seven-branched Menorah flanked by columns.

The right narrow side is decorated with a wreath enclosing a conch and surrounded by two heraldic dolphins.

The front side - is decorated with two small columns at the corners, between them are two thin parallel red lines. One line extends from capital to capital and the other line from base to base.

The left narrow side - is decorated with a seven-branched Menorah, flanked by columns. The Menorah is composed of six curved branches and a central shaft and stands on a high trapezoid base. The branches and the central shaft are decorated by rounded links.

The right narrow side - is decorated with an overlapping leaf wreath including a conch. The wreath ends below in a ribbon tied by a Hercules knot. The wreath is flanked by two dolphins, holding the ends of the ribbon in their tails, with their heads down and facing each other.