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Art Alone

Img. ID: 2650

© Center for Jewish Art, Photographer: Unknown, ???
Engravings of men and animals are placed on the back wall of the room. They include from left to right: a strange large animal represented in profile with a large head and an open mouth; two heads, one behind the other with upper part of the body of a man in profile facing right; an animal drawn in profile, facing left; a rough drawing of a quadruped; a rough sketch of a falling man; and a falling man situated below figures. He is represented diving headlong, with the body in profile and the head en face, as if turned sideways. His body is rectangular, shown with simple lines. It is decorated with criss-cross pattern.
Name/Title
Beth She'arim, Catacomb 4 | Unknown
Object
Object Detail
Settings
Unknown
Date
early 3rd century - mid-4th century
Synagogue active dates
Reconstruction dates
Artist/ Maker
Unknown (Unknown)
Historical Origin
Unknown
Community type
Unknown |
Congregation
Unknown
Location
Unknown |
School/Style
Unknown|
Period Detail
Collection
Israel | National Parks Authority
| National Parks
Documentation / Research project
Unknown
Material / Technique
Soft rock engraved in the form of men and animals.
Material Stucture
Material Decoration
Material Bonding
Material Inscription
Material Additions
Material Cloth
Material Lining
Tesserae Arrangement
Density
Colors
Construction material
Measurements
??
Height
Length
Width
Depth
Circumference
Thickness
Diameter
Weight
Axis
Panel Measurements
Subject
M | Man
|
Condition
No damage can be seen. The engraving was not completed.
Extant
Documented by CJA
Surveyed by CJA
Present Usage
Present Usage Details
Condition of Building Fabric
Architectural Significance type
Historical significance: Event/Period
Historical significance: Collective Memory/Folklore
Historical significance: Person
Architectural Significance: Style
Architectural Significance: Artistic Decoration
Urban significance
Significance Rating
Textual Content
Unknown |
Languages of inscription
Unknown
Shape / Form
Unknown
0
Ornamentation
Custom
Contents
Codicology
Scribes
Script
Number of Lines
Ruling
Pricking
Quires
Catchwords
Hebrew Numeration
Blank Leaves
Direction/Location
Façade (main)
Endivances
Location of Torah Ark
Location of Apse
Location of Niche
Location of Reader's Desk
Location of Platform
Temp: Architecture Axis
Arrangement of Seats
Location of Women's Section
Direction Prayer
Direction Toward Jerusalem
Coin
Coin Series
Coin Ruler
Coin Year
Denomination
Signature
Colophon
Scribal Notes
Watermark
Hallmark
Group
Group
Group
Group
Group
Trade Mark
Binding
Decoration Program
Summary and Remarks

The head of the animal drawn in profile is represented by a rough circle; its eye is indicated by a dot, its tail by a horizontal line, and its legs by four perpendicular lines ending in horizontal strokes pointing leftwards. Mazar claims that the animal may represent a lion.

The details of the face of the diving man are drawn in dots and lines; the hair is indicated by lines springing from the skull; the legs are indicated by two long lines ending in feet; the hanging arms are represented by double lines running in a continuation of the lines of the body; all five fingers of the hand are indicated. Mazar identifies the criss-cross decoration of the rectangle as a tunic. Mazar claims that this composite scene has a specific meaning. The drawing is primitive and carelessly executed. 

Remarks
Suggested Reconsdivuction
History/Provenance
Main Surveys & Excavations
Bibliography

Mazar, Beth She'arim: Raport on the Excavations During 1936-1940, 1973 vol.I, pp.185-187, pl.XXXVI:5.

Short Name
Full Name
Volume
Page
Type
Documenter
| T.M. 7.1982 D.S. 1992 K.B. 11.1995
Author of description
|
Architectural Drawings
|
Computer Reconstruction
|
Section Head
|
Language Editor
|
Donor
|
Negative/Photo. No.