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Obj. ID: 452
Jewish Architecture
  Ceiling of the Beit Tefilah Benyamin Synagogue in Chernivtsi (Cernăuţi) - Photos of 1993

© Center for Jewish Art, Photographer: Khaimovich, Boris, 1993

The composition of the ceiling is determined by twelve angled frames, resulting from the intersection of four centrally symmetrical equilateral triangles.  The central medallion is decorated with flowers, the corner ones contain the images of a lion, an eagle, a leopard, and a deer. The twelve angled frames feature the zodiac signs, and inside the composition are twelve landscapes and still-lives, framed by cartouches with quotations from Psalm 150.

1)    Medallion with flowers

2)    Cartouches with quotations from Psalm 150

2.1 Praise God in His sanctuary – the interior of the sanctuary of the Temple with a menorah and a table for the bread offering.

2.2 Praise Him in the firmament of His power – a sky with stars and the sun rising over the Earth.

2.3 Praise Him for His mighty acts – a thunderstorm with the diagonal lightning crisscrossing the dark sky.

2.4 Praise Him according to His abundant greatness – an eruption of a volcano.

2.5 Praise Him with the blast of the horn - two Horns and prayer- book.

 2.6 Praise Him with the psaltery and harp - violin, clarinet, lute.

2.7. Praise Him with timbrel and dance - drum and pipe.

2.8. Praise Him with stringed instrument and organs - clarinet, guitar, pipe, lute, cymbals.

2.9.Praise Him upon the loud cymbals- cymbals and lute.

2.10. Praise Him upon the high sounding cymbals - trumpets.

2.11- 2.12 Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Hallelujah  - white and black birds in flight.

3) The zodiac signs placed in the corners of a large dodecagonal rosette counterclockwise.  Every Zodiac sign is accompanied by the name of the respective month of the Jewish calendar. The figures are shown against the background of trees executed in brownish and greenish colors.

Libra Tishrei - Moznaym: above – a set of scales hanging from the sky, and below – a table  with a set of weights [for the scale] and a large open accounting book.

Scorpio - Cheshvan – Acrav chameleon or scorpion.

Sagittarius – Kislev- Keshet - a hand protruding from a bush and aiming a bow and arrow.

Capricornus – Tevet - Gdi - goats among the trees.

Aquarius – Shvat – Dli – well.

Fish – Adar- Dagim - fish in the river.

Aries -  Nisan – Tale – sheep.

Taurus – Eyar – Shor - bull.

Gemini – Sivan- Teumim -  two birds.

Crab - Tammuz – Sartan - chameleon or scorpion.

Leo – Ab – Arye – Lion.

Virgo – Elul- Betula - as a dove with a flower in its beak.

Summary and Remarks
Remarks

58 image(s)

sub-set tree:

Name/Title
Ceiling of the Beit Tefilah Benyamin Synagogue in Chernivtsi (Cernăuţi) | Unknown
Object Detail
Painted Ceiling
Monument Setting
Unknown
Date
Between 1923 and 1940
Active dates
Reconstruction dates
Artist/ Maker
Unknown
Historical Origin
Unknown
Community type
Congregation
Unknown
Location
Unknown |
Site
Unknown
School/Style
Unknown|
Period
Period Detail
Collection
Unknown |
Documentation / Research project
Unknown
Iconographical Subject
Textual Content
Unknown |
Languages of inscription
Unknown
Shape / Form
Unknown
Material / Technique
Material Stucture
Material Decoration
Material Bonding
Material Inscription
Material Additions
Material Cloth
Material Lining
Tesserae Arrangement
Density
Colors
Construction material
Measurements
Height
Length
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Depth
Circumference
Thickness
Diameter
Weight
Axis
Panel Measurements
Condition
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
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
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Signature
Colophon
Scribal Notes
Watermark
Hallmark
Group
Group
Group
Group
Group
Trade Mark
Binding
Decoration Program
Suggested Reconsdivuction
History/Provenance
Main Surveys & Excavations
Sources
Type
Documenter
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Author of description
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Architectural Drawings
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Computer Reconstruction
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Section Head
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Language Editor
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Negative/Photo. No.
The following information on this monument will be completed:
Unknown |