Mosaic Inscription, ‘En Gedi

5th–6th Century

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An eighteen-line inscription is preserved in the mosaic floor in the western aisle of the synagogue at ‘En Gedi. This is the second-largest mosaic inscription found in a Roman-era synagogue and relates to the thirteen fathers of the world (similar to 1 Chronicles 1:1–4), beginning with Adam and ending with the sons of Noah. It also includes the signs of the zodiac, the months of the Hebrew calendar, the biblical patriarchs, and Daniel with his three friends. According to some scholars, the fact that the community at ‘En Gedi chose to include the zodiac in their synagogue in written instead of figural form points to a more conservative cultural-religious attitude.

 

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Adam, Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared,

Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo,

Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, and Aquarius, Pisces.

Nisan, Iyar, Sivan, Tammuz, Av, Elul,

Tishrei, Marheshvan, Kislev, Tevet, Shevat,

and Adar. Abraham Isaac Jacob. Peace.

Hananiah, Mishael, and ‘Azariah. Peace unto Israel.

May they be remembered for good: Yose and ‘Ezron and Hiziqiyu the sons of Hilfi.

Anyone causing a controversy between a man and his friend, or whoever

slanders his friend before the Gentiles, or whoever steals

the property of his friend, or whoever reveals the secret of the town

to the Gentiles—He whose eyes range through the whole earth

and Who sees hidden things, He will set his face on that

man and on his seed and will uproot him from under the heavens.

And all the people said: Amen and Amen Selah.

Rabbi Yose the son of Hilfi, Hiziqiyu the son of Hilfi, may they be remembered for good,

for they did a great deal in the name of the Merciful, Peace.

We’re sorry. The Posen Library’s licensing agreements prevent this text from being printed or downloaded.

Credits

Mosaic Inscription, ‘En Gedi, trans. Lee Levine, in Lee Levine, “The Inscription in the ‘En Gedi Synagogue,” Ancient Synagogues Revealed, ed. Lee Levine (Jerusalem: Israel Exploration Society, 1981), pp. 140–45. Used with permission of the publisher.

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 2: Emerging Judaism.

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An eighteen-line inscription is preserved in the mosaic floor in the western aisle of the synagogue at ‘En Gedi. This is the second-largest mosaic inscription found in a Roman-era synagogue and relates to the thirteen fathers of the world (similar to 1 Chronicles 1:1–4), beginning with Adam and ending with the sons of Noah. It also includes the signs of the zodiac, the months of the Hebrew calendar, the biblical patriarchs, and Daniel with his three friends. According to some scholars, the fact that the community at ‘En Gedi chose to include the zodiac in their synagogue in written instead of figural form points to a more conservative cultural-religious attitude.

 

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Related Guide

Ancient Mosaics and Architectural Decorations

4th Century BCE–6th Century CE

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