The Migdal Stone and its Ornamentation

A unique rectangular limestone block was recently found in secondary use in the vestibule of the synagogue at Migdal (Magdala) dated to the 1st century CE. The Migdal stone has the form of a closed box with four short massive legs and is decorated with geometric, plant, and architectural motifs on a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Revue biblique
Main Author: Ḥakhlili, Raḥel 1935-2019 (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Peeters [2017]
In: Revue biblique
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Magdala (Israel) / Synagogue / Limestone / Decoration / History 1-100
RelBib Classification:AG Religious life; material religion
HD Early Judaism
HH Archaeology
KBL Near East and North Africa
TB Antiquity
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Parallel Edition:Non-electronic
Description
Summary:A unique rectangular limestone block was recently found in secondary use in the vestibule of the synagogue at Migdal (Magdala) dated to the 1st century CE. The Migdal stone has the form of a closed box with four short massive legs and is decorated with geometric, plant, and architectural motifs on all four sides and on the top. Several interpretations of the stone decoration were proposed by the excavators and other scholars. The author suggests that the repertoire of motifs on the Migdal stone is similar to that of the designs on Jewish ossuaries and derives mainly from traditional elements in the local Second Temple period art.
Un bloc de calcaire unique de forme rectangulaire a été récemment découvert en remploi dans le vestibule de la synagogue de Migdal (Magdala) daté du premier siècle EC. La pierre de Migdal a la forme d'un coffre fermé monté sur quatre pieds massifs et courts. Elle est décorée de motifs géométriques, végétaux et architecturaux sur chacun de ses quatre côtés et sur le dessus. Plusieurs interprétations des motifs furent proposées par les fouilleurs et d'autres spécialistes. L'auteure suggère que le répertoire des motifs retrouvés sur la pierre de Migdal est semblable aux modèles des ossuaires juifs et qu'il provient principalement d'éléments d'art traditionnel local de la période du Second Temple.
ISSN:2466-8583
Contains:Enthalten in: Revue biblique
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.2143/RBI.124.2.3239931