Mona Lisa of the Galilee in City of Sepphoris

Here is an interesting article from Biblical Archaeology Review's 200th issue. Beside the picture, the caption reads: "This richly colored mosaic portrait of an unnamed woman was discovered among the ruins of the Roman city of Sepphoris in the Galilee. The enchanting tilt of her head and near-smile earned her the nickname "Mona Lisa of the Galilee."
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The article goes on to say that in 363 A.D., an earthquake destroyed the Roman city of Sepphoris. The mosiac, which is in the dining room of a Roman villa, was preserved because of the earthquake. The floor of the dining room measures 23 X 40 and this mosiac measures 20 X 20. It is made of a colorful tesserae (a word derived from the Latin word for cube and the Greek word for four)  in excellent condition 6 centuries after the earthquake. It is a wonderful example of Hellenistic art. The whole panel shows scenes with the Greek god of wine,  Dionysus.

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It also has Greek inscriptions, surrounded by an elaborate border of hunting scenes and acanthus vines, and is flanked on two sides by processional scenes. But the crowning jewel is the face of the woman or goddess in the picture, who is at one end of the room. There was probably another face at the other end of the room, but it was destroyed in the earthquake.

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The mosiac shows a high level of artistic skill. Tiny tesserae--less than 0.2 inches square--were used in a wide range of natural stone colors.  The bright whites of the woman's earrings and the trim of her garment...the gentle shading of her blush...and the wreath in her wavy hair demonstrate this exquisite attention to detail.

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Interestingly, Sepphoris is approximately 4 miles from Nazareth where Jesus grew up. Scholars who study these kinds of archeological finds are wondering what kind of influence this city might have had on Jesus. Archeologists have discovered that although it was a Roman city, it was a very Jewish place, where Jesus could have been exposed to Western ideas and philosophies.
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One thing we know: after the end of the First Jewish Revolt in 70 A.D., the city of Sepphoris began to change, after choosing peace that brought in Roman soldiers. It was still home to many Jews, and an important center for rabbinic study--the Misnah was codified here in the 2nd century A.D., but it became more Hellenized in its art, architecture and culture. It was even renamed Diocaesarea. How fascinating that a major Jewish city from Jesus' youth is the home of some of the greatest Roman works of art, especially the "Mona Lisa of the Galilee."

~Your weekend is well begun, so I know you'll continue to have a good one.

Blessings...Mimi