Page 44 - Holyland Magazine - 2017 Edition

Hezekiah's bulla. Photo: Eilat Mazar,
Photo: Ouria Tadmor
usually used to seal documents. What makes
this finding unique is that it is the first to be main east-west road (Documanus Maximums)
unearthed in an archaeological excavation,
within a documented archaeological context.
Other seals have surfaced from the looting of
antiquities. The Egyptian 'ankh' symbol may
also be significant insofar as the Bible records
that Hezekiah was very sick and about to die,
but after praying to God he was cured and
lived another 15 years (Is. 38). The excavation
team suggests that the ankh symbol might
have been added to the royal seal as a token
of thanks, following his recovery. However, I
wish to propose a different explanation: the
symbol of life might have been added to the
king’s seal while he was ill, as an amulet for
healing. The same concept is reflected in
the familiar Jewish practice in later times of
adding the name “Chai” or “Chaim” (Life) onto
the name of a person who is very ill, as an
amulet for long life.
This unique bulla is now on display in the
Davidson Center Museum.
New Madaba Map and Byzantine
Market Mosaic in the Cardo
During the Byzantine Period (324-628 C.E.)
Jerusalem and the Land of Israel were
awarded central importance as the setting
for stories of the Bible and the events of
early Christianity. Jerusalem was built as a
magnificent city with a surrounding wall,
towers and gates, impressive churches, a
healing center, and broad streets paved with
stone. The Temple Mount was left in ruins,
and for most of this period Jews were not
permitted to live in the city.
By the late Roman period, Jerusalem already
had two main roads (‘cardines’, singular:
44
The President of Israel and Eilat
Mazar. Photo: Kobi Gideon GPO
‘cardo’) running north to south, and probably a
too. With the southward expansion of the city
during the Byzantine period, the two cardines
were lengthened. The western cardo, where
the Mosaic Project is on display, was a major
highway 22.5 meters wide.
The silent stones cannot tell their story, but
if we close our eyes, ignoring the noise and
bustle around us and allowing our imagination
free reign, we might recapture the sounds,
colors and fragrances of this main Jerusalem
thoroughfare some 1,400 years ago.
The Mosaic Project in the Cardo is part of
a broader initiative by the Company for the
Reconstruction and Development of the
Jewish Quarter to enhance the Old City
tourist experience. Other projects include
the Hurva Synagogue, the Tiferet Yisrael
Synagogue, and upgrading of the Broad Wall
site. The Mosaic Project involves the artistic
rendering of nine stalls featuring products or
artisans typical of the period, as inspired by
archaeological discoveries.
Work on mosaic at Eilon Mosaic Creations studio.
Photo: Eilon Mosaic
The uniqueness of the mosaics comprising
the project lies in the fact that they are
not reconstructions that seek to replicate
original artifacts. Rather, they are artistic
reconstructions that use the scientific
basis as a point of departure for beautiful,
richly-colorful, eye-catching creations. The
mosaics have deliberately been installed
along the concrete wall demarcating the
eastern side of the Cardo, at the foot of
the remains of the real shops of the original
Cardo, some of which are in use today by
Old City shopkeepers.
Along with the stall mosaics there is a new
and accurate reproduction of the Madaba
Map showing Jerusalem and its environs.
Dr. Eyal Meiron planned the stalls and served
as scientific advisor for the project. The
stalls were rendered by international artist
and designer David Harel, and the mosaic
works are being produced by Eilon Mosaic
Creations of Kibbutz Eilon.
The mosaics
Madaba Map of Jerusalem and its Environs –
The Madaba Map is a 6th century floor mosaic
depicting the Land of Israel, Transjordan and
parts of Egypt. “The Holy City of Jerusalem”
is given special prominence. This highly
accurate replica shows Jerusalem in its
broader context, including sites relating to the
Christian tradition of Jesus’ birth (outskirts of
Bethlehem), his crucifixion (Church of the
Holy Sepulchre) and his first revelation to his
disciples on the road to Emmaus.
The Mosaic Project recreates nine stalls from
the Byzantine period. Two of these mosaics
have already been installed and are attracting
interest and admiration.