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Mosaic of Menorah with Lulav and Ethrog
North African (Hammam Lif, Tunisia)
Not on view
The Hammam Lif Synagogue
A large mosaic found at the Tunisian town of Hammam Lif is so closely aligned with regional conventions that its structure was first identified as a Byzantine church. The presence of a Latin dedicatory inscription identifying the site as "Sancta Sinagoga" (Holy Synagogue), flanked by two Menorahs, revealed that it was a synagogue. The floor consisted of four mosaic carpets, integrating distinctly Jewish symbolism with popular motifs of the period, including a lion.
The menorah was often depicted flanked by symbolic ritual objects. Here, what appear to be the ethrog (citron) and lulav (date-palm branch) of the festival of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) were altered during restoration of the mosaic.
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