Location in the architectural complex:
Southern aisle
Mosaic floor
Illustrative material:
Materials, palette:
Red, yellow, pink, black
Density:
102 in 10 cmsq.
Composition:
A uniform design with a round ornament at its center. A white surround (37 cm) and a border consisting of three guilloches (B4) with degraded red and yellow strands. The border is completed by a crowstep turned upward (A5). The field consists of diagonals made up of fleurons (F2). At the intersections, we have alternate small squares with black borders and pink centers. The optical effect is dominated by dark red created by large segments of meanders. The areas between are filled with lozenges placed vertically between the meanders and horizontally between the NS spaces. Here the color scheme repeats as in the north aisle in a pattern of degraded red and yellow and a white center in which a black cube was fitted as a hub.
Instead of the cross in the northern aisle, we have in the same position a square (102 x 98 cm) with an inset circle (90 cm). The corners of the square are filled with a diagonal row of cubes (white, black, light orange, pink and dark red). The south-west corner is filled with a cheque pattern in dark-red-white and the north-east corner is filled with a wave pattern in pink and dark red. This wave pattern serves as an inverted background to a pelta ornament. Within the circle, there is a crowstep pointing inwards (A5), a "wreath" and next a crowstep pointing outwards (A6). Within the innermost circle, there is a four-petaled rosette with a white center and dark-red and black leaves and degraded triangles inside.
Geometric patterns:
Avi-Yonah A6
Avi-Yonah A5
Avi-Yonah B4
Avi-Yonah F2
Comments:
Signs of burning are evident in the south aisle mosaic.