Mosaic of Date Palm Tree
1 of 18
Object Label
This tree and its unlocated companion panel, part of the decorative mosaics from an ancient synagogue, probably represented the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and the Tree of Life, from the Garden of Eden and described in the biblical Book of Genesis. For the Jewish congregation of Hammam Lif it also evoked the city of Jerusalem, a place often represented in art by the date palm, perhaps because dates were a major export crop of the region.
Caption
Roman. Mosaic of Date Palm Tree, 6th century C.E.. Stone and mortar, With Frame: 1 3/8 x 34 5/8 x 74 3/16 in. (3.5 x 87.9 x 188.4 cm) Without Frame: 1 3/8 x 31 x 70 9/16 in. (3.5 x 78.8 x 179.2 cm) Other: 248 lb. (112.5kg). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 05.14. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 05.14_overall_PS11.jpg)
Gallery
Not on view
Gallery
Not on view
Culture
Title
Mosaic of Date Palm Tree
Date
6th century C.E.
Period
Roman Period
Geography
Place found: Hammam Lif, Tunisia
Medium
Stone and mortar
Classification
Dimensions
With Frame: 1 3/8 x 34 5/8 x 74 3/16 in. (3.5 x 87.9 x 188.4 cm) Without Frame: 1 3/8 x 31 x 70 9/16 in. (3.5 x 78.8 x 179.2 cm) Other: 248 lb. (112.5kg)
Credit Line
Museum Collection Fund
Accession Number
05.14
Rights
Creative Commons-BY
You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this three-dimensional work in accordance with a Creative Commons license. Fair use, as understood under the United States Copyright Act, may also apply. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.
Frequent Art Questions
I like the texture of this.
It does indeed have a very interesting texture. It's a mosaic made all in stone. This decorative panel used to decorate an ancient synagogue.This is beautiful! I love the tile work.
You may have found and read the label already, but this tree (and its unlocated companion panel), are part of the decorative mosaics from an ancient synagogue, that probably represented the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and the Tree of Life, from the Garden of Eden and described in the biblical Book of Genesis. And that the piece has survived so well in tact from circa 500 is amazing!I love Palm and Palmetto trees. I am from SC and that is our state symbol!
I can see how that would look like a palmetto! It is actually an ancient date palm. You probably read this on the label, but the curators have written that "This tree and its unlocated companion panel, part of the decorative mosaics from an ancient synagogue, probably represented the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and the Tree of Life, from the Garden of Eden and described in the biblical Book of Genesis. For the Jewish congregation of Hammam Lif it also evoked the city of Jerusalem, a place often represented in art by the date palm, perhaps because dates were a major export crop of the region."I see that you are in Connecting Cultures. This innovative, cross-cultural installation was developed to create new ways of looking at art by making connections between cultures as well as objects.
Which objects does the one above relate to?This tree and its unlocated companion panel, part of the decorative mosaics from an ancient synagogue, probably represented the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and the Tree of Life, from the Garden of Eden and described in the biblical Book of Genesis. It is surrounded by other religious and spiritual objects: Buddhas, Yoruba masks, Kachina Dolls, etc., from around the world. See what connections you can draw between those objects!Is this 6th century mosaic completely original?
This is one of several mosaics that were excavated in the 19th century from the synagogue of Hammam Lif and they were all found in relatively good condition. According to our records, some restoration was done around the edges, especially the left. The work was probably done with original tesserae though.Thats amazing, why isn't it more protected? I'd be paranoid about people touching it!I'm glad you're so concerned with the artwork's well-being! To be honest, stone mosaics are pretty resilient. We do of course encourage visitors not to touch the art to help preserve it and there are guards in place to help with this encouragement.Cheers, thanks for the info!
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