Shahba's golden age is closely associated with the Roman Empire and Emperor Philip the Arab, whence its Classical name: Philippopolis. Gracing the National Museum of Damascus is a giant (337 cm x 276 cm) mosaic from that city and the 3rd century C.E. featuring, in bright colors, themes and allegories from Greco-Roman Mythology. The persons, divinities and otherwise, are designated by their names. Now let's analyze this heavenly beauty part by part:
Occupying the bottom center is a woman personifying Gaia, the Mother Earth Goddess, surrounded by four kids. Identified above her shoulders are Georgia (meaning Agriculture), and Triptolemus (inventor of agriculture), Familiar figures in Greek fables.
Bottom right we see a bearded man sitting artist-like before a painting. He is none other than Prometheus, about to create the first man out of clay. Right above him is Hermes, the Messenger God who, among other tasks, commutes between the World of the Divine and that of the Immortals. He is surrounded by three women: the topless one is of course Aphrodite, Goddess of Beauty & Love; another one would be Psyche, symbolizing the Soul.
Bottom left is Aion, the God of Time carrying a ring in his right hand. Above and behind him are four winged ladies personifying the Four Seasons.
topmost on both sides are four heads emerging from the clouds and representing the Four Winds as follows:
- Boreas: the north wind bring forth the cold winter air.
- Zephyrus: the west wind and harbinger of spring and early summer breezes.
- Notos: south wind announcing storms of late summer and fall.
- Eurus: southeast wind not associated with any of the Greek Seasons.
The top photo forms the cover of the book (link below) and is therefore deformed at the spine. The bottom one, from inside the same book, elucidates the details of the center but is of an inferior quality. I therefore included both.
https://bornindamascus.blogspot.com/2017/02/the-treasures-of-national-museum-of.html
http://bornindamascus.blogspot.com/2017/11/blog-post_26.html
Aiôn et Philippe l'Arabe
Occupying the bottom center is a woman personifying Gaia, the Mother Earth Goddess, surrounded by four kids. Identified above her shoulders are Georgia (meaning Agriculture), and Triptolemus (inventor of agriculture), Familiar figures in Greek fables.
Bottom right we see a bearded man sitting artist-like before a painting. He is none other than Prometheus, about to create the first man out of clay. Right above him is Hermes, the Messenger God who, among other tasks, commutes between the World of the Divine and that of the Immortals. He is surrounded by three women: the topless one is of course Aphrodite, Goddess of Beauty & Love; another one would be Psyche, symbolizing the Soul.
Bottom left is Aion, the God of Time carrying a ring in his right hand. Above and behind him are four winged ladies personifying the Four Seasons.
topmost on both sides are four heads emerging from the clouds and representing the Four Winds as follows:
- Boreas: the north wind bring forth the cold winter air.
- Zephyrus: the west wind and harbinger of spring and early summer breezes.
- Notos: south wind announcing storms of late summer and fall.
- Eurus: southeast wind not associated with any of the Greek Seasons.
The top photo forms the cover of the book (link below) and is therefore deformed at the spine. The bottom one, from inside the same book, elucidates the details of the center but is of an inferior quality. I therefore included both.
https://bornindamascus.blogspot.com/2017/02/the-treasures-of-national-museum-of.html
http://bornindamascus.blogspot.com/2017/11/blog-post_26.html
Aiôn et Philippe l'Arabe
Interesting article (in French) about this mosaic suggests the emperor Philip gave his own features to Aion, to capitalize on his celebration of the Millennium of Rome (linking Time to himself and to Roma Eterna). https://www.persee.fr/doc/mefr_0223-4874_1960_num_72_1_7469
ReplyDeleteThank you kindly.
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