Sasson Ancient Art - Early Jewish and Christian Art - Early Jewish Art

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Early Jewish Art

JEX002
Jewish Menorah glass amulet.
4th - 7th century AD.
H. 25 mm, W. 20 mm.
Intact. Minute chip at the patina of the lower left contour.
Ex. W.B. Private Collection, Canada, 1960-70???s.
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The yellow amber glass amulet, in the form of a circular pendant with a loop on top, depicts in molded relief the Menorah (The seven branches lamp of the Temple of Jerusalem) in the center, standing on a tripodal base, flanked by the Shofar (ram`s horn) on the left and the Lulav (palm-branch) with the Etrog (citron) on the right.
The Menorah was a very rare symbolic motive in Jewish art and became the main Jewish symbol at the 4th century AD. It is usually accompanied with the other minor Jewish symbols: Lulav with Etrog, Shofar and Mahtah.
These Jewish symbols express the messianic hopes for the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem and the freedom of Israel.

Cf. Israeli, Y., Israel Museum, 2003, p. 316, fig. 430.
Spaer, M., Israel Museum, 2001, p. 362, figs. 371-3.

Israeli, Y., Ancient Glass in the Israel Museum: The Eliahu Dobkin Collection and Other Gifts, Jerusalem, 2003.
Spaer, M., Ancient Glass in the Israel Museum: Beads and Other Small Objects, The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, 2001.

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	Gideon Sasson • Sasson Ancient Art • King David Hotel - Annex, Jerusalem - 94101, Israel Phone: + 972-2-622-1460 • gideon@sassonancientart.com • Fax: + 972-2-6249483 Authorized by the Israel Antiquities Authority