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Ancient Naro and Modern Synagogues at Hammam Lif, Tunisia

Hammam Lif, Tunisia

Formerly known by ancient peoples as the city of Naro and by the Romans as Aquae Persianae, Hammam Lif is the site of an extravagant ancient synagogue that has produced one of the only examples of Jewish mosaic art in the Roman period. 

Description

Ancient Synagogue: The synagogue in Hammam-Lif was built during the Roman period likely in the 3rd -5th century CE1. It was discovered in 1883 by French army captain Ernest de Prudhomme2 and is the most complete monument of its kind in North Africa3. As archeologists excavated the site they found Jewish inscriptions and mosaics, but many sections were damaged or destroyed during this process4.

Description: The synagogue itself had at least 15 rooms and was likely part of a larger establishment5. On the center of the western wall of the main sanctuary is a semi-circular niche6. Scholars are unsure of what this niche was used for but note that the orientation of the niche, mosaics, and inscriptions were all facing eastward7. 

The Inscriptions and Mosaics: From the floor of the main sanctuary, archeologists were able to excavate a mosaic which was later divided into 12 panels. The central theme of the sanctuary mosaic is Paradise and Creation8. Depicted on the various panels of the mosaic are a palm tree shedding dates in Paradise9, sea animals and birds portraying the Creation10, and two peacocks and an amphora11 which refer to the Creation and the coming of the Messiah12. In addition to these main scenes, the panels are also decorated with fruits and various depictions of birds. 

Nine other panels were created from mosaics thought to have been found in other rooms in the earlier parts of the synagogue and nearby buildings13. These other panels depict various animals, a male carrying a pedum14, and a female figure dressed in armor and carrying a spear15. These mosaics were likely created in the 1st or 2nd century CE16 and are thought to have originated from a different source than the mosaics of the main sanctuary because they exhibit a more pictorial and three-dimensional style compared to the mosaics found in the synagogue17. 

The inscription on the mosaic of the main sanctuary bears the name Julia, a resident of Naro who funded the mosaic and lived around the 6th century CE18 The inscription reads “ancta Synagoga naron pro salutem suam ancilla tua Juliana de suo proprium tesselavit” which translate to "Your servant, the girl Juliana, paved the holy synagogue of Naro for her own salvation out of her own resources"19. On each side of the inscription are mosaics of seven-branched candlesticks, one flanked by two smaller objects that have been lost and another flanked by an etrog and a shofar20. 

Jewish Presence in Hammam-Lif: Jews are believed to have settled in Hammam-Lif before the Phonecian period21 but not much is known about Jewish life during this time22. The synagogue of Hammam Lif provides evidence of a Jewish community that was quite wealthy and who had written in Latin.  

Ancient Naro and Modern Synagogues at Hammam Lif, Tunisia

Hammam Lif, Tunisia

© Mapbox, © OpenStreetMap

Gallery

Sources

Notes 


1 Biebel


2 Biebel


3 Biebel


4 Biebel


5 Biebel


6 Biebel


7 Biebel


8 Brooklyn Museum


9 Brooklyn Museum


10 Brooklyn Museum


11 The National Library of Israel


12 Brooklyn Museum


13 Brooklyn Museum


14 Brooklyn Museum


15 Biebel


16 McMullen Museum of Art 


17 Biebel


18 McMullen Museum of Art 


19 McMullen Museum of Art 


 20 Biebel


21 ANU Museum


22 Saadoun


 


Works Cited 



  1. Biebel, Franklin M. “The Mosaics of Hammam Lif.” The Art Bulletin 18, no. 4 (1936): 540–51. https://doi.org/10.2307/3045653.

  2. “Photograph of: Hammam Lif Synagogue.” The National Library of Israel. Accessed August 9, 2022. https://www.nli.org.il/en/images/NNL_ARCHIVE_AL700396257/NLI.

  3. Saadoun, Haim. ‘Tunisia’. In Encyclopedia of Jews in the Islamic World, edited by Norman A. Stillman, Phillip I. Ackerman-Lieberman, Yaron Ayalon, Avigdor Levy, Vera B. Moreen, Meira Polliack, Angel Saenz-Badillos and, and Daniel Schroeter. Accessed July 27, 2022. https://referenceworks.brillonline.com:443/entries/encyclopedia-of-jews-in-the-islamic-world%252Ftunisia-COM_0021690.

  4. “The Jewish Community of Hammam-Lif.” ANU Museum of the Jewish People. Accessed July 27, 2022. https://dbs.anumuseum.org.il/skn/en/c6/e182775/Place/Hammam_Lif. 

  5. “Tree of Paradise: Jewish Mosaics from the Roman Empire.” Brooklyn Museum. Accessed August 9, 2022. https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/touring/tree_of_paradise. 

  6. “Tree of Paradise: Jewish Mosaics from the Roman Empire.” McMullen Museum. Accessed August 9, 2022. https://www.bc.edu/sites/artmuseum/exhibitions/tree/. 


 


Photographs  



  1. Mosaic of Dolphin Facing Left. Photograph. New York, 2018. Brooklyn Museum. https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/17089

  2. Mosaic of a Hyena. Photograph. New York, 2005. Brooklyn Museum. https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/17105

  3. Mosaic of Fish's Head Facing Left. Photograph. New York, 2005. Brooklyn Museum. https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/17087

  4. Mosaic of Duck Facing Left. Photograph. New York, 2005. Brooklyn Museum. https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/17092

  5. Mosaic of Duck Facing Left in Vines. Photograph. New York, n.d. Brooklyn Museum. https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/17093

  6. Mosaic of Personification of Roma in a Medallion. Photograph. New York, 2005. Brooklyn Museum. https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/17101

  7. Mosaic of Male Figure in Medallion. Photograph. New York, n.d. Brooklyn Museum. https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/17100

  8. Mosaic of a Gazelle in a Medallion). Photograph. New York, n.d. Brooklyn Museum. https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/17102

  9. Mosaic of Duck Facing Right. Photograph. New York, 2004. Brooklyn Museum. https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/17091

  10. Mosaic of Square Basket with Fruit. Photograph. New York, 2005. Brooklyn Museum. https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/17096

  11. Mosaic of a Gazelle in a Vine. Photograph. New York, 2005. Brooklyn Museum. https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/17103

  12. Mosaic of Round Basket with Bread. Photograph. New York, 2005. Brooklyn Museum. https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/17097

  13. Mosaic of a Bird in a Vine. Photograph. New York, 20017. Brooklyn Museum. https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/17106

  14. Mosaic of Partridge. Photograph. New York, n.d. Brooklyn Museum. https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/17094

  15. Mosaic of Lion. Photograph. New York, 2011. Brooklyn Museum. https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/17090

  16. Mosaic of Rooster. Photograph. New York, 2005. Brooklyn Museum. https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/17095

  17. Mosaic of Menorah. Photograph. New York, 2011. Brooklyn Museum. https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/17099

  18. Juliana's Inscription. Photograph. Boston, n.d. McMullen Museum of Art.

  19. Mosaic of Fish. Photograph. New York, 2005. Brooklyn Museum.

  20. Date Palm Tree (Tree of Paradise). Photograph. New York, 2005. Brooklyn Museum.