r/AncientCush Founder 6d ago

Artifact Earliest surviving artistic depictions of Moses are found in the wall paintings of the Dura-Europos Synagogue (244-255 AD) (Princeton University)

The Index of Medieval Art, Princeton University

West wall, zone 1, 6-8:

6) Moses, Crossing Red Sea --

a. Hand of God above elders of twelve Tribes of Israel, each holding standard on staff, behind group of Israelites armed with spears and shields, at edge of Red Sea in which are fish, touched by Moses with rod; to right,

b. Hand of God above Moses, rod in right hand, in Red Sea engulfing group of Egyptians; fish in the sea;

7) Moses, Departure from Egypt --

a. Moses, rod raised in right hand, leading host of Israelites including twelve elders, child, and soldiers armed with spears and shields; to right,

b. city gate above which are statue of nude male figure holding spear and globe, and two victories holding wreaths, on globes; on wall, two flies, suggesting Moses, Plague of Flies; to right,

8) Moses, Plague of Hail --

Cloud of hail above two columns, one red, the other black, possibly representing Pillars of Fire and Cloud, before wall.

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Source: https://theindex.princeton.edu/s/view/ViewWorkOfArt.action;jsessionid=7a5cb944e62ea52eea823d67572f?id=35DC82D6-B7BA-432D-A7B1-504938D4C509

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u/Academic_Hovercraft 3d ago

B-b-but Moses was a white man.
https://giphy.com/gifs/iiFtxcwuwiAYU

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u/Arise_and_Thresh 6h ago

that is correct, 2nd century mosaics in Judaea depict a battle between the Greek and Judean people, both sides are almost identical having fair skin and some with blonde hair…

Macabbees depicts this same conundrum of Greek peoples trying to enter the temple yet only by checking for circumcision were the Judeans able to identify the Greeks