The Color-Inlaid “Champlevé” Reliefs of the Synagogue at Sardis
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15912970 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Marcus Rautman (0009-0008-0025-4015, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2020 |
| Volume | 383 |
| Pages | 97-113 |
| Publication date | 2020-01-29 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0003-097X • E-ISSN: 2161-8062 |
| Publisher | University of Chicago Press (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1086/707494 |
| OpenAlex | W3003941896 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 19 |
One of the notable features of the Sardis Synagogue was its extensive decoration with floor mosaics, wall paintings, marble revetment, and opus sectile, with an ornamental relief arcade also appearing in the forecourt. Reliefs carved in the distinctive “champlevé” technique presented a series of arches with spandrels featuring vases, vines, and birds set against a reddish ground. The sculptural approach is not well known in the region, although examples of similar work have been reported across Europe and the east Mediterranean, most notably at Aizanoi, Antioch, and Kourion. Other fragments of incised and color-inlaid relief at Sardis suggest that the Synagogue arcade was carved by sculptors who were both familiar with the site and aware of broader trends in architectural ornament in the 6th century c.e. *Remembering Gene Kleinbauer (1937–2019)—teacher, mentor, and friend
Ancient history · Archaeology · Art · Monochrome · Painting · Polychrome · Revetment · Visual arts · Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology and History · Archaeology and Historical Studies · Artificial Intelligence · Classical Antiquity Studies · Computer Science · History
The Ancient Synagogue
The Greek Inscriptions of the Sardis Synagogue
The mosaic of Theodoulos from Sousse (Tunisia)
The Eleventh and Twelfth Campaigns at Sardis (1968, 1969)
The Tenth Campaign at Sardis (1967)
The Ninth Campaign at Sardis (1966) (Continued)
Harvard Theological Review
The Sixth Campaign at Sardis (1963)
The Building History of the Sardis Synagogue
The Date of the Sardis Synagogue in Light of the Numismatic Evidence
The Mosaics of Roman North Africa
The Jeweled Style
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |