Paradoxography at Dura? Miracles and Natural Wonders in the Paintings of the Synagogue

A solution to the problem of mismatch between the wall paintings in the Dura Europos Synagogue and the written biblical account is to consider these panels as depictions of the catechetical activities of the community there. Threaded by miraculous episodes and natural wonders, these images are fitting to the wider discourse of ancient and late antique paradoxography. I review the iconography of wonders, consisting in miracles and natural phenomena, and connect these episodes to the discourse of theoria intended as the pilgrimage-like activity of delegations travelling to explore the customs and sights of distant lands and foreign people. I argue that a similar practice well explains the finds at Dura Europos not only in terms of iconography, but also concerning the town's economic flourishing and diplomatic activities as a border town in the Late Roman Empire. A papyrus fragment of Herodotus completes the evidence for the communities' interest in and use of wondrous tales

Antique · Flourishing · Iconography · Painting · Papyrus · Sight · Classical Antiquity Studies · Historical and Religious Studies of Rome · Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies