New depiction of a Late Roman soldier in synagogue mosaic

[Duncan Head]

See http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/mosaics-old-testament-scenes-roman-era-synagogue-israel-04009.html

The article doesn't attempt an exact date, but:

The newly-discovered mosaic panels decorate the floor of a synagogue that dates to the time when the area was ruled by the Roman Empire and when Christianity had become the Empire's official religion.

so 4th-6th century. The soldier is unarmoured, white tunic, iron helmet, red shield. He is being eaten by a large fish.

[RichT]

So large fish should be +1 v. Late Romans.

[Prufrock]

So large fish should be +1 v. Late Romans.

Yes, but only in the fish's bound...

[willb]

The fish could be a Lurker for HOTT

[Imperial Dave]

So large fish should be +1 v. Late Romans.

Yes, but only in the fish's bound...

Disordered due to smell

[Erpingham]

Another report

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/07/mosaic-synagogue-huqoq-israel-magness-archaeology/

This has a wider angle image showing three soldiers.  All have oval shields (two different designs), white tunics.  Two have helmets and one possibly a blue cloak.  The most complete soldier appears to have bare legs with long boots.

[Patrick Waterson]

Question: are these intended as cavalrymen?  (Observe the drowning horse in the expanded picture.)

[Duncan Head]

Another report
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/07/mosaic-synagogue-huqoq-israel-magness-archaeology/
This has a wider angle image showing three soldiers.

It also cites a 5th-century date, which is more specific than the first article.

Question: are these intended as cavalrymen?  (Observe the drowning horse in the expanded picture.)

At the far left of the expanded picture, I see what looks like one hand holding a whip, another hand holding reins, and the back of a horse - one of Pharaoh's chariots?

The soldiers whom we can see don't seem especially closely associated with the horse.

[Patrick Waterson]

At the far left of the expanded picture, I see what looks like one hand holding a whip, another hand holding reins, and the back of a horse - one of Pharaoh's chariots?

Well spotted - yes, this has to be a two-horse chariot: an interesting echo of authenticity despite the mosaic being created in the days of primarily four-horse racing teams.

The soldiers whom we can see don't seem especially closely associated with the horse.

The saddle (and it looks more like a saddle than a chariot harness) has indeed been, how shall we say, vacated.  The question is: would one of the men in the water be the one who did the vacating?  Of the three figures the leftmost and most completely visible figure has a different shield pattern, carries a javelin or spear and wears leather shoulder pads or a red cloak (probably the latter as it seems to have a round brooch or button on the right hand side).  Legionary, cavalryman or a member of the auxilia?  The other two each wear what appears to be a mantle (one blue, one grey) and have the same shield pattern, albeit with differently shaded bosses.  The individual contributing to the piscine protein intake holds a sword of apparently spatha-like proportions though in the 5th century AD this does not per se point towards the specific arm of service.

There seem to be two distinct troop types represented, but are we looking at legionaries and auxilia or cavalry and auxilia?

[Erpingham]

Well spotted - yes, this has to be a two-horse chariot: an interesting echo of authenticity despite the mosaic being created in the days of primarily four-horse racing teams.

Two horse chariots would still have been in use in normal transport roles though.

The bare leggedness is interesting - this seems to be common in other late Roman mosaics from the area showing soldiers e.g. Wadi Haram, Meroth.  Should we take this that the trousered late roman infantryman is a more Western thing and in the warmer East, a bare-legged style prevailed?