Samson and the Elephants

As some long-suffering readers have come to realize, biblical archeology fascinates me. No, no, please don't fall asleep at your keyboard! It seems that every few weeks something new is literally unearthed in Israel, sometimes during organized digs but perhaps more often during roadwork or excavations for construction.

Recently a new-to-us portion of a mosaic featuring Samson was revealed in Galilee at the site of an ancient synagogue. An article describes a previous discovery and this one:

Last summer, a mosaic showing Samson and the foxes (as related in the Bible's Judges 15:4) was discovered in the synagogue's east aisle. This summer, another mosaic was found that shows Samson carrying the gate of Gaza on his shoulders (Judges 16:3). Adjacent to Samson are riders with horses, apparently representing Philistines.Although he is not described as such in the Hebrew Bible, Samson is depicted as a giant in both scenes, reflecting later Jewish traditions that developed about the biblical judge and hero.

The archeologists are wondering if these mosaics are part of a cycle depicting a number of scenes from the dramatic story of  Samson. If this is the case, stay tuned for the one with Delilah snipping off the big guys curly locks.

At the same site a mosaic has been uncovered showing a number of animals, including an elephant(upper right.) If you wonder where elephants fit into the story of Samson, keep wondering -- they aren't there and they aren't mentioned in the bible anywhere. This is a big deal in archeological circles. It is art for art's sake.



I included the image below because it is clever. Part of the story of Samson has him smiting foes with the jawbone of a donkey, or ass. Samson was also impetuous, to put it mildly. This is a Walrus tote -ag giving us a take on the story of Samson.

Anyone else willing to admit that he/she is intrigued by this stuff? Does it open the windows of your brain or leave you brain-dead? Any other thoughts?