Written In The Stars: Ancient Zodiac Mosaics

by Lester J. Ness

"This study of ancient astrology attempts to explain why zodiac mosaics appear in Israeli synagogues. More broadly, it explains how and why Hellenic Jews used astrology. This volume explores origins of synagogue mosaics and provides useful information concerning astrology around the world."

25829 pages, Hardcover

First published November 21, 1999

Reviews

[Alan Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Mesopotamia astrology grew from the beliefs that the planets manifested the gods, and that one could predict the gods' wills by predicting, mathematically, the planets' motions. The result was the first horoscopes. The Hellenistic world adopted the Mesopotamian practice and blended it with Greek science to produce the mathematical "scientific" astrology. The planets were important gods, astrological art was used to praise the gods, and to portray their power and ability to care for the world and their worshipers. Jews adapted the polytheistic assumptions of astrology to their own monotheistic world-view by interpreting the planet gods as planet angels, beings superior to humans, but subordinate to the one genuine god, YHWH. Since the planets are the subordinates of YHWH, administering His will in the world as part of His creation, the zodiac mosaics found in Byzantine synagogues are best explained as indirect portrayals of God. Ness documents these ideas in what was basically his doctrinal dissertation.

[Firstpersonnarrator · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite art history books I've read in years.

Picking up this book, I thought I'd be reading a history of ancient spirituality for astrologers, or students of the occult. I looked forward to sleuthing for tidbits of the hidden knowledge of The Mysteries, capital T, capital M. So I could congratulate myself on knowing stuff other people don't (not gonna lie). But nope. Nope nope nope. My ego must look for other books.

What it actually is? A serious scholarly work of Art History, capital A, capital H. I have a degree in art history, so despite the foiling of my ego, I still dove in with great interest. I could not have been more richly rewarded. It was delicious to the last word. The author, Ness, has written a book about the mystifying presence of astrological mosaics in ancient Jewish synagogues. These are holy places purpose built for worship of The One True God of the Hebrews, Yahweh. We're talking devout monotheism. How did they rationalize depicting the Zodiac??? Why the heck were they sticking polytheistic art in there???

For reasons. And this book solves that historical mystery. I loved every page and was never bored. My eyes never glazed over, which is pretty exceptional for scholarly Art History tomes. The only thing I continue to be mystified by is the author's inclusions of quotes from The Tempest at the beginning of each chapter. I no longer wonder what the zodiac has to do with ancient synagogues, but I am still wondering what Shakespeare has to do with them.

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I recommend it for anyone interested in...

1. Art History of Antiquity:
The physical record, via architecture and its decoration. Specifically imagery depicted on the holy synagogues of the ancient Israelites, their mosaics, and the portrayal of the Gods of Babylon, Assyria, and the Hellenic Mediterranean.

2. Antiquity Studies:
The historical record of all of the aforementioned civilizations and their religions, mythologies, trade routes, cultural exchange and proliferation, and the Jewish Diasporas. (Repeated expulsions of the Jews beginning in 733 BCE - 200s CE.) The written records of the era, with a focus on the oldest, holiest, foundational books of the Hebrew faith.

3. History of Science:
The development of science in antiquity, with a focus on astronomy, astrology, calendrical timekeeping, and the zodiac.

4. History of Religion:
The influences of Babylonian and Hellenic belief systems on the Hebrew religion in actual day to day life, as a result of the movements of the Israelites throughout the Jewish Diaspora.