Mona Lisa of the Galilee

This richly colored mosaic portrait of an unnamed woman was discovered among the

ruins of the Roman city of Sepphoris in the Galilee. The enchanting tilt of her head and

near-smile earned her the nickname “Mona Lisa of the Galilee.”

Depicting scenes from the life of the Greek god Dionysus, two of the 15 panels in themosaic carpet are clearly visible. In the right corner we see the drunken Dionysus with aGreek inscription that says “drunkenness.” On the left is a procession with chariot and a

pipe-playing musician; the Greek inscription reads “procession.”

The complete colored mosaic at Sepphoris. Surrounding 15 central rectangular panels is abroad decorative border. Although much of it is damaged beyond recognition, remarkably,the exquisite woman’s face is completely intact in the center of the border, at far left. Also

preserved almost in its entirety is the long mosaic panel in the foreground containing aprocession of people bearing agricultural produce.

The lovely lady from Sepphoris. Thebeckoning tilt to her head and her wideeyed

gaze captivate us even after 17centuries. Here we see her, in context,surrounded by acanthus vines that also

enclose a small cupid-like figure.

Set in the white ground of the mosaic floor at one end—like a beautiful rug—is a 20-by-

20-foot area of colored mosaic. The colored area consists of a rectangle flanked along part of its

length on two sides by panels illustrating processions. The processional on one side is quite

intact, depicting people carrying agricultural produce. The large rectangular section of the mosaic

includes three center panels surrounded by 12 rectangles, probably representing scenes from the

life of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and revelry. Each of the separate scenes is labeled with a

Greek inscription. The scenes include Dionysus engaged in a drinking competition with Hercules,

the marriage of the god, and a number of scenes showing Dionysus with Pan, god of music and

shepherds.

Mona Lisa of the Galilee