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Fragment of a Floor Mosaic: Adam and Eve
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This mosaic panel representing the Fall of Adam and Eve once formed part of a much larger mosaic decorating the floor of an early Byzantine church in northern Syria. Here, Adam and Eve are portrayed sharing the forbidden fruit while covering themselves with large leaves. At the top of the panel, a Greek inscription reads, "And they ate and they were made naked," recalling the biblical text (Gen. 3:7) and highlighting the two moments in the biblical narrative of the Fall that are depicted here.
| Artist / Maker | Anonymous, late 5th-early 6th century |
|---|---|
| Date | late 400s–early 500s CE |
| Culture / Origin | early Byzantium, Northern Syria, Byzantine period, late 5th-early 6th century |
| Medium | marble and stone tesserae |
| Dimensions | Overall: 142.9 x 107.3 x 5.7 cm (56 1/4 x 42 1/4 x 2 1/4 in.); Mounted: 142.9 x 107.3 x 7 cm (56 1/4 x 42 1/4 x 2 3/4 in.) |
| Department | Medieval Art |
| Type | Mosaic |
About the Artist
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.
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