Art History: Lesson 3

Note: I realized after I decided to include this art history lesson that there are virtually no photos of it on the Internet. I apologize! The houses found at Tel Anafa, a site in modern day Lebanon, were those of Phoenicians. Even though they were somewhat of a distance from the previous excavation sites these homes are very similar to the Hellenistic Greek homes found at Delos. Like Delos, there was a central courtyard with columns on two sides making it peristyle. However, the homes at Tel Anafa lacked mosaics. While those of Delos exhibited their wealth through their mosaics the Phoenicians, like the Greeks, used thier money to import what others considered luxuries. Inside of the homes at Tel Anafa numerous red slip bowls and drinking glasses were found as well as wine jars (Berlin 27 October 2006). On the bottom of these jars there are stamps which tell us where they originated (Greece in most cases). As an archeologist one is able to further understand that the people of Tel Anafa were able to treat themselves to luxuries (Berlin 27 October 2006). More importantly like the Greeks and Romans the Phoenicians enjoyed themselves and ‘partied’ in their homes. However, even though the homes at Tel Anafa do not seem to vastly differ from those at Olynthus and Delos they have one very unique feature: a three room spa and kitchen complex (Berlin 27 October 2006) off the courtyard. ON room often had a mosaic floor with a plastered basin, something along the lines of a communal tub (Berlin 27 October 2006). Perhaps this was bath. Next to it was a smaller room with an oven that was used for cooking. This over also heated the water for the tub (Berlin 27 October 2006). A spa complex of this sort was not part of the Greek, home lifestyle and is therefore unique to the Eastern ancient world.
Though the homes of ancient Jerusalem shared several common attributes with Greek and Roman homes they also were unique in themselves.

This is my college archeology teacher at Tel Anafa. You can sort of get an idea of the layout of the homes...only sort of though. Again, I apologize!

One of these unique features is the enclosed reception room in homes such as the Palatial Mansion. This room had stucco walls and ceilings which like the homes at Delos and Pompeii give the appearance of finished stone slabs (Berlin 11 November 2006). The fact that the reception room was enclosed and near the front of the home is what is greatly different from other home. Normally, as in Roman world, the reception room was in the back of the home as this seemed much more private. The reception room is a common entity to ancient homes, its' placement just varied. These rooms have been found with decorated walls in Jewish and Roman homes, however those of the Jewish world were enclosed and closer to the homes’ entrance (Berlin 11 November 2006). Another difference of a Jewish household was the fact that there were no service rooms on the ground floor. The kitchen and bathing facilities were all in the basement (Berlin 1 November, 2006). To get to the bathing facility one had to descend several steps and walk through an arched doorway. One was then confronted with a mikve, or ritual bath, as well as a personal bathing set up (Berlin 1 November 2006). The floor of this room was also more commonly than not covered with a mosaic and the walls were also plastered. The bathrooms of Jewish households were unique to their homes just like the facilities in Phoenician homes. Though the past through art history posts it is evident that every home of the ancient world had its' individual characteristics that directly relate to the people that lived there. Doesn't this sound familiar?