+- RomanArmyTalk (https://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat)
+-- Forum: Research Arena (https://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat/forumdisplay.php?fid=4)
+--- Forum: Greek Military History & Archaeology (https://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat/forumdisplay.php?fid=9)
+--- Thread: Ancient synagogue mosaic may depict Alexander the Great (/showthread.php?tid=27507)
Ancient synagogue mosaic may depict Alexander the Great - Steven James - 09-14-2016
http://www.foxnews.com/science/2016/09/12/rare-discovery-ancient-synagogue-mosaic-may-depict-alexander-great.html
What has my interest is what appears to be shields strapped on the sides of the elephants. Could this be what they mean by armoured elephants?
RE: Ancient synagogue mosaic may depict Alexander the Great - Robert Vermaat - 09-14-2016
But grandma, what big eyes you got..
Very oversized collars and shields, can we even conclude anything from that?
RE: Ancient synagogue mosaic may depict Alexander the Great - Gunthamund Hasding - 09-15-2016
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/09/mysterious-mosaic-alexander-the-great-israel/
looks like the shields have straps around them but this would be impractical as they can easily be cut by the enemy, maybe just transporting things as the scene looks relatively peaceful???
RE: Ancient synagogue mosaic may depict Alexander the Great - ValentinianVictrix - 09-15-2016
As there are no extant accounts of Alexander having Elephants in his army I very much doubt this mosaic pertains to Alexander the Great.
However, the Romans used elephants in their baggage trains, as evidenced in the pen & ink drawings of the Column of Theodosius and the Column of Arcadius, as well as several other depictions. The weapons and equipment smacks of Late Roman period, and there has been speculation that the mosaic actually depicts Julian on his campaign against the Sassanids.