Left: Abraham and Melchisidec
Here Abraham (right, on horseback), one of the great patriarchs
of the Hebrew Testament, is shown bringing offerings of loaves and wine.
Also participating in the offering is Melchisidec (left), a priest whom Abraham
met in the wilderness. Note the abstraction of the sky into a gorgeous
array of colorful streaks. This is characteristic of late antique mosaics.
The same effect is replicated in the depiction of Abraham with the Three Angels.
Also note the angel guiding the actions of the two holy men from above, and
the remarkably Roman attire of the Israelite warriors behind Abraham.
Right: Abraham and the Three Angels
Here are Abraham and his wife, Sarah, being visited by the three
angels of heaven, who appeared to them disguised as wanderers and to whom
the holy couple offered great hospitality. It is hard to recognize with
our modern eye, but the mosaic, as it tells its story, is actually moving
through time with the characters. Thus, all three bearded men in the
picture are Abraham; he is merely engaging in several activities. Note
the sky and its coloring, especially contrasted with the gold (tesserae of
glass and layered gold leaf) which surrounds the holy visitors. It is
interesting to note that contemporaries of the mosaic artists would have identified
these three angels as precursors to the Holy Trinity to come (Father, Son
and Holy Spirit). Thus, while the story tells of three men in disguise
appearing to Abraham, the picture immediately deifies their presence, surrounding
them with gold and crowning them with haloes.
