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SOPHRONIUS OF JERUSALEM (ca. 600 A.D.)
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The pool "by the Sheep Gate, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha" (John 5,2), is simply identified as the Probatica pool (meaning "the pool of the sheep") by ancient Christian writers. They also inform us about the arrangement of its five porticoes which were "four all around it and one in the center" according to Cyril of Jerusalem (Homily on the lame man of the Probatica). The representation of this miracle of Jesus is one of the commonest in ancient Christian Art, in paintings, mosaic, ivory carving, embroidery. Here you can see the scene of the man carrying his mat (John 5,11) represented in a flat relief on a decorated bowl, a typical produce of ancient Tunisia (African Red Slip Ware) between the 4th and the 5th cent. A.D.
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 Please fill in our Guest book form - Thank you for supporting us! Project, design, research and realization carried out by Eugenio Alliata ofm, assistant professor of Christian Archaeology at SBF-Jerusalem. Updated Thu, Dec 9, 1999 at 05:10 by John Abela ofm - Space by courtesy of Christus Rex |
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