---
title: Battling Giant
author: Dana Murray
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/4030/battling-giant/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 1970-01-01
---

# Battling Giant

_Authored by [Dana Murray](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/murrayd7/)_

## Image File

[![Battling Giant](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/4030.jpg)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/4030.jpg)

## Image Caption

The oldest known synagogue [mosaic](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mosaic/) with figurative motifs, this scene depicts a [battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/) between a [giant](https://www.worldhistory.org/Giants/) and soldiers armed with swords, shields, and lances. The soldiers are depicted as either wounded or dead. At the edge of the mosaic a cavalryman flees, with the legs of another warrior included above him. The scene may depict [Samson](https://www.worldhistory.org/Samson/) fighting the [Philistines](https://www.worldhistory.org/Philistines/) or Goliath battling the Israelites. An Aramaic donor inscription is found below: "...son of Shimona and... made this mosaic at their own expense." Excavated at Khirbet Wadi Hamam, near the Sea of Galilee dating to the 3rd-4th century CE. Stone Mosaic, currently housed in the [Israel](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Israel/) Museum, [Jerusalem](https://www.worldhistory.org/jerusalem/).

#### Editorial Review

This human-authored image has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).

## About the Author

PhD student with interest in the art, architecture, and religion of ancient Greece and the Near East.

## Cite This Work

### APA
Murray, D. (2015, August 29). Battling Giant. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/4030/battling-giant/>
### Chicago
Murray, Dana. "Battling Giant." *World History Encyclopedia*, August 29, 2015. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/4030/battling-giant/>.
### MLA
Murray, Dana. "Battling Giant." *World History Encyclopedia*, 29 Aug 2015, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/4030/battling-giant/>.

## License & Copyright

Submitted by [Dana Murray](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/murrayd7/ "User Page: Dana Murray"), published on 29 August 2015. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.