Figure WCA-isr-059. Alexei Alexeev and the image of the coiling cynocephalic (dog-headed) and ichthyocaude (fish-tailed) aquatic composite monster ketos, just before swallowing and during disgorging Jonah, thrown from the boat to the sea, the subject referred to in the Bible (Old Testament), NRSV as follows: ◆ "But the Lord provided a large fish [דָּ֣ג, dag = "fish" in Hebrew; κητος, ketos = "sea-monster" in Greek] to swallow up Jonah [יוֹנִים, Yonah = "Dove" in Hebrew]; and Jonah was in the belly of the fish [דָּ֣ג, dag; κητος, ketos] three days and three nights. ⟨...⟩ Then the Lord spoke to the fish [דָּ֣ג, dag; κητος, ketos], and it spewed Jonah out upon the dry land." (Jonah 1: 17; 2: 10). According to the rabbinic tradition (Midrash), while Jonah was inside the fish, it told him that its life was nearly over because soon the Leviathan would eat them both. Jonah promised the fish that he would save them. Following Jonah's directions, the fish swam up alongside the Leviathan and Jonah threatened to leash the Leviathan by its tongue and let the other fish eat it. The Leviathan heard Jonah's threats, saw that he was circumcized, and realized that he was protected by the Lord, so it fled in terror, leaving Jonah and the fish alive. To reward him for this service the fish showed Jonah all the wondrous things in the ocean, such as the path of the Israelites across the Red Sea or the pillars upon which the earth rests. (Zohar; Pirke De-Rabbi Eliezer; Genesis Rabbah; exact quotes and source references needed). Greek inscription: ΓΛΥΚΩΝΙ ΔΟΗΝ ΖΗΗ, "To Glycon who was given life (?)"; Latin inscription: GLYCONIS ANIMA DULCIS HIC DORMIT IN PACAE (sic), "Here the sweet soul of Glycon sleeps in peace".
|
