Believe it or not, the image you’re looking at is not a mosaic or painting. If you zoom in, you might be able to tell that it’s actually a vintage silk rug that originated from Persia in the mid 20th century. This work is very unusual because the designers portrayed the single figure of Moses as an omnipotent being, unlike most afterlives and the text itself. As a result, this rug becomes a conversation piece for those who encounter it. It also sold for $14,500, so I wouldn’t recommend you wear your shoes on it.

This rug is all about Moses.

If you search “Exodus paintings” on Google, we can see how this story has come to be told over the three thousand years that the text has existed. There’s a long visual tradition that the designer of this rug completely ignored by representing Moses in a totally different way. Viewers can appreciate just how extreme this modern artist’s rendition is in its focus on the single figure of Moses, compared to the text and other artistic works.

Where are the Israelites?

This rug is a very unusual representation of Moses alone. Yes, there’s nothing that can’t be explained; everything shown is ultimately a part of Jewish religious tradition. Nevertheless, it is a super radical image, especially when compared to the above painting by Nicolas Poussin, which is much more typical in its representation of Exodus. We see the Israelites and Moses as they are crossing the Red Sea; there is no single figure that essentially looks like a God.

Does this mean we should worship Moses?

Those divine rays that emanate from Moses’ head are used to depict him as a celestial being. His staff also appears as though it would be used by God himself. The designer might have wanted the rug’s viewers to feel as though they should worship Moses as a God.

What’s that crown doing?

Perhaps the most perplexing addition to this work is what appears to be a crown floating above Moses’ hand. The translation of the Hebrew text reads “Torah Crown.” We can also conclude that the artist wanted to allude to the Jewish divine law because of the scrolls on the ground by Moses. The crown would function as a cap for these scrolls. This symbolizes the divine presence of Moses. 

Connection: Jesus as a worshiped figure.

Here’s a painting picturing the transfiguration of the Christian Messiah, Jesus, based on the Gospels, such as Mark, that we studied earlier this semester. Jesus is a figure who has been worshiped for millennia. Notice any similarities between Moses from the rug and Jesus from this painting? They’re both central to the image and in front of a divine radiance to make them stand out and appear holy.

Interlude: A modern Moses.

Was Moses always as magnificent and steadfast as portrayed on this rug? Some Exodus afterlives think not. My peer Cassy Bennett showed that the 1998 Disney film Prince of Egypt depicts Moses as having emotional vulnerabilities. Reading Cassy’s post helped me appreciate another aspect of this image: Moses shows absolutely no emotion whatsoever. In this regard, he is closer to the Moses of the text.

Let’s talk about it over dinner.

This rug is a pretty radical departure from the Exodus and its visual tradition because of the extreme focus on Moses as an iconic and divine figure. It almost feels like we’re supposed to worship him, which is a concept that does not show up anywhere in the text.

People can interact with this rug in a way that a written work can’t achieve. In Persia, rugs are intended for home use and display. Similar to many of the texts we have read this semester, the Persian Jewish population also deeply valued hospitality. A cultural characteristic is that they would ritually serve dinner on the floor over a carpet.

The extreme emphasis on the divinity of Moses compared to other afterlives and Exodus might have served as a talking point during these meals. We see a similar concept in my first post about an ancient cup serving as a dinner-party conversation piece about the Odyssey. People sharing a meal on this rug could have been struck by that hovering crown. As a result, those who own this rug become a part of Exodus‘ ongoing legacy. They discuss their interpretation of the text and rug over dinner with friends and family during traditions such as Passover.