Fruit Trees on Late Antique Mosaics: From The Worcester Hunt to Jordanian Churches

The paper examines the contextual meaning of the so-called Worcester Hunt Mosaic from Daphne near Antioch with particular emphasis on the fruit trees depicted in the corners of the pavement. These trees with ripe fruits are interpreted to allude to the bounty of the local landscape, the pleasant climate whereas the triumphant hunter in the center of the panel must be the patron of the house or his personification. The second part of the paper presents comparable pavements in the Jordan area, emphasizing on the common language and iconography of fruit trees, shared by the Worcester Hunt Mosaic and the church mosaics in Jordan.