The Old Testament Scenes in the Nave of Santa Maria Maggiore

Mostly mid-5th century, some medieval and later
Mostly mosaics - a few of the mosaics have been replaced by paintings
Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome

Twenty-one of these scenes line the left wall (as one faces toward the apse), and twenty-two the right wall. All but the first of the scenes on the right follow a chronological order, from Moses to Rehoboam, but several of the ones on the left violate chronological order. Scholars have proposed various thematic relationships that might account for this ordering.

The scenes are as follows:
Left side
  1. The Sacrifice of Melchizedek
  2. The Hospitality of Abraham
  3. Abraham and Lot Part Ways
  4. Destruction of Sodom (mosaic now lost)
  5. Marriage of Isaac and Rebecca (mosaic now lost)
  6. Isaac's Blessing of Jacob
  7. Jacob's Dream
  8. Jacob Visits Laban
  9. Jacob Serves Laban for Seven Years
  10. Jacob Marries Rachel
  11. Jacob and Laban Divide the Flocks
  12. Jacob Leaves Laban
  13. Jacob Learns of Joseph's Death
  14. Jacob's Meeting with Esau
  15. The Sacrifice of Isaac
  16. Jacob Told of The Rape of Dinah
  17. Jacob Punishes the Rape of Dinah
  18. Elisha's Water Miracles (not photographed)
  19. Daniel in the Lion's Den (not photographed)
  20. The Babylonian Captivity (not photographed)
  21. Jacob Wrestles with the Angel
Right side
  1. Moses Receives the Commandments (mosaic now lost)
  2. The Young Moses
  3. Moses' Sojourn in Midian
  4. Moses Confronts Pharaoh (mosaic now lost)
  5. Moses Tells the Israelites of God's Plan (mosaic now lost)
  6. Moses Explains the Law of Passover (mosaic now lost)
  7. Moses: Crossing the Red Sea
  8. Moses: The Manna and the Quails
  9. Moses: Waters of Marah; Attack of the Amalekites
  10. Moses: Battle with the Amalekites
  11. Moses Rebuked by the People
  12. Moses' Death and Burial
  13. Joshua: The Israelites Enter the Promised Land
  14. Joshua: Rahab the Prostitute
  15. Joshua: The Taking of Jericho
  16. Joshua: The Destruction of Hai
  17. Joshua: The Defeat of the Amorites
  18. The Sun Stands Still for Joshua (not photographed)
  19. The Punishment of the Amorite Kings (not photographed)
  20. David Leads the Ark into Jerusalem (not photographed)
  21. Solomon's Temple (not photographed)
  22. The Division of the Kingdom

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