Detail of a large plate with engraved symbols, blown glass from the Jewish necropolis, Drawing by N. Avigad

This plate from Beth She‘arim is unique in terms of its size and decoration. Though its designs are faint and difficult to interpret, it seems to feature an arcade of thirteen arches enclosing a palm tree, hanging oil lamps, a stylized menorah(?), a series of vessels, and open and closed gates that may represent the façades of the Beth She‘arim catacombs in which the plate was found. The plate was probably made locally, possibly at the site itself. It may have served, suspended, for illumination.