Two Scenes from the Youth of Moses

5th century, with medieval and modern restorations
Mosaic
Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome

The upper register shows Jochebed presenting Moses to Pharaoh's daughter. See Exodus 2:1-9. In the lower register the boy Moses is "instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians" (Acts 7:22). The artist places him in the midst of a circle of wise men, several with gray beards, just as is done in images of the boy Jesus among the Doctors.

This is part of the extensive series of Old Testament scenes portrayed in mosaics along the two walls of the nave. Follow this link for links to the others.

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Photographed at the basilica by Richard Stracke, shared under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.