This section of the sculptural trail is important in recognizing conflict resolution as the creation of a new moral paradigm-- a new religion, a transformation of family relations. The Alexandrian influence on the Judaic culture was in women disrespecting Judaic traditions challenging Judaic chastity, which evoked a Judaic overreaction in spirituality as represented by Jesus. Rethinking both the Greek and the Judaic philosophies and value systems, the impact of this culture transformed the Roman empire, experienced as the shift of norms from the colosseum-- the institution of violence-- to the Vatican, an institution of self-sacrifice. The installation captures the conflict of the cultures. Greece is represented by the Chariots of Alexander, Judaism by the strict obedience to the commandments evolving towards the new paradigm, respecting the sanctity of the mother-child relationship. This was a definite shift from the dominant antagonistic Greek and the dominant cooperative Judaic models, to the submissive cooperative Christian normative system.
The Greek invasion of the Middle East grafted the competitive antagonistic Grecian values into the cooperative Judaic ones. The Greek cultural influence fostered the rethinking of the relationship between men and women, humans and the divine. It facilitated rational thinking, individuality, passions and normative permissiveness. It allowed the deification of humans.
The messianic religions changed the balance of power in the Judaic family. Judaism espoused the Father-Son relationship, while the Messianic religions favored the Mother and Child alliance, redefined in Islam symbolically in the Crescent and the Star.
The virtual Jerusalem is a circle of tall pine trees. In the center of the circle is a gathering place for rabbis talking about the law. The sculpture symbolizes this through depicting Moses standing on top of the ten commandments.
The sculptures represent the uprising of women in Hellenized Jerusalem. The Greco-Roman influence undermined the traditional Judaic role of women. Jesus requested civil rights for women, which we interpret as the mother-child alliance countering the Judaic father-son covenant. Religions represent politically determined alternative modes of conflict resolution. They are normative restructurings of family relations.
This one has a banner that proclaims ‘Girls are as good as boys’.
In another place is a woman with a child. She is saying ‘God is not with the father and the son; he is with the mother and the child’.