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Category Archives: Judaism
The Iconography of Jewish Scrolls in the Roman Era
A recent visit to the Jewish catacomb at Vigna Randanini got me thinking a little more about the iconography of Jewish scrolls (–thanks to Tony Keddie and the University of Texas at Austin for making the visit possible). The inscription … Continue reading
Posted in Inscriptions, Judaism, Voluminology
Tagged catacombs, jewish-catacombs, menorah, papyrus-rolls, scrolls
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The Reuse of a Sarcophagus with a Menorah
Another very interesting item in the epigraphic collection at the Baths of Diocletian in Rome is a portion of a sarcophagus that contains a nice depiction of a menorah. It is typically assigned to the third or fourth century CE, … Continue reading
Posted in Judaism, Kircheriano, Museums, Raffaele Garrucci
Tagged ancient-judaism, jewish-art, Judaism, menorah, Rome
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Manuscripts of The Jewish War by Josephus
The seven-book composition by the historian Josephus describing the sacking of Jerusalem goes by different names in the Greek manuscript copies: In the Latin tradition, these books were known to Jerome as captituitas Iudaicae (Comm. in Isaiam 17), but the … Continue reading
The So-called Bust of Josephus
I recently had occasion to spend some time revisiting the works of the Jewish historian Josephus, which was a real pleasure. When working on Josephus, I occasionally come across the “bust of Josephus” that so often serves as an illustration … Continue reading
Posted in Josephus, Judaism, Sculpture
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More on the mikveh at Ostia and Other Jewish Materials
In March I noted the announcement that a mikveh, a Jewish ritual bath, had reportedly been found in Ostia, the port city of ancient Rome. I had missed an article from the Times of Israel that adds some details to … Continue reading
A Newly Discovered mikveh at Ostia
At a press conference this afternoon in the archaeological park at Ostia Antica, it was announced that a mikveh, a Jewish ritual bath, has been discovered in the center of the ancient city. Ostia is well known to students of … Continue reading
Posted in Judaism, Ostia, Synagogues
Tagged ancient Judaism, Diaspora Judaism, Judaism, mikvah, mikveh, news, Ostia, Ostia synagogue, religion, Roman religion, synagogue
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A Figurine of Venus Found in an Ancient Synagogue
The ancient synagogue in Rome’s port city of Ostia was uncovered by accident in the early 1960s during the construction of a highway between Rome and the newly built international airport in Fiumicino. The discovery of a Roman-era synagogue was … Continue reading
Posted in Archaeological context, Judaism, Ostia, Synagogues
Tagged ancient-judaism, archaeology, diaspora-judaism, history, Ostia, Ostia synagogue, Roman religion, Rome, Second temple Judaism, synagogue
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Ancient Jewish Fish Sauce?
When I visit museums, I always keep an eye out for ancient Jewish and Christian artifacts. I recently (may have) encountered one that I had overlooked on previous visits to the British Museum. The museum holds a coarse ware jar … Continue reading
Posted in British Museum, Judaism
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The Moschos Ioudaios Inscription
One of the most interesting early Greek inscriptions involving a Jew/Judaean is the so-called “Moschos inscription” (or “Moschus inscription”), a record of a manumission found in 1952 during excavations at Oropos north of Athens. The inscription was recovered from the … Continue reading
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