Art and Judaism in the Greco-Roman World: Toward a New Jewish Archaeology » (Revised)

Steven Fine is Jewish Foundation Professor of Judaic Studies at the University of Cincinnati. Professor Fine specializes in the history of Judaism during the Greco-Roman period. His particular interest is the relationship between ancient Jewish literature (particularly Rabbinic literature) and archaeology and art.

This book explores the Jewish experience with art during the Greco-Roman period.

Part I. 'The 'Most Unmonumental People' of the World': Modern Constructions of Ancient Jewish Art: 1. Building an ancient synagogue on the Delaware: Philadelphia's Henry S. Frank Memorial Synagogue and constructions of Jewish art at the turn of the twentieth century
2. The old-new land: 'Jewish archaeology' and the Zionist narrative
3. Archaeology and the search for 'non-Rabbinic Judaism'
4. Art history: transmitting Jewish artlessness to new generations
5. Toward a new 'Jewish archaeology': methodological reflections
Part II. Art and Identity During the Greco-Roman period: 6. Art and identity in latter second temple period Judaism: the Hasmonean Roay Tombs at Modi'in
7. Art and identity in Late Antique Palestine: the Na'aran Synagogue
8. Art and identity in Diaspora communities in Late Antiquity from Nehardea to Rome
Part III. Jewish 'Symbols' During the Greco-Roman Period: 9. Between Rome and Jerusalem: the date palm as a 'Jewish symbol'
10. 'The lamps of Israel': the Menorah as a Jewish symbol
Part IV. Reading Holistically: Art and the Liturgy of Late Antique Synagogues: 11. The Dura Europos Synagogue and its liturgical parchment
12. Synagogue mosaics and liturgy in the land of Israel
a. The Sepphoris Synagogue: a liturgical interpretation
b. The Torah, its Shrine, and the decoration of Late Antique Palestinian synagogues
c. The Zodiac
13. Concluding comments: sanctity and the art of ancient synagogues
Epilogue
A note on transliteration and translation
Abbreviations
Illustrations
Primary source index
General index.