Art and Judaism in the Greco-Roman World

Steven Fine is Professor of Jewish History at Yeshiva University and director of the Yeshiva University Center for Israel Studies.

• Introduction; 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.

'… this is a rich and important work that will be central to all future discussions of ancient Jewish art and Judaism. Fine demonstrates that ancient Jewish art must be understood within the context of the Greco-Roman world as well as from the perspective of the history of art …' Bryn Mawr Classical Review