uzi leibner
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Archaeology, Faculty Member
- https://scholars.huji.ac.il/uzileibneredit
במוצא נחל ארבל, באתר עוצר נשימה ממנו נשקפים הכנרת ומצוקי הארבל, ממוקמים שרידיו של כפר גדול מן התקופה הרומית – ח'רבת ואדי אל־חמאם. במטרה לשפוך אור על שורה של שאלות הנוגעות לחיים בכפרי הגליל בעת העתיקה, בשנים 2007–2012 נערכו באתר חפירות... more
במוצא נחל ארבל, באתר עוצר נשימה ממנו נשקפים הכנרת ומצוקי הארבל, ממוקמים שרידיו של כפר גדול מן התקופה הרומית – ח'רבת ואדי אל־חמאם. במטרה לשפוך אור על שורה של שאלות הנוגעות לחיים בכפרי הגליל בעת העתיקה, בשנים 2007–2012 נערכו באתר חפירות נרחבות בידי משלחת מן המכון לארכיאולוגיה באוניברסיטה העברית. במוקד החפירה עמדה חשיפת בית כנסת מן הטיפוס ה'גלילי' ומחקר אדריכלי ואומנותי של שרידיו ושל רצפת הפסיפס המרהיבה שהתגלתה בו. ברחבי האתר נחפרו גם בתי מגורים רבים, סמטאות ומתקנים חקלאיים. בראש הר ניתאי שמעל הכפר נחפרו שרידיו של ביצור אימתני, ובמצוקיו נסקרו מערות מפלט רבות. הממצאים העשירים העלו כי קורותיו של הכפר מקפלים בתוכם חלק ניכר מתולדות ההתיישבות היהודית הכפרית בגליל בימי הבית השני, ובתקופת המשנה והתלמוד.
בספר מוצגים פירות החפירה הארכיאולוגית באתר ותרומתם למחקר של סוגיות מרכזיות בתולדות ההתיישבות הכפרית בגליל בעת העתיקה ולאורח החיים של תושביו: מתי וכיצד התפתח היישוב היהודי בגליל בימי הבית השני ומניין הגיעו תושביו? עד כמה היו תושבי הגליל מעורבים במרד הגדול ובמרד בר כוכבא וכיצד השפיעו תוצאות המרידות הללו על ההתיישבות באזור? מה היה מבנה המשפחה הטיפוסי בכפרים בעת העתיקה וכיצד אפשר ללמוד זאת משרידי בתי המגורים? על מה התבססה כלכלת האוכלוסייה וכיצד עלה בידי תושבי הכפרים לממן הקמת בתי כנסת מפוארים? מתי החלו להיבנות בתי כנסת בכפרי הגליל ומה בין בתי הכנסת של ימי הבית השני לאלו של תקופת המשנה והתלמוד? מה אפשר ללמוד מאומנות בתי הכנסת ומן התרבות החומרית היום־יומית על עולמם הרוחני של תושבי הכפרים?
Khirbet Wadi el-Ḥamam is a village from the Roman period located at the base of the cliffs of Mt. Nitai and above the gorge of Naḥal Arbel, two kilometers west of the Sea of Galilee. In an attempt to shed new light on a number of topics concerning village life in Roman Galilee, primarily the debated question of the date of ‘Galilean’-type synagogues, the site was excavated between 2007–2012 by an expedition from the Institute of Archaeology of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. In addition to the synagogue and its surroundings, excavations were carried out in a series of domestic structures, agricultural installations, and public spaces in the village, as well as along a massive fortification located on the summit of Mt. Nitai, accompanied by a survey of numerous caves in the cliffs between the village and the mountaintop. The rich findings opened a window onto the material culture of rural Roman Galilee, enabling us to delineate the history of a typical local village from its establishment in the Hasmonean period until its ultimate abandonment at the beginning of the Byzantine era.
This book presents the main findings of the archaeological investigation of the site, as well as the implications they bear for various broad aspects of the study of ancient Galilee, such as: the beginning of Jewish settlement in the region in the Second Temple period; the Jewish revolts against Rome; ancient economy; rural life and livelihood; communal organization; domestic architecture; household utensils; ancient diet; Second Temple-period synagogues, and the art, architecture, and date of the ‘Galilean’-type synagogues.
בספר מוצגים פירות החפירה הארכיאולוגית באתר ותרומתם למחקר של סוגיות מרכזיות בתולדות ההתיישבות הכפרית בגליל בעת העתיקה ולאורח החיים של תושביו: מתי וכיצד התפתח היישוב היהודי בגליל בימי הבית השני ומניין הגיעו תושביו? עד כמה היו תושבי הגליל מעורבים במרד הגדול ובמרד בר כוכבא וכיצד השפיעו תוצאות המרידות הללו על ההתיישבות באזור? מה היה מבנה המשפחה הטיפוסי בכפרים בעת העתיקה וכיצד אפשר ללמוד זאת משרידי בתי המגורים? על מה התבססה כלכלת האוכלוסייה וכיצד עלה בידי תושבי הכפרים לממן הקמת בתי כנסת מפוארים? מתי החלו להיבנות בתי כנסת בכפרי הגליל ומה בין בתי הכנסת של ימי הבית השני לאלו של תקופת המשנה והתלמוד? מה אפשר ללמוד מאומנות בתי הכנסת ומן התרבות החומרית היום־יומית על עולמם הרוחני של תושבי הכפרים?
Khirbet Wadi el-Ḥamam is a village from the Roman period located at the base of the cliffs of Mt. Nitai and above the gorge of Naḥal Arbel, two kilometers west of the Sea of Galilee. In an attempt to shed new light on a number of topics concerning village life in Roman Galilee, primarily the debated question of the date of ‘Galilean’-type synagogues, the site was excavated between 2007–2012 by an expedition from the Institute of Archaeology of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. In addition to the synagogue and its surroundings, excavations were carried out in a series of domestic structures, agricultural installations, and public spaces in the village, as well as along a massive fortification located on the summit of Mt. Nitai, accompanied by a survey of numerous caves in the cliffs between the village and the mountaintop. The rich findings opened a window onto the material culture of rural Roman Galilee, enabling us to delineate the history of a typical local village from its establishment in the Hasmonean period until its ultimate abandonment at the beginning of the Byzantine era.
This book presents the main findings of the archaeological investigation of the site, as well as the implications they bear for various broad aspects of the study of ancient Galilee, such as: the beginning of Jewish settlement in the region in the Second Temple period; the Jewish revolts against Rome; ancient economy; rural life and livelihood; communal organization; domestic architecture; household utensils; ancient diet; Second Temple-period synagogues, and the art, architecture, and date of the ‘Galilean’-type synagogues.
Research Interests:
The book aims to provide the most accurate picture possible of the nature and history of the rural settlement in the Lower Galilee during Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods when this region played an important role in the... more
The book aims to provide the most accurate picture possible of the nature and history of the rural settlement in the Lower Galilee during Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods when this region played an important role in the development of both Judaism and Christianity.
In an attempt to draw a historical reconstruction based on systematic data, a test case area in the »heart« of ancient Galilee was chosen for this research. Two distinct disciplines were used: the study of the relevant historical sources and the advanced archaeological field survey. Greek, Latin, Hebrew and Aramaic sources concerning settlements in the region were translated and discussed. Some fifty archaeological sites from the periods under discussion were identified and surveyed.
The analysis of the finds enabled the author to draw a detailed portrait of settlement – including periods of construction, abandonment, prosperity and decline in each site and in the region as a whole. This book sheds new light on major historical issues such as the origins of the Galilean Jewry in the Second Temple Period, the First Jewish Revolt and its
outcomes, the Jews of Galilee under Christian regime, demography, economy, continuity and decline.
In an attempt to draw a historical reconstruction based on systematic data, a test case area in the »heart« of ancient Galilee was chosen for this research. Two distinct disciplines were used: the study of the relevant historical sources and the advanced archaeological field survey. Greek, Latin, Hebrew and Aramaic sources concerning settlements in the region were translated and discussed. Some fifty archaeological sites from the periods under discussion were identified and surveyed.
The analysis of the finds enabled the author to draw a detailed portrait of settlement – including periods of construction, abandonment, prosperity and decline in each site and in the region as a whole. This book sheds new light on major historical issues such as the origins of the Galilean Jewry in the Second Temple Period, the First Jewish Revolt and its
outcomes, the Jews of Galilee under Christian regime, demography, economy, continuity and decline.
Research Interests:
Khirbet Wadi Ḥamam is a Roman-period village located at the base of the cliffs of Mt. Nitai and above the gorge of Naḥal Arbel, two km west of the Sea of Galilee. In an attempt to shed new light on a number of topics concerning... more
Khirbet Wadi Ḥamam is a Roman-period village located at the base of the cliffs of Mt. Nitai and above the gorge of Naḥal Arbel, two km west of the Sea of Galilee. In an attempt to shed new light on a number of topics concerning village-life in Roman Galilee, primarily the debated question of the date of ‘Galilean’-type synagogues, the site was excavated between 2007–2012 by an expedition from the Institute of Archaeology of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. In addition to the synagogue and its surroundings, excavations were carried out in a series of domestic structures, agricultural installations and public spaces in the village, as well as along a massive fortification located on the summit of Mt. Nitai, accompanied by a survey of numerous caves in the cliffs between the village and the mountaintop. The rich remains opened a wide window onto the material culture of rural Roman Galilee, enabling us to delineate the history of a typical local village from its establishment in the Hasmonean period until its final abandonment at the beginning of the Byzantine era. The findings bear implications for various aspects in the study of ancient Galilee: the beginning of Jewish settlement in the region in the Second Temple period, the Jewish revolts against Rome, ancient economy, rural life and livelihood, communal organization, domestic architecture, household utensils, ancient diet, and above all the art, architecture and date of the ‘Galilean’-type synagogues.
Research Interests:
This companion volume to Ancient Synagogues Revealed, published in 1981, apprises the reader of the latest archaeological and historical data culled from the excavations of ancient synagogues since that date. The articles, written by the... more
This companion volume to Ancient Synagogues Revealed, published in 1981, apprises the reader of the latest archaeological and historical data culled from the excavations of ancient synagogues since that date. The articles, written by the excavators of these sites, reveal a plethora of synagogue buildings, artistic remains, inscriptions, and small finds that shed light on many aspects of this ancient institution and increase the number and range of scholarly interpretations and theories regarding the synagogue in the first millennium of its existence.
Diverse aspects of the ancient synagogue—archaeology, history, art, epigraphy, language, and literature—allow for new and creative interpretations of these intriguing archaeological finds.
Diverse aspects of the ancient synagogue—archaeology, history, art, epigraphy, language, and literature—allow for new and creative interpretations of these intriguing archaeological finds.
Research Interests:
The contributions to this volume examine the emergence of ancient Jewish art from the interdisciplinary perspective of Art and Archaeology, Ancient Judaism and Rabbinics, Patristics and Church History. The studies show that an... more
The contributions to this volume examine the emergence of ancient Jewish art from the interdisciplinary perspective of Art and Archaeology, Ancient Judaism and Rabbinics, Patristics and Church History. The studies show that an interdisciplinary approach leads to a better understanding not only of ancient Jewish but also of Graeco-Roman and Christian art in late antiquity.
Research Interests:
המסורת על גלויות "הסנהדרין" בגליל, המתעדת את היישובים שבהם ישבה לכאורה ההנהגה המרכזית, שימשה במשך שנים רבות כאבן פינה בשחזור ההיסטוריוגרפי של תקופת המשנה והתלמוד. בדור האחרון החלו חוקרים להעלות ספקות בדבר מהימנותה ההיסטורית של המסורת... more
המסורת על גלויות "הסנהדרין" בגליל, המתעדת את היישובים שבהם ישבה לכאורה ההנהגה המרכזית, שימשה במשך שנים רבות כאבן פינה בשחזור ההיסטוריוגרפי של תקופת המשנה והתלמוד. בדור האחרון החלו חוקרים להעלות ספקות בדבר מהימנותה ההיסטורית של המסורת הזאת. עיקר דיונם נסוב סביב השאלה האם בתקופה הנדונה הייתה בכלל סנהדרין בעוד שאלת פשר חיבורה של המסורת ובחירת היישובים הנזכרים בה נדחקה לקרן זווית. בנוסף לכך, הסברים שהוצעו בעבר לגלויות השונות התמקדו בנסיבות המיוחדות שהובילו למעבר מיישוב אחד למשנהו. רק תשומת לב מעטה הוקדשה למסלול הגאוגרפי בכללותו, והנתונים הארכאולוגיים העדכניים לא נדונו כלל בהקשר זה. גם שאלת היחס בין שני המקורות שבהם מופיעה המסורת לא נדונה בעבר. במאמר נבחנת מסורת זו מחדש משלושה היבטים נפרדים לכאורה, שיש להם למעשה השלכה הדדית זה על זה. הדיון נפתח בהיבט התלמודי ובניסיון לשחזר את התגבשותה של המסורת, זמנה המשוער וגלגוליה עד לנוסחים שלפנינו. בשלב השני נבחנת המסורת מן ההיבט ההיסטורי: מה מטרת חיבורה, והאם היא משקפת מציאות היסטורית כלשהי. לבסוף מראה המאמר כיצד התמונה היישובית, המבוססת על איסוף שיטתי של נתונים ארכאולוגיים וספרותיים, מסייעת להבין את הרקע למסורת. לאור התמונה המתקבלת נטען כי המסורת משקפת, מבלי משים, את העתקת מרכז הכובד של היישוב היהודי שבקרבו פעלה אותה "סנהדרין", וכי תמורות גאוגרפיות־יישוביות הן העומדות ברקע מסלול הגלויות שהיא משרטטת.
Research Interests:
Hoards containing hundreds or thousands of coins have been found under floors of various Late Antique synagogues. The coins are so dispersed that it is clear they were never meant to be collected, but were intentionally scattered. The... more
Hoards containing hundreds or thousands of coins have been found under floors of various Late Antique synagogues. The coins are so dispersed that it is clear they were never meant to be collected, but were intentionally scattered. The custom is not alluded to in any ancient Jewish source, making it hard to interpret. Archaeologists have acknowledged the phenomenon, but without dealing with its characteristics or cultural background. In this article, we first present the phenomenon with its physical settings, chronological boundaries and geographical distribution. The practice is documented in a restricted geographical region in northeastern Palestine, apparently pointing to a localized custom. The main part of the article is devoted to interpreting the phenomenon and comparing it with foundation deposits in other areas in the ancient world, concluding that it seems to have been a praxis meant to protect the building, which developed during a period in which magical practices and beliefs flourished among the Jews.
Research Interests:
This article presents a lavish, Roman-period burial cave discovered in the northern necropolis of Tiberias. It consisted of three skillfully hewn rooms comprising a vestibule with wall paintings and two burial chambers with loculi. Two... more
This article presents a lavish, Roman-period burial cave discovered in the northern necropolis of Tiberias. It consisted of three skillfully hewn rooms comprising a vestibule with wall paintings and two burial chambers with loculi. Two ossuaries were discovered in the cave, one bearing a Greek inscription. Another Greek inscription, originally placed above one of the loculi, apparently mentioned one of the family patriarchs. Pottery vessels and oil lamps found in the cave date its use to the late first and mainly to the second century CE. The cave’s opulence, and the attestation of a population that was literate in Greek, indicate that it belonged to one of the elite Jewish families of Tiberias.
Research Interests:
Remains of large structures dated to the Second Temple period were discovered under the Late Roman synagogues of Khirbet Wadi Hamam, Arbel, Nahal Gush-Halav, Capernaum and Hammath-Tiberias. Since the excavators did not dismantle the... more
Remains of large structures dated to the Second Temple period were discovered under the Late Roman synagogues of Khirbet Wadi Hamam, Arbel, Nahal Gush-Halav, Capernaum and Hammath-Tiberias. Since the excavators did not dismantle the synagogues and were content with excavating a few trenches beneath the floors, and since the late construction also blurred the early remains, it was hard to determine the exact nature of the early buildings. This paper discusses the layout of these structures, their date, architectural ornamentation (such as column capitals, stucco fragments and fresco paintings) and their location in the villages. A comparison of these characteristics to those of Second Temple period synagogues, such as those at Gamla and Magdala, leads to the conclusion that the earlier structures should also be identified as synagogues dating from this period.
This conclusion is important for our understanding of the dispersion of synagogues in rural areas, which was apparently wider than previously assumed. It also narrows the chronological gap between the Second Temple synagogues and those of the later Roman period, and supports the idea that the latter developed organically from the former, rather than ex nihilo.
The fact that these five structures are all located beneath later synagogues is significant, since it points to long-lasting local traditions regarding the role of the specific locations of public structures of this kind.
מתחת לבתי הכנסת מן התקופה הרומית המאוחרת בח'רבת ואדי חמאם, ארבל, נחל גוש חלב, כפר נחום וחמת טבריה נחשפו שרידי מבנים גדולים שתוארכו לימי הבית השני. מכיוון שהחופרים לא פירקו את בתי הכנסת והסתפקו בבורות בדיקה מתחת לרצפות, ומכיוון שהבנייה המאוחרת טשטשה את השרידים, לא ניתן היה לעמוד על מאפייניהם המדויקים של המבנים הקדומים. במאמר זה נדונים תוכניות המבנים הללו, זמנם, עיטורם האדריכלי (כגון כותרות עמודים, טיח מכויר ותמשיחי קיר) ומיקומם בכפר. השוואה למאפיינים הללו בבתי הכנסת המוכרים מימי הבית השני באתרים כגון גמלא ומגדלא מובילה למסקנה שגם את המבנים הגדולים בחמשת האתרים האמורים יש לזהות כבתי כנסת מימי הבית השני. מסקנה זו חשובה להבנת תפוצת בתי הכנסת במגזר הכפרי בתקופה זו, תפוצה שהייתה, כך מתברר, נרחבת יותר מכפי שסברו חוקרים בעבר. נוסף על כך זיהוי זה מצמצם את הפער הכרונולוגי בין בתי הכנסת של ימי הבית לאלו של תקופת המשנה והתלמוד, ומחזק את הדעה שהאחרונים התפתחו מתוך הראשונים ולא נולדו יש מאין. לבסוף, העובדה שחמשת המבנים הללו קבורים מתחת לבתי כנסת מאוחרים מלמדת על קיומן של מסורות מקומיות בנות מאות שנים, שנגעו לייעודה של החלקה שעליה ניצב מבנה הציבור בכפרים הנדונים
This conclusion is important for our understanding of the dispersion of synagogues in rural areas, which was apparently wider than previously assumed. It also narrows the chronological gap between the Second Temple synagogues and those of the later Roman period, and supports the idea that the latter developed organically from the former, rather than ex nihilo.
The fact that these five structures are all located beneath later synagogues is significant, since it points to long-lasting local traditions regarding the role of the specific locations of public structures of this kind.
מתחת לבתי הכנסת מן התקופה הרומית המאוחרת בח'רבת ואדי חמאם, ארבל, נחל גוש חלב, כפר נחום וחמת טבריה נחשפו שרידי מבנים גדולים שתוארכו לימי הבית השני. מכיוון שהחופרים לא פירקו את בתי הכנסת והסתפקו בבורות בדיקה מתחת לרצפות, ומכיוון שהבנייה המאוחרת טשטשה את השרידים, לא ניתן היה לעמוד על מאפייניהם המדויקים של המבנים הקדומים. במאמר זה נדונים תוכניות המבנים הללו, זמנם, עיטורם האדריכלי (כגון כותרות עמודים, טיח מכויר ותמשיחי קיר) ומיקומם בכפר. השוואה למאפיינים הללו בבתי הכנסת המוכרים מימי הבית השני באתרים כגון גמלא ומגדלא מובילה למסקנה שגם את המבנים הגדולים בחמשת האתרים האמורים יש לזהות כבתי כנסת מימי הבית השני. מסקנה זו חשובה להבנת תפוצת בתי הכנסת במגזר הכפרי בתקופה זו, תפוצה שהייתה, כך מתברר, נרחבת יותר מכפי שסברו חוקרים בעבר. נוסף על כך זיהוי זה מצמצם את הפער הכרונולוגי בין בתי הכנסת של ימי הבית לאלו של תקופת המשנה והתלמוד, ומחזק את הדעה שהאחרונים התפתחו מתוך הראשונים ולא נולדו יש מאין. לבסוף, העובדה שחמשת המבנים הללו קבורים מתחת לבתי כנסת מאוחרים מלמדת על קיומן של מסורות מקומיות בנות מאות שנים, שנגעו לייעודה של החלקה שעליה ניצב מבנה הציבור בכפרים הנדונים
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Historical sources regarding Hellenistic-period Galilee are few and ambiguous and do not provide a clear picture about the identity of its population. Rich Hellenistic strata were uncovered at sites on the boarders of Galilee – mainly at... more
Historical sources regarding Hellenistic-period Galilee are few and ambiguous and do not provide a clear picture about the identity of its population. Rich Hellenistic strata were uncovered at sites on the boarders of Galilee – mainly at Scythopolis in the south and Tel Anafa and Kedesh up north (belonging already to the Phoenician realm). Very little is known, however, about the inner parts of Galilee in this period. While we have ample evidence for a dense Jewish population in the area in the Early Roman period, we do not know if and how it relates to that of the Hellenistic era. This information is imperative for understanding the ethnic and cultural background in which Second Temple period Judaism and early Christianity developed in the Galilee.
The Hellenistic Galilee Project was initiated by a team of the Hebrew University, in an attempt to shed light on these questions through an investigation of the material culture and settlement dynamics in the Galilee in the period under discussion. The research includes an excavation of a key site called Khirbet el-‘Eika, in the Eastern Lower Galilee, and a survey of Hellenistic period sites between the Mediterranean coast and the Sea of Galilee. The material culture revealed at Khirbet el-‘Eika points to a population with close ties to the Phoenician coast, most likely pagan. The site came to a sudden end in a dramatic destruction and the rich assemblage of artifacts allowed us to pinpoint this event to ca. 145/4 BCE. Furthermore, newly published excavations, as well as the results of our survey, point to additional Galilean sites that seem to have been abandoned in the mid-2nd century BCE and this hitherto unknown occasion seems to be a wide phenomenon. The paper discusses the material culture remains and the settlement patterns in the Galilee during the Hellenistic and Hasmonean periods and the conclusions that can be derived regarding the shifting in ethnic identity and political power in the transition between these two periods.
The paper discusses the political situation, the settlement patterns and the material culture in the Galilee during the Hellenistic period and the transition of the region from a Phoenician-oriented to a Hasmonean-controlled area.
for full paper see: https://cart.sbl-site.org/books/061734P
The Hellenistic Galilee Project was initiated by a team of the Hebrew University, in an attempt to shed light on these questions through an investigation of the material culture and settlement dynamics in the Galilee in the period under discussion. The research includes an excavation of a key site called Khirbet el-‘Eika, in the Eastern Lower Galilee, and a survey of Hellenistic period sites between the Mediterranean coast and the Sea of Galilee. The material culture revealed at Khirbet el-‘Eika points to a population with close ties to the Phoenician coast, most likely pagan. The site came to a sudden end in a dramatic destruction and the rich assemblage of artifacts allowed us to pinpoint this event to ca. 145/4 BCE. Furthermore, newly published excavations, as well as the results of our survey, point to additional Galilean sites that seem to have been abandoned in the mid-2nd century BCE and this hitherto unknown occasion seems to be a wide phenomenon. The paper discusses the material culture remains and the settlement patterns in the Galilee during the Hellenistic and Hasmonean periods and the conclusions that can be derived regarding the shifting in ethnic identity and political power in the transition between these two periods.
The paper discusses the political situation, the settlement patterns and the material culture in the Galilee during the Hellenistic period and the transition of the region from a Phoenician-oriented to a Hasmonean-controlled area.
for full paper see: https://cart.sbl-site.org/books/061734P
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FLOOR DEPOSITS IN ANCIENT SYNAGOGUES Nili Ahipaz and Uzi Leibner Hoards containing hundreds or thousands of coins have been found under floors of various late antique synagogues.... more
FLOOR DEPOSITS IN ANCIENT SYNAGOGUES
Nili Ahipaz and Uzi Leibner
Hoards containing hundreds or thousands of coins have been found under floors of various late antique synagogues. The coins are so dispersed that it is clear they were not meant ever to be collected but were intentionally scattered for some reason. The custom is not mentioned, or even hinted at, in any ancient Jewish source, making it
hard to interpret. The phenomenon is mentioned by a few archeologists, usually while discussing the dating of the synagogues, but without dealing with its characteristics or cultural background.
In this article, we first present the phenomenon with its physical settings, chronological boundaries, and geographical distribution. The case of the Deir ‘Aziz synagogue is described in detail, followed by a concise presentation of the other known examples.
The main part of the article is devoted to interpreting the phenomenon, comparing it with foundation and floor deposits in other areas in the ancient world, and discussing Jewish customs and sources from this period. The praxis seems to have been a magic custom meant to protect the building and developed during a period in which magical practices and beliefs flourished among the Jews. Interestingly, except for the case of Sardis, the practice is documented in a restricted geographical region in northeastern Palestine, apparently pointing to a localized and confined tradition.
Nili Ahipaz and Uzi Leibner
Hoards containing hundreds or thousands of coins have been found under floors of various late antique synagogues. The coins are so dispersed that it is clear they were not meant ever to be collected but were intentionally scattered for some reason. The custom is not mentioned, or even hinted at, in any ancient Jewish source, making it
hard to interpret. The phenomenon is mentioned by a few archeologists, usually while discussing the dating of the synagogues, but without dealing with its characteristics or cultural background.
In this article, we first present the phenomenon with its physical settings, chronological boundaries, and geographical distribution. The case of the Deir ‘Aziz synagogue is described in detail, followed by a concise presentation of the other known examples.
The main part of the article is devoted to interpreting the phenomenon, comparing it with foundation and floor deposits in other areas in the ancient world, and discussing Jewish customs and sources from this period. The praxis seems to have been a magic custom meant to protect the building and developed during a period in which magical practices and beliefs flourished among the Jews. Interestingly, except for the case of Sardis, the practice is documented in a restricted geographical region in northeastern Palestine, apparently pointing to a localized and confined tradition.
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Historical sources regarding Hellenistic-period Galilee are few and ambiguous and do not provide a clear picture about the identity of its population. Rich Hellenistic strata were uncovered at sites on the boarders of Galilee – mainly at... more
Historical sources regarding Hellenistic-period Galilee are few and ambiguous and do not provide a clear picture about the identity of its population. Rich Hellenistic strata were uncovered at sites on the boarders of Galilee – mainly at Scythopolis in the south and Tel Anafa and Kedesh up north (belonging already to the Phoenician realm). Very little is known, however, about the inner parts of Galilee in this period. While we have ample evidence for a dense Jewish population in the area in the Early Roman period, we do not know if and how it relates to that of the Hellenistic era. This information is imperative for understanding the ethnic and cultural background in which Second Temple period Judaism and early Christianity developed in the Galilee.
The Hellenistic Galilee Project was initiated by a team of the Hebrew University, in an attempt to shed light on these questions through an investigation of the material culture and settlement dynamics in the Galilee in the period under discussion. The research includes an excavation of a key site called Khirbet el-‘Eika, in the Eastern Lower Galilee, and a survey of Hellenistic period sites between the Mediterranean coast and the Sea of Galilee. The material culture revealed at Khirbet el-‘Eika points to a population with close ties to the Phoenician coast, most likely gentile. The site came to a sudden end in a dramatic destruction and the rich assemblage of artifacts allowed us to pinpoint this event to ca. 145/4 BCE. Furthermore, newly published excavations, as well as the results of our survey, point to additional Galilean sites that seem to have been abandoned in the mid-2nd century BCE and this hitherto unknown occasion seems to be a wide phenomenon. The paper discusses the political situation, the settlement patterns and the material culture in the Galilee during the Hellenistic period and the transition of the region from a Phoenician-oriented to a Hasmonean-controlled area.
The Hellenistic Galilee Project was initiated by a team of the Hebrew University, in an attempt to shed light on these questions through an investigation of the material culture and settlement dynamics in the Galilee in the period under discussion. The research includes an excavation of a key site called Khirbet el-‘Eika, in the Eastern Lower Galilee, and a survey of Hellenistic period sites between the Mediterranean coast and the Sea of Galilee. The material culture revealed at Khirbet el-‘Eika points to a population with close ties to the Phoenician coast, most likely gentile. The site came to a sudden end in a dramatic destruction and the rich assemblage of artifacts allowed us to pinpoint this event to ca. 145/4 BCE. Furthermore, newly published excavations, as well as the results of our survey, point to additional Galilean sites that seem to have been abandoned in the mid-2nd century BCE and this hitherto unknown occasion seems to be a wide phenomenon. The paper discusses the political situation, the settlement patterns and the material culture in the Galilee during the Hellenistic period and the transition of the region from a Phoenician-oriented to a Hasmonean-controlled area.
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A large Byzantine-period compound was unearthed in the 1970s at Magdala, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. The excavators, Virgilio Corbo and Stanislao Loffreda of the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum, suggested identifying it as a... more
A large Byzantine-period compound was unearthed in the 1970s at Magdala, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. The excavators, Virgilio Corbo and Stanislao Loffreda of the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum, suggested identifying it as a monastery. Published only as an interim report in Italian that described the results of the first two excavation seasons, the site remains almost unknown to the wider scholarly
community.
The current article discusses the compound, beginning with the site’s significance in Christian literary tradition, from the canonical gospels through Byzantine and Medieval pilgrimage itineraries and down to reports by modern visitors and surveyors. The second part of the article describes the archaeological remains of the compound and compares them to those at other monastic sites in the region. The archaeological data suggests that a large monastery stood in Magdala in the Byzantine period, while the literary sources indicate that it was probably the place identified as the house of Mary Magdalene. The paper also discusses literary sources alluding to recluse monks living in caves in the nearby mountains, and archaeological finds emerging from caves in the cliffs of Mt. Arbel and Mt. Nitai, which support this suggestion. These recluse monks were perhaps in some way related to the Byzantine compound in
nearby Magdala.
community.
The current article discusses the compound, beginning with the site’s significance in Christian literary tradition, from the canonical gospels through Byzantine and Medieval pilgrimage itineraries and down to reports by modern visitors and surveyors. The second part of the article describes the archaeological remains of the compound and compares them to those at other monastic sites in the region. The archaeological data suggests that a large monastery stood in Magdala in the Byzantine period, while the literary sources indicate that it was probably the place identified as the house of Mary Magdalene. The paper also discusses literary sources alluding to recluse monks living in caves in the nearby mountains, and archaeological finds emerging from caves in the cliffs of Mt. Arbel and Mt. Nitai, which support this suggestion. These recluse monks were perhaps in some way related to the Byzantine compound in
nearby Magdala.
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This article describes an amulet in the shape of a thin copper plaque that was found on the floor of a domestic structure at Khirbet Wadi Hamam in the eastern Lower Galilee. It contains an engraved five-line inscription with a sequence of... more
This article describes an amulet in the shape of a thin copper plaque
that was found on the floor of a domestic structure at Khirbet Wadi Hamam in the eastern Lower Galilee. It contains an engraved five-line inscription with a sequence of magic signs and a few Hebrew (or pseudo-Hebrew) letters. Dated to the first half of the fourth century CE, the amulet is the earliest example of its type known to date from a Jewish context. Its meaning, use and place in the development
of such amulets are discussed, as well as its date and the stratigraphic context in which it was found.
that was found on the floor of a domestic structure at Khirbet Wadi Hamam in the eastern Lower Galilee. It contains an engraved five-line inscription with a sequence of magic signs and a few Hebrew (or pseudo-Hebrew) letters. Dated to the first half of the fourth century CE, the amulet is the earliest example of its type known to date from a Jewish context. Its meaning, use and place in the development
of such amulets are discussed, as well as its date and the stratigraphic context in which it was found.
Following a report that a tractor disturbed a subterranean hiding complex at >Enot Sho>im, a survey and archaeological excavation were conducted at the site for several days. Study of its abundant datable finds showed that it had probably... more
Following a report that a tractor disturbed a subterranean hiding complex at >Enot Sho>im, a survey and archaeological excavation were conducted at the site for several days. Study of its abundant datable finds showed that it had probably been sealed since the 2nd or 3rd century CE. This article introduces the site and furnishes new information about subterranean hiding complexes in the Galilee.
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ABSTRACT