Ancient Jewish Art and Archaeology in the Diaspora

603 Pages·1998·22.501 MB·English

by  Rachel Hachlili

ANCIENT JEWISH ART
AND ARCHAEOLOGY
IN THE DIASPORA
HANDBUCH DER ORIENTALISTIK
HANDBOOK OF ORIENTAL STUDIES
ERSTE ABTEILUNG
DER NAHE UND MITTLERE OSTEN
THE NEAR AND MIDDLE EAST
HERAUSGEGEBEN VON
H. ALTENMOLLER · B. HROUDA · B.A. LEVINE· R.S. O'FAHEY
K.R. VEENHOF · C.H.M. VERSTEEGH
FUNFUNDDREISSIGSTER BAND
ANCIENT JEWISH ART
AND ARCHAEOLOGY
IN THE DIASPORA
ANCIENT JEWISH ART
AND ARCHAEOLOGY
IN THE DIASPORA
BY
RACHEL HACHLILI
BRILL
LEIDEN · BOSTON · KOLN
1998
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Hachlili, Rachel.
Ancient Jewish art and archacolocy in the diaspora / hy Rachel
Hachlili.
p. cm. - (Handbuch dcr Orientalistik. Erste Ahtcilung, Der Nahe
und Mittlcrc Osten. ISSN 0169-9423; 35. Bd. = Handbook of Oriental
studies. The Near and Middle Eastj
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 9004108785 (doth : alk. paper)
I. Synagogue architecture-History. 2. Synagogue art-History.
3.Jewish art and symbolism-History. 4. Synagogue art-Syria-Dura
-Europos (Extinct city) 5. Art, Ancient. I. Title. II. Series: Handbuch
der Oricntalistik. Erste Abtcilun~, Der Nahc und Mittlcre Osten ; 35. Bd.
NA4690.H28 1998
704.03'92403-dc2 l 97-28225
GIP
Die Deutsche Bibliothek - CIP-Einheitsaufnalnne
Handbuch dcr O1icntalistik / hrsg. van B. Spuler untcr Mitarb. von C. van
Dijk ... Leiden : New York ; Koln : Brill.
rcilw. hng. von H. i\hemnullcr. Litcraturangabcn. Tcilw. hrsg. ,. on Il. Spu•
lcr. Teilw. mit Paralldt.; Handbook of oriental studies
Abt. I, Der Nahe und Mittlere Osten = The Near and Middle East/ hrsg.
von H. Altenmi.iller ...
NE: Spuler, Bcrlold [Hrsg.J; Altcnmlillcr, Hartwig [Hrsg.J; Handbook of oriental
srndics
Bd. 35. Hachlili. Rachel: Ancientjc\\~sh art and archaeology in the diaspora.
- 1998
Hachlili, Rachel:
AacicntJewish art and archaeology in the diaspora. / by Rachel
Hachlili. - Leiden ; Boston , Kola : Brill, 1998
(H~ndbuch da Oricnlalistik : Abt. I, Der Nahc und Miulcrc Osten Bd. 3.'i
ISDN 90-04-10878-.'i
ISSN 0169-9423
ISBN 90 04 10878 5
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l'Rl'.',;TED E\ THI·'. ~ETHERIA'.',;l)S
IN MEMORY OF MY BETDVFD PARENTS
ABRAHAM (ARTUR) AND FRIEDA WEICHSELBAUM

CONTENTS
List of Figures . . . . . .. . .. . .. .. . . . . . . .. . .. . .. .. . . . . . . ... ... .. .. . .. . .. .. . .. . .. .. . ... . . .. . .. .. . .. . .. . .. . .. .. . . . .. . .. . .. . .. .. . xii
List of Plates ... .. ... ... .. . .. .. . .. .. ... . .. ... .. . .. .. ... . ... .. .. ... .. . .. . .. .. . .. . ... .. .. . .. .. . .. . .. . .. . .. .. .. . .. . .. .. . .. . .. xx1
List of Colo red Plates........................................................................................... xxv11
Foreword................................................................................................................. xx1x
Acknowledgments ................................................................................................... xxx
Introduction ...... ....... ......... ....... ..... ........... ................. ....... ... ........ ........... ..... ........ .. xxxii
Historical Background.................................................................................................. 1
CHAPTER I THE SYNAGOGUE ............................................................................... 13
A The Temple and the Synagogue................................................................... 13
B Origins of the Synagogue............................................................................... 14
The Emergence of the Synagogue ............................................................... 15
Archaeological & Textual Evidence.............................................................. 17
Archaeological Evidence........................................................................... 17
Textual evidence .... ................................................................................... 18
Conclusions ...... ..... ........ ........ ..... ........... .............. .. .......... ... .... .. ................ ........ 20
C The Synagogue and the Community............................................................ 22
Synagoge Activities ............................................................................................ 22
Synagoge Administration .................................................................................. 23
Women in the Synagoge .................................................................................. 23
CHAPTER II SYNAGOGUE ARCHITECTURE ....................................................... 25
A Description of Diaspora Synagogues............................................................. 25
Aegina ......................................................................................................... 25
Apamea ....................................................................................................... 32
Bova Marina . . .. .. . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . .. ... .. . . . .. . .. . .. .. . .. . .. .. . ... .. .. . .. . .. .. . .. . .. .. . .. . .. .. . ... . . .. . .. . .. 34
Delos ........................................................................................................... 35
Dura-Europos .......... ........ .. .... .. ................ .. ....... ....... ... ... ... ............... ........... 39
Comparisons Between the Early and Later Dura Synagogue Build-
ings .............................................................................................................. 44
Elche ........................................................................................................... 45
Hammam-Lif .. ...... ... .......... ... ... ........... ..... ..... ... .......... ... ... ... ........................ 4 7
Lepcis Magna .......... ........ ..... ... ........ ... ... .. . ....... ... ..... ........ ... ........................ 49
VI CONTENTS
Miletus (?) .................................................................................................. 51
Misis-Mopsuhestia ... ........ ..... ........................... ..... ...... ..................... ........ ... 51
Ostia ............................................................................................................ 53
Philippopolis .............................................................................................. 55
Priene .......................................................................................................... 56
Sardis ........................................................................................................... 58
Stobi ............................................................................................................ 63
B Characteristic Features of the Synagogue.................................................... 67
The Torah Shrine ..................................................................................... 67
Torah Shrine Elements ............................................................................ 76
Synagogue Architectural Furnishings.................................................... 79
The Women's Gallery ............................................................................... 84
C Synagogues Known from Architectural Fragments ..... ........ ........ .......... ...... 85
D Synagogues Known from Inscriptions........................................................... 88
E General Conclusions ............... ... ..... ....... ... ... ... ........ ........ .................. ... ... ..... ... 89
Synagogue Locations................................................................................. 89
Types of Structures.................................................................................... 90
Synagogue Design...................................................................................... 90
Synagogues Converted into Churches .................................................... 92
Distinguishing Features............................................................................. 93
CHAPTER III SYNAGOGUE ART: THE DURA-EUROPOS SYNAGOGUE
WALL PAINTINGS ..................................................................................................... 96
A Description of the Wall Paintings................................................................. 96
Wall Paintings, Earlier Building.............................................................. 96
Wall Paintings, Later Building, First Stage............................................ 98
Wall Paintings, Later Building, Second Stage..................................... 104
The West Wall ..................................................................................... 104
The North Wall ..... ........ ..... ... ...... ........... ....... ........ ........ ........ ........ ...... 122
The East Wall....................................................................................... 127
The South Wall.................................................................................... 130
The Dado ................... .............................................................................. 133
The Dipinti .............................................................................................. 135
B Iconography of the Wall Paintings............................................................. 135
Figures, Costumes & Gestures ............................................................... 136
Representations of Scenes...................................................................... 146
CONTENTS VII
Elements of Scenery, Architecture and Objects ................................. 155
C Composition & Style of the Wall Paintings ............ ........................ ........... 174
Organization & Composition................................................................. 174
Color ......................................................................................................... 176
Figures....................................................................................................... 176
Frontality & Style..................................................................................... 177
D Meaning & Interpretation of the Wall Paintings ..................................... 178
E Origins & Sources .. . ... ... . . . . . .. . .. . .. .. . . . .. . ... ... . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . .. . .. . .. .. . .. . . . . . . .. . .. . .. . . . . . . . . 182
Origins of the Synagogue Structure ..................................................... 182
Origins of the Wall Paintings................................................................ 182
Sources for the Biblical Paintings......................................................... 185
Artistic Sources & Influences................................................................. 190
F Conclusions ..... ......... ........... ... .. ........ ................... ... ................ .. ... ........ ....... ... . 193
CHAPTER N SYNAGOGUE ART: MOSAIC PAVEMENTS ................................. 198
A The Mosaic Pavements ................................................................................. 198
Aegina ....................................................................................................... 198
Apamea ..................................................................................................... 198
Bova Marina . . .. . .. ... ... . . . . . .. . .. ... .. . . . ... ... .. . . . .. . ... .. .. . . . . . . .. . ... .. .. . . . . . . .. . ... .. . . . .. . .. . .. 204
Eiche ......................................................................................................... 205
Hammam-Lif ............................................................................................ 207
Misis-Mopsuhestia ...... ..... ... ........ ........ ..... ................. ............ .... .......... ... .. . 209
Ostia .......................................................................................................... 216
Philippopolis ............................................................................................ 217
Sardis ......................................................................................................... 218
Stobi .......................................................................................................... 231
B Composition & Style ............... ........................................ .............................. 233
C Sources for Mosaic Pavements..................................................................... 235
D Conclusions ...... .............. .. ........ ........ ................ .. .... .......... ...... ............. ........... 236
CHAPTER V FIGURATIVE ART............................................................................. 237
A Biblical Scenes .............. ... ........ ........ ..... ........... ..... .... ......... ....... ............... ... ... 239
The Sacrifice of Isaac ....... ...... .. ..... ... ........ .. ................. ...... ............ .... .. ... 239
David-Orpheus ......................................................................................... 247
Noah's Ark at Misis-Mopsuhestia ........................................................... 249
Noah's Ark on the Earlier Mosaic Pavement .................................. 249
Noah's Ark on the Later Mosaic Pavement. .................................... 251
Vlll CONTENTS
Noah on the Apamea Coins .................................................................. 255
The Samson Cycle at Misis-Mopsuhestia ..... .......... ...... ........ ........ ......................... 256
CHAPTER VI BURIAL AND FUNERARY PRACTICES........................................ 263
A Funerary Architecture ......................................................................................... 263
Loculi Tomb Burials............................................................................................ 263
The Necropolis of Leontopolis .................................................... ................. 263
The Necropoleis at Alexandria ..................................................................... 264
The Necropolis at Gammarath Hill .............................................................. 265
Catacomb Burials ................................................................................................. 266
Jewish Catacombs of Rome............................................................................ 266
The Catacombs of Venosa ............................................................................. 273
The Hypogea of Malta .. ........ .......... ...... ......... ....... ........ ... ........... ................... 273
The Hypogea of Sicily ........... ... .. ........ ........... ..... ........ .......... ...... ........ ... ... .. . ........ 275
B Wall Paintings....................................................................................................... 275
Vigna Randanini ..... .............. .......... ........ ................ ........ .............. ........ ........... 275
Villa Torlonia .......... ... ...... ....... .. ... ... ........................ ... ...................................... 279
Style & Composition ....................................................................................... 281
Venosa ............................................................................................................. 282
Malta ................................................................................................................. 282
Gammarath Hill, Carthage ............................................................................ 283
C Sarcophagi ... ...... .. . ....... ... ... .. ........ ........ ... ... .................. ........ ......... ................. .... ... 285
Sarcophagi from the Catacombs at Rome .. ..... ..................... ............ ........... 285
Jewish lead coffins from Cilicia ..................................................................... 291
D Gold Glasses.......................................................................................................... 292
E Tombstones ........................................................................................................... 304
F Clay Lamps .......... ................................. ............... ..... .................................... ........ 305
G Miscellaneous Finds . ................... ... ..... ... ... ... ....... ..... ... ...... ... ....................... ......... 305
H Funerary Practices .. .. . .. . . . .. . .. . .. ... ... . . . . . .. . . . .. . .. . . . ... ... .. .. . ... . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. .. . .. . .. . 306
CHAPTER VII JEWISH SYMBOLS ......................................................................... 311
A The Menorah ....................................................................................................... 312
The Menorah on the Arch of Titus ............................................................. 312
The Menorah in the Synagogue ................................................................... 316
The Form of the Menorah Depicted in Synagogues ................................. 323
Menorah Depictions in a Burial Context .................................................... 330