From Jerusalem to Sepphoris: Daily Life in the Jewish Realm

Archaeological finds uncovered throughout ancient Palestine shed important light on the daily life, material culture, and social behavior of the local Jewish population (1st through late 6th c. CE). Jewish life in the late Second Temple period (late 1st c. BCE–1st c. CE) is generally characterized by a strict observance of Jewish precepts, whereas the centuries following the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple (2nd–6th c. CE) unfold a new era wherein borders shifted and were redefined owing to the new order of Roman authority, socioeconomic behavior, and Graeco-Roman culture. Jerusalem in the late Second Temple period and Sepphoris from Roman times through late antiquity are the contexts for our wider discussions of daily life in the Jewish realm. Following a brief survey of the geopolitical setting of these events, we will discuss the finds from various sites in Judaea and Galilee—whether urban or rural, rich or poor—and explore their diachronic and synchronic expression in Jewish daily life—private dwellings and public edifices, small artifacts for domestic use, clothing and jewelry, magic, art, and burial customs. 3 credits. Satisfies the pre-1800 or the non-western requirement.