Let me begin by thanking the editors of Ancient Jew Review for the opportunity to reflect on my scholarship and career. One way to illuminate my development as a teacher and scholar is to explain how my background and life experiences shaped me as a student, a professor, and a person.[...]
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Taken together, the Twelve-item cycle covered the history of the Greek world from the days of the primal gods and their struggles right up to the end of the “Homeric” era. The Titanomachia describes the war between the Titans and the Olympian deities. We then proceed to three works focused on the city and dynasty of Thebes, events that would have occurred in the generation or so before the Trojan struggle. And then on to Troy.This essay continues Professor Jenkins's survey of lost Classical epics, begun here. See my comments there on the surviving sources for what we know about them.
Cross-file under Lost Books.
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Karolina Sekita, Katherine Southwood, Death imagined: ancient perceptions of death and dying. Liverpool studies in ancient history. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 2025. Pp. 336. ISBN 9781802077582.Chapters of notable interest for PaleoJudaica:Review by
Karen Bassi, University of California at Santa Cruz. bassi@ucsc.eduNon-existence is unknowable. This philosophical truism underlies the myriad ways in which humans imagine and respond to death. In the succinct formulation of Michel Conche, “Death is the horizon of thought.”[1] Sekita and Southwood approach this horizon in a volume devoted to perceptions of death and dying within a broadly defined timeframe (antiquity) and geographical focus (the Mediterranean); a single chapter on Mesoamerica is included. Controlled for space and time, the principal variable is culture, specified as Mesopotamian, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Etruscan, Incan, Judaic. The sources are literary and (predominantly) archaeological. ...
8. Memory, Monumentality, and the Tomb of the Royal Steward, Matthew J. SurianoAlso, lots of chapters of background interest.11. Imagining the Afterlife in the Psalms: The Episode of Mitchell Dahood and His Commentary, Christopher B. Hays
The volume is available as open-access.
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Ten lavers, mounted on wheels, and decorated with images of lions, bulls, and cherubs, stood on either side of the bronze sea in the Jerusalem Temple’s courtyard. Are these the “chariots of the sun” (2 Kings 23:11) that Josiah’s reform purges from the Temple?This is a very interesting idea, although the fact that the lavers were in the Temple for the Babylonians to take away (as noted in the essay), is a point against it.
It is also true that the sun rides in a chariot in extra-Israelite mythology (e.g. Greek Helios and Mesopotamian Utu/Shamash), so Josiah could have been removing mythological architectual additions by his predecessor King Manasseh (cf. 2 Kings 21:3-7). But who knows?
If Prof. Scurlock is right, perhaps Ezekiel approved of Josiah's reform. His (imaginary) restored Temple had cherub decorations (Ezek 41:17-20, 25), but there is no mention of the lavers.
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Lilian Broca: Lilith Part of the Festival of Jewish CultureSponsored by Averbach Family Foundation and Ben Shneiderman
May 20 – June 29
ARTIST RECEPTION: Wednesday May 20, 6pm – 8pm
ARTIST TALK: Tuesday, May 26, 7pmThroughout her career, Lilian Broca has explored subjects ranging from intimate relationships and personal objects to brides, goddesses, and foundational myths, examining narratives that have shaped Western cultural identity. Since 1980, her work has increasingly focused on women and the forces that shape female self-image.
In this exhibition, Broca revisits the myth of Lilith, Adam’s first wife, with symbolic intensity, exploring the struggle of an empowered, independent woman whose conflicts echo those faced by women today. Drawing on lesser-known texts, she highlights Lilith’s refusal to submit, her departure from Adam, and her embrace of autonomy—offering an alternative origin story that challenges dominant narratives and reclaims female agency.
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Damascus, April 28 (SANA) A new exhibition at the National Museum in Damascus traces the evolution of writing in Syria, from prehistoric symbols carved in stone to the emergence of the world’s earliest alphabet, highlighting Syria’s historical role in the development of writing.Includes displays of Mari cuneiform tablets, Ugaritic tablets, and lots more.Organized by the Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums, the exhibition “Syria: From Symbol to Letter” presents key milestones in the development of writing over the millennia. ...
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The books of Ezra and Nehemiah record the return of the Jewish exiles to Jerusalem in the Persian era, focusing on the rebuilding of the temple and the city walls, as well as the spiritual reforms they initiated. In the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament in Christian Bibles), Ezra and Nehemiah form a single book. Not everyone agrees that these accounts are historically reliable. Lester L. Grabbe, for example, calls them a “ripping yarn” and claims that they “do not inspire confidence that we have genuine historical data.”1 On the other hand, archaeology has demonstrated that numerous people, places, and events within the books are historically accurate. Here are the top ten archaeological discoveries related to Ezra and Nehemiah, which help demonstrate the historicity of these biblical books.The discoveries are informative, whatever they demonstrate.
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Seed, blood, or nothing? This debate among the Greeks about the role of women in the development of a fetus influenced the way Second Temple and Rabbinic interpreters understood the meaning of the biblical verse "If a woman emits seed" (Leviticus 12:2).
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The Turkish media portal Türkiye Today published a report on Monday about the ongoing efforts to combat the illegal trade in antiquities that are often looted from legitimate archaeological digs throughout the region.Granted, the parchment medium for this manuscript is creative, but is the IAA really interested in it? I doubt it.The report included details about an archaeological artifact recently seized by police, along with other contraband that smugglers were attempting to sell on the black market. The item is a two-meter manuscript inscribed on python skin with gold Hebrew script, which is of particular interest to the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). It had been rolled up and stored inside a copper case with an “ornate, embossed lid,” according to the report.
[...]
YNet News has also covered the story, with a marginally better copy of the very bad photo:
The item is consistent with the types of finds usually uncovered by antiquities traffickers operating across the region. Illegal excavations at archaeological sites remain an ongoing problem that Turkish authorities are trying to combat.This scroll is indeed consistent with some finds seized from antiquities traffickers in the region. My assessment is that, like many of them, it is clearly a fake.
By expanding the bad photo you can get a blurry look at the the text on the scroll. It consists of a continuous string of Hebrew letters with no clear word divisions and no words, at least that I can make out. As the headline notes, the letters and images are gold, which is a hallmark of recent fakes.
I am not a specialist in ancient iconography, but the images don't look ancient to me either. Compare, for example, the hexagram design to the hexagram in another Turkish fake noted here (second link). The article noted here has a photo with a very similar hexagram design and a griffin underneath it holding a menorah. The griffin design in the current (python parchment) manuscript on the right side has a nearly identical griffin that appears to be next to an (only partly visible) large menorah image.
All that said, as always, I commend the Turkish police for going hard on antiquities smuggling.
There are many legitimate ancient epigraphic and other archaeological discoveries coming out of Turkey. I cover them all the time. But many dodgy "ancient" Hebrew, Aramaic, and Syriac manuscripts also turn up, generally recovered by the police from smugglers. This looks to me to be one of the latter. I tend to ignore them, but I do note one occasionally. For lots more of them see here and the relevant link.
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Philo of Alexandria: Every Good Man is FreeIntroduction, Translation, and Commentary
Series:
Philo of Alexandria Commentary Series, Volume: 9Author: Maren R. Niehoff
Philo’s treatise on freedom is the first extant exposition of the topic, which became neuralgic in the first century CE. Philosophical, historical, literary and exegetical aspects are explored. The Essenes are presented as an exemplary group of free individuals, who reject slavery and study Torah on the Sabbath. In this first commentary on the treatise, Philo’s thought is explained in the context of the circumstances in which it was written, namely in the aftermath of the Alexandrian pogrom in 38 CE, when he served as the head of the Jewish embassy in Rome. The main contemporary figures are introduced and Philo’s role in the debates of first century Rome is highlighted. Special attention is paid to Cynic philosophy, which prized individual freedom and saw a revival in Rome that is otherwise attested only fragmentarily. Philo’s treatise emerges as a precious source, which illuminates subsequent advocates of freedom, such as Paul and Epictetus.
Copyright Year: 2026
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Two Models of Biblical PurityThe Science of Ritual
Naphtali S. Meshel
The Bible and the Humanities
Open Access
£104.00
HardbackPublished: 24 March 2026
288 Pages
234x156mm
ISBN: 9780198883326Also Available As:
E-bookDescription
This is an open access title available under the terms of a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International licence. It is free to read on Oxford Academic and offered as a free PDF download from OUP and selected open access locations.
Two Models of Biblical Purity: The Science of Ritual investigates the ancient Israelite and early Jewish purity systems, proposing a framework that distinguishes between two conceptual approaches to ritual pollution: the qualitative and quantitative models. In the qualitative model, forms of pollution differ fundamentally in type, like distinct illnesses with unique symptoms and treatments. The quantitative model, on the other hand, views pollution as varying in intensity or degree, similar to temperature, where different sources simply make one "more" or "less" impure. The book argues that the Hebrew Bible primarily reflects a qualitative model, where impurities are categorized by type rather than severity. Through careful philological analysis, the study develops "litmus tests" to detect these models within biblical and late Second Temple texts, showing a gradual shift toward quantitative thought in later Jewish sources. Each chapter applies these methods to pivotal texts, including the Priestly literature, the Temple Scroll, and other late Second Temple and rabbinic writings, revealing the complex evolution of purity laws. This approach provides insights into the inner logic and diachronic development of ritual systems, offering a foundational perspective for comparative studies across diverse ritual traditions. Finally, it examines the historical contexts that may have instigated the shift and considers the advantages of the "fundamental science" approach to the study of biblical purity.
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Language and Identity in Hellenistic JudaismNoted as forthcoming, with links, here.Essays in Memory of James K. Aitken
William A. Ross (Anthology Editor) , Marieke Dhont (Anthology Editor) , Christopher J. Fresch (Anthology Editor)
Hardback
$120.00$108.00Ebook (PDF)
$108.00$86.40Ebook (Epub & Mobi)
$108.00$86.40Product details
Published Feb 05 2026
Format Hardback
Edition 1st
Pages 304
ISBN 9780567715081
Imprint T&T Clark
Dimensions 9 x 6 inches
Publisher Bloomsbury PublishingDescription
This volume honours the life and scholarship of James K. Aitken (1968–2023), a distinguished scholar of Hebrew and Early Jewish Studies at the University of Cambridge. Bringing together fourteen original essays by colleagues, students, and friends, the collection explores themes central to Aitken's work. Contributors examine the interplay between language and identity in ancient Jewish communities, with particular attention to the Septuagint and its place within the history of Greek.
Aitken's intellectual legacy is reflected in the breadth of topics covered, from lexical studies and syntactic analysis to sociolinguistic phenomena and historical context. The essays build on his pioneering research and continue conversations he began, offering fresh insights into the lived realities of Jews in the Hellenistic world.
More than a scholarly tribute, this volume is a testament to Aitken's collegial spirit and mentorship. The editors-William A. Ross, Marieke Dhont, and Christopher Fresch-were all shaped by his guidance and friendship, and have curated a collection that reflects both his academic influence and personal impact. With contributions from leading international scholars, this book stands as a fitting memorial to a beloved teacher, collaborator, and friend.
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Her work explores Jewish communities in the Greek, Roman, and Sassanian worlds, drawing on archaeology, inscriptions, and sensory history to understand lived religious experience. She is the author of Writing on the Wall: Graffiti and the Forgotten Jews of Antiquity, which won a 2020 Jordan Schnitzer Book Award, as well as Inscribing Devotion and Death. Her research has been supported by organizations including the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Getty Villa, and she has received multiple teaching awards from Brooklyn College.Professor Stern is interviewed in this press release.The fellowship will support Stern’s new project, “Sanctity: An Archaeology of the Senses in the Ancient Synagogue,” which reexamines ancient synagogues through fieldwork, artifacts, and sensory analysis. It will enable travel to sites and collections across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.
For PaleoJudaica posts on her work, see here and links.
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Stop Trying to Make MŠ Happen! Or Why Moses Does Not Appear in the Proto-Sinaitic InscriptionsI've been aware of recent claims of finding Moses in the Proto-Sinaitic inscriptions, but they sounded dubious, so I have not posted on them. This essay has a detailed epigraphic and philological evaluation. The other links discuss other, sometimes similar, proposals.Claims linking the Proto-Sinaitic inscriptions to Moses are unconvincing and continue a long pattern in which biblical apologists overread fragmentary evidence. Michael Bar-Ron’s proposed “Moses” readings fail on epigraphic, linguistic, and historical grounds: the supposed letters are not actually present, the spelling does not fit, and even a genuine occurrence of the name would not establish a connection to the biblical figure. More broadly, sensational media coverage turned a weak scholarly claim into clickbait. The Proto-Sinaitic inscriptions are significant enough on their own for what they reveal about the early history of alphabetic writing, without the need for apologetic overreach or manufactured controversy.
See also The Lost Language of the Ghassulians: Proto-Writing at Nahal Mishmar?
On the Origin of Alphabetic Writing 2019
Wandering in the Desert?: A Review of Charles R. Krahmalkov’s “The Chief of Miners Mashe/Moshe
By Aren Wilson-Wright
University of Chicago
Department of Middle Eastern Studies
Assistant Instructional Professor
April 2026
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So the god depicted on the stele was an incarnation of Baal? It’s not as clearcut as that, Arie admits. The bull’s head on the Bethsaida stele is surmounted by horns forming a clearly defined crescent moon, suggesting it may represent a lunar deity.Google in its wisdom, or whatever it is, has started showing me old articles in my searches. Usually I ignore them, but this one from 2013 is about an artifact that I knew little about which is worth a look. (I noted its existence in passing many years ago, but hadn't heard about it since.)
The "Bethsaida" mentioned in both places above is et-Tell/e-Tel, identified as the site of Geshur mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. The other site competing for recognition as ancient Bethsaida is el-Araj. The latter seems to be winning at present. For the details of the long debate, start here (cf. here, here, and here) and follow the links.
For PaleoJudaica posts on golden calf and other metal bull artifacts, some of them quite ancient, see here and links. It sounds like the Israel Museum has a substantial collection of terra cotta and metal bulls.
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