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.

Autorentext
2004 PhD in archaeology from Bar Ilan University; currently a senior lecturer in Classical Archaeology at the Institute of Archaeology in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. 1986 Promotion in Ev. Theologie in Heidelberg mit Schwerpunkt Neues Testament; 1992 Promotion in Jewish Studies am Jewish Theological Seminary in New York; 1997 Habilitation an der FU Berlin; seit 2005 Professorin für Jewish Studies an der School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) der University of London.

Inhalt
Catherine Hezser/Uzi Leibner: Jewish Art in its Late Antique Context: An Introductory Essay

Part I: The Development of Jewish Art in the Roman-Byzantine Period
Orit Peleg-Barkat: Interpreting the Uninterpreted: Art as a Means of Expressing Identity in Early Roman Judaea - Lee I. Levine: Why Did Jewish Art Flourish in Late Antiquity? - Peter Stewart: The Bet Alpha Synagogue Mosaic and Late-Antique Provincialism - Rina Talgam: From Wall Paintings to Floor Mosaics: Jewish and Christian Attitudes to Figurative Art

Part II: Synagogue Mosaic Panels
Zeev Weiss: Decorating the Sacred Realm: Biblical Depictions in Synagogues and Churches of Ancient Palestine - Uzi Leibner: Rabbinic Traditions and Synagogue Art - Roland Deines: God's Revelation Through Torah, Creation, and History: Interpreting the Zodiac Mosaics in Synagogues

Part III: Symbols and Iconography
Rachel Hachlili: Why Did the Menorah and Not the Showbread Table Evolve into the Most Important Symbol of Judaism? - Catherine Hezser: "For the Lord God is a Sun and a Shield" (Ps. 84:12): Sun Symbolism in Hellenistic Jewish Literature and in Amoraic Midrashim - Karen B. Stern: Celebrating the Mundane: Figural Graffiti and Daily Life among Jews in the Levant

Part IV: Jewish and Christian Art
Markus Vinzent: Earliest 'Christian' Art is Jewish Art - Sean V. Leatherbury: Competitive Sacrifice: Christian Visual Engagement with Jewish Sacrificial History and the Temple in Late Antique Arabia - Robin M. Jensen: The Three Hebrew Youths and the Problem of the Emperor's Portrait in Early Christianity - Holger Zellentin: The Rabbis on (the Christianisation of) the Imperial Cult: Mishnah and Yerushalmi Avodah Zarah 3:1 (42b, 54-42c, 61)