Monday, 15th June 2009
Prof. Fergus Millar (Oriental Institute, University of Oxford)
JEWS AND CHRISTIANS IN PALESTINE IN LATE ANTIQUITY: THE CASE OF CAPERNEUM
Late Roman Palestine was inhabited by several different ethnic, social, religious and linguistic groups: Jews, Samaritans, Christians, some surviving gentile pagans, and 'Saracens', both in Sinai and immigrating across the Imperial frontier. This lecture concerns the co-existence of Jews and Christians, in various different senses. Firstly, while they inhabited the same general area, did they co-exist peacefully, or conflict with each other, or exchange ideas and beliefs? Our most vivid witness is Jerome, settled in Bethlehem from the mid 380s to his death in 420; but there are several other vivid accounts of mutual contacts. Secondly, did they literally co-exist, side by side, in the same communities, or were there separate Christian and Jewish towns and villages? How far did Late Antique synagogues imitate the architecture and decoration of churches? One theme which clearly distinguishes them from churches is the repeated reminiscence, on synagogue mosaics, of The Temple. Does Capernaum offer an example of a church and a synagogue in close proximity? This lecture will conclude by examining the suggestion by an Israeli archaeologist that this apparent example of co-existence is an illusion.
Professor Millar is Camden Professor of Ancient History Emeritus, Oxford University. He received the Kenyon Medal for Classics from the British Academy in 2005.
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