Liber Annuus

Abstract

The article deals with the various ethnic components in the urban texture of Byzantine Jerusalem, from Constantine to the 7th century. Pilgrims from all parts of the world converged on the Holy City, and some of them took permanent residence there; many others stayed for long periods, and even when they left, their place was taken up by fellow-countrymen. Thus communities were formed, held together by a common origin, a common language, a common cultural or social background. Most prominent among them were Latins and other Westerners, Greeks from the Aegean and coastal Asia, Cappadocians and other peoples of central Anatolia, Armenians and Georgians. Syrians, visitors from the Sassanian Empire and from Ethiopia were numerous. Jews and perhaps Samaritans also lived in the city, if not during the entire period, then at least for part of it.

Abstract

This paper is a multifaceted study of the Messianic Age motif of a lion facing a bull as found in 5th to 8th-century church floor mosaics in Jordan. At Ma‘in, Jordan, this motif is related to Isaiah’s description of the Messianic Age by an inscription. Scholars have variously interpreted the Messianic Age motif as found in the mosaics as the Eucharist, as baptism, as a reflection of the peace desired between the Nestorians and Monophysites, as relating to the future paradise of heaven, and as an admonition of restraint and vegetarianism for monks. Based on the dating of the mosaics and contemporaneous textual evidence, this study proposes a new interpretation that the lion-bull motif was a reminder that the Messianic Age had already begun and was functioning on the earth through the Church.

Abstract

One lingering problem facing researchers of the Madaba Map mosaic is its precise date of manufacture. The historical geography evident in the mosaic and stylistic considerations are generally viewed as the essential dating indicators. Michele Piccirillo suggested that the Map and mosaics from the nearby church of Sts. Lot and Procopius were paved by the same workshop, primarily on the strength of style. An analysis of the technique employed by the artisans to illustrate certain detailing elements common to these mosaics leads to the compelling belief that they were indeed manufactured by the same workshop. The pavement from Sts. Lot and Procopius can be reliably dated by its dedicatory inscription to a specific year that also accords with the period ascertained by the Map’s historical evidence. Consequently, this should stand as the probable date for the creation of the Map mosaic.

Abstract

The present article forms a synthesis of the artistic media - architecture and sculpture - and the epigraphic and numismatic evidence; this enables the examination of the role of Apollo and Artemis in the life of the cities of the Decapolis, especially the religious practice during the Roman period. The various findings emphasize the artistic-visual-aesthetic aspects of their cult in those cities where these gods were worshipped. Presumably, the cult of these deities was practiced at both state and civic levels, and perhaps also as a private cult.

Abstract

551 Lincke Eliese-Sophia, Die Prinzipien der Klassifizierung im Altägyptischen (Göttinger Orientforschungen. IV. Reihe Ägypten 38 / Classification and Categorization in Ancient Egypt 6), Harrassowitz Verlag, Wiesbaden 2011, xi-159 pp. (A. Niccacci).

552 Arp Janne, Die Nekropole als Figuration. Zur Methodik der sozialen Interpretation der Felsfassendengräber von Amarna (Göttinger Orientforschungen. IV. Reihe Ägypten 50), Harrassowitz Verlag, Wiesbaden 2011, xi-159 pp. (A. Niccacci).

553 Dresbach Guido, Zur Verwaltung in der 20. Dynastie: das Wesirat (Königtum, Staat und Gesellschaft früher Hochkulturen 9), Harrassowitz Verlag, Wiesbaden 2012, xxii-490 pp. (A. Niccacci).

554 Rochester Kathleen M., Prophetic Ministry in Jeremiah and Ezekiel (Contributions to Biblical Exegesis and Theology 65), Peeters, Leuven - Paris - Walpole MA 2012, x-261 pp. (V. Lopasso).

557 Taylor Bernard A., Analytical Lexicon to the Septuagint: Expanded Edition. With Word Definitions by J. Lust, E. Eynikel, and K. Hauspie, Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody MA 2010, xxx-591 pp. (R. Pierri).

563 Aletti Jean-Noël, Le Jésus de Luc (Jésus et Jésus-Christ 98), Mame - Desclée, Paris 2010, 258 pp. (L.D. Chrupcała).

567 Green Joel B. (ed.), Methods for Luke (Methods in Biblical Interpretation), Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2010, x-157 pp. (L.D. Chrupcała).

571 Mello Alberto, L’ebraicità di Gesù e dei Vangeli (Cristiani ed Ebrei 1), Edizioni Dehoniane, Bologna 2011, 144 pp. (G.C. Bottini).

577 Spitaler Peter (ed.), Celebrating Paul. Festschrift in Honor of Jerome Murphy- O’Connor, O.P., and Joseph A. Fitzmyer, S.J. (The Catholic Biblical Quarterly. Monograph Series 48), The Catholic Biblical Association of America, Washington D.C. 2011, xxviii-439 pp. (L. Giuliano).

582 Waddell James A., The Messiah: A Comparative Study of the Enochic Son of Man and the Pauline Kyrios (Jewish and Christian Texts in Contexts and Related Studies 10), T&T Clark International, London - New York 2011, xvi-240 pp. (L.D. Chrupcała).

587 Nicolaci Marida, Lettera di Giacomo (Nuova versione della Bibbia dai testi antichi 53), San Paolo, Cinisello Balsamo 2012, 160 pp. (G.C. Bottini).

592 Lucass Shirley, The Concept of the Messiah in the Scriptures of Judaism and Christianity (Library of Second Temple Studies [Journal for the Study of the Pseudepigrapha: Supplement Series] 78), T&T Clark International, London - New York 2011, xv-236 pp. (L.D. Chrupcała).

596 Penna Romano, Gesù di Nazaret nelle culture del suo tempo. Alcuni aspetti del Gesù storico (Collana biblica), EDB, Bologna 2012, 216 pp. (L. Giuliano).

602 Broadhead Edwin K., Jewish Ways of Following Jesus. Redrawing the Religious Map of Antiquity (Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament 266), Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen 2010, xx-440 pp. (G. Bissoli).

606 Vikan Gary, Early Byzantine Pilgrimage Art. Revised Edition (Dumbarton Oaks Byzantine Collection Publications 5), Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, Washington D.C. 2010, 109 pp.; ills. (B. Callegher).

611 Russo Cirillo Mario, La Terra dell’Alleanza. Guida ai luoghi santi attraverso la Bibbia, la storia, l’archeologia e la preghiera, Edizioni Terra Santa, Milano 2011, 714 pp. (V. Lopasso).

615 Magness Jodi, The Archaeology of the Holy Land. From the Destruction of Solomon’s Temple to the Muslim Conquest, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2012, xiv-386 pp. (G. Loche).

616 Netzer Ehud, L’architettura di Erode. Il grande costruttore (Bibbia e Terra Santa 8), con l’assistenza di Rachel Laureys-Chachy; presentazione e contributo di Dan Bahat, Edizioni Messaggero di Sant’Antonio, Padova 2012, x-514 pp.; ills. (L.D. Chrupcała).

619 Di Segni Leah - Hirschfeld Yizhar - Patrich Joseph - Talgam Rina (ed.), Man Near a Roman Arch. Studies presented to Prof. Yoram Tsafrir, The Israel Exploration Society, Jerusalem 2009, viii-223 pp. (articles in English); 1-159 (articles in Hebrew). (P. Kaswalder).