Sixth-century mosaic of Jesus and the Samaritan Woman | Santa Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna | Image Source
On AJR
Dissertation Spotlight: Julia Kelto Lillis, “Virgin Territory: Configuring Female Virginity in Early Christianity” (Duke University, 2017)
Lillis: “Today’s readers usually assume that the label “virgin” refers to sexual inexperience and that ancient societies could have tested female virginity by assessing whether a woman’s hymen was broken or intact. I show instead that groups had various ways of differentiating “virgins” and “women,” that “virginity of the body” could mean several different things, and that beliefs about vaginas being perceptibly virginal did not become commonplace until the turn from the fourth to the fifth century CE. The multiplicity of virginity and the rise of anatomical definitions created both opportunities and problems for late ancient Christian reasoning.”
Articles and News
Complex Roman-period kokhim-type burial cave uncovered during development works in Tiberias.
Terrific piece at the IAS site revisiting an unsolved mystery: who wrote the Torah?
On folk etymology, quasi-science, and encoding language with gendered meaning.
Great piece at ASOR on Ancient Near Eastern maps and why there don’t appear to have been more of them.
David McKitterick previews his forthcoming work about how it became possible for some books to count as rare or collectible.
Fab piece by Stefan Schorch exploring Samaritan traditions contesting Mount Gerizim.
Incisive review from Brent Nongbri of recent furore over “First Century” Mark.
New Testament Review podcast continues with a special edition featuring Richard Hays and Joel Marcus.
Mark your calendars now! The 8th North American Syriac Symposium will be held at Brown University, June 16-19, 2019. CFP will be issued in September and abstracts due on 1/1/2019. https://t.co/6WvEo8Eoxx
— Jae Han (@jae_heehan) 14 June 2018
Pride + prejudice from 2000 years ago: Papyrus 358 contains a petition from Demetrius against men who 'using violence and blows made me agree to a loan of four hundred drachmas just because they look down upon me due to the condition of my feet.'https://t.co/PZufkk4w3H pic.twitter.com/eNETRg45bQ
— Medieval Manuscripts (@BLMedieval) 14 June 2018
Pharaoh's dream: three variations
— Ennius (@red_loeb) 14 June 2018
Add MS 27210 the 'Golden Haggadah', 14c, Northern Spain, f. 7r
Or 2884 the 'Sister Haggadah', 14c, Spain, N.E., Catalonia, f. 7v
Pharoah's dream BL Add MS 15268, 13c, f. 56v,
Histoire ancienne jusqu'à César@BL_HebrewMSS @BLMedieval pic.twitter.com/QHWHbKwFGs