Preliminary Material for A Jewish Archaeology. The Christian Discovery of Jewish Catacombs in Rome

What is it about?

Table of Contents Acknowledgements List of Illustrations Abbreviations Introduction Prologue: a Catacomb Discovery in Rome (1860) 1 Ugly Antiquities: Religion and Reason in the Catacombs of Rome 1.1 Topography in Transition in the Suburbs of Rome 1.2 Humanistic Study of Jewish Antiquities in Rome 2 Sacra Selecta: Relic Invention and the “Science of Piety” 2.1 Unaccustomed Earth: Ruin to Relic in the Early Modern Age 2.2 Laboratories of Worship: Catacomb Repossession during the Counter-Reform 2.3 Ecclesia Subterranea: Dividing the Sacred Spoils 2.4 Lighting the Way to Christ: Jewish Memorials in a Universal Design 3 The Discovery and Exploration of the Jewish Catacomb of Vigna Randanini 3.1 Excavations in the Vigna Randanini in 1859 3.2 Site Survey and Spoliation Before 1859 3.3 Deliberations on the First Excavation Season in 1859 3.4 External Structure M: Building Phases and Functions 3.5 Transitional Regions G-H-L 3.6 Arrested Development of Galleries H3 and G2 3.7 Gallery Growth Southwest of M 3.8 Chambers 1–6 3.9 External Discoveries within the Necropolis (1859–1862) 3.10 Additional Catacomb Cleaning (1861–1862) 3.11 Results of the Excavations of March–May 1862 3.12 Preliminary Results in Region D (May 18, 1862) 3.13 Preliminary Results in Region A (May 18, 1862) 3.14 Preliminary Results in Region B (May 18, 1862) 3.15 Additional Clearing of Region B (1862–1863) 3.16 Identification and Study of Staircase II and Chamber 12 3.17 Access into the Catacomb from Region A 3.18 The Master Builders: Giovanni Battista de Rossi and Raffaele Garrucci 4 Post-excavation Site Study 4.1 The End of the Affair: Termination of Digging Activity and Consolidation of the Finds 4.2 The Harvest Sown: Jewish Deliberations on the Catacombs 4.3 The Sellout: Catacomb Commercialization and Its Destructive Results 4.4 New Site Study (1882–1884) 4.5 Interventions in the Catacomb (1895–1918) 4.6 New Site Study during the Interwar Period (1918–1939) 4.7 Tragic Repose: Catacomb Commercialization to 1946 4.8 Post-World War II Recovery Efforts Conclusion: Why the Jewish Catacombs Matter 354 Bibliography Index

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Photo by Clemens van Lay on Unsplash

Photo by Clemens van Lay on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The Table of Contents and List of Illustrations orient a reader to the main topics discussed and illustrated in the book. The Acknowledgments section credits the assistance received with the preparation and publication of the book from many individuals and institutions. The Abbreviations list references specific words and phrases abbreviated in the text.

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