Jewish Funerary Customs, Practices And Rites In The Second Temple Period (Supplements to the Journal for the Study of Judaism)

710 Pages·2005·13.46 MB·English

by  Rachel Hachlili

Jewish Funerary Customs, Practices
and Rites in the Second Temple Period
Supplements
to the
Journal for the Study
of Judaism
Editor
John J. Collins
The Divinity School, Yale University
Associate Editor
Florentino García Martínez
Qumran Institute, University of Groningen
Advisory Board
j. duhaime ‒ a. hilhorst ‒ p.w. van der horst a. kloster-
gaard petersen ‒ m.a. knibb ‒ j.t.a.g.m van ruiten ‒
j. sievers ‒ g. stemberger ‒ e.j.c. tigchelaar ‒ j. tromp
VOLUME 94
Jewish Funerary Customs,
Practices and Rites in the
Second Temple Period
By
Rachel Hachlili
BRILL
LEIDEN • BOSTON
2005
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in Publication data
Hachlili, Rachel.
Jewish funerary customs, practices, and rites in the Second Temple period/by
Rachel Hachlili.
p. cm. — (Supplements to the Journal for the study of Judaism, ISSN 1384-
2161; v. 94)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 90-04-12373-3
1. Tombs—Palestine. 2. Burial—Palestine. 3. Jewish mourning customs.
4. Excavations (Archaeology)—Palestine. 5. Palestine—Antiquities. 6. Dead—
Religious aspects—Judaism. 7. Judaism—History—Post-exilic period, 586
B.C.–210 A.D. I. Title. II. Series.
DS111.9.H33 2005
393’.1’089924033—dc22 2004056754
ISSN 1384-2161
ISBN 90 04 12373 3
© Copyright 2005 by Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, translated,
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Fees are subject to change.
printed in the netherlands.
CONTENTS
List of Figures .......................................................................... xi
List of Plates ............................................................................ xxiii
List of Tables .......................................................................... xxix
Foreword .................................................................................. xxxi
Acknowledgements .................................................................. xxxiii
Introduction .............................................................................. xxxv
Terminology ............................................................................ xxxvii
Glossary .................................................................................... xli
Chapter One: Cemeteries .................................................... 1
A. Jerusalem ........................................................................ 1
B. Jericho ............................................................................ 4
C. 'En Gedi ........................................................................ 11
The Burial Caves of Na˙al David .............................. 11
Nine Tombs at 'En Gedi .............................................. 12
D. Qumran .......................................................................... 13
E. 'En El-Ghuewir .............................................................. 20
The Judean Desert Documents and Burial
Practices ...................................................................... 22
F. Other Burials .................................................................. 23
Tombs in South Judea .................................................. 23
Burials in Caves in the Judean Desert ........................ 26
Chapter Two: Architecture of Rock-cut Tombs .......... 29
A. Monumental Tombs ...................................................... 29
Monumental Tombs in the Kidron Valley ................ 30
Jason’s Tomb .................................................................. 34
Tomb of Queen Helene of Adiabene .......................... 36
The Tomb of Herod’s Family ...................................... 37
The Nazarite Family Tomb .......................................... 41
The Tomb of Nicanor .................................................. 42
B. Tombs with Ornamented Façade ................................ 43
Classification of Rock-cut Tombs by their Façade
Ornamentation .......................................................... 43
C. Loculi Tombs ................................................................ 55
Tomb Plan, Formation and Dimensions .................... 55
vi contents
The Entrance ................................................................ 62
Origins and Comparison of Loculi Tombs .................... 66
D. Arcosolia Tombs .............................................................. 69
Headrests ............................................................................ 72
E. Other Tombs .................................................................... 72
Chapter Three: Interment Receptacles .............................. 75
A. Wooden Coffins ................................................................ 75
Jericho Wooden Coffins .................................................... 76
'En Gedi Wooden Coffins ................................................ 85
Na˙al David Caves, 'En Gedi ........................................ 88
Qumran Wooden Coffins ................................................ 91
Comparative Material ...................................................... 91
B. Ossuaries ............................................................................ 94
The Ossuaries: Material, Technique, Form .................... 94
Ossuary Ornamentation .................................................... 96
Sarcophagus-shaped Ossuaries ........................................ 110
Undecorated Ossuaries .................................................... 111
Clay Ossuaries .................................................................. 111
Comparable Material ........................................................ 113
Origin of Ossuaries .......................................................... 114
C. Stone Sarcophagi .............................................................. 115
Description of Sarcophagi ................................................ 116
Chapter Four: Funerary Art ................................................ 127
A. Tomb Ornamentation ...................................................... 127
Ashlar Masonry Decoration ............................................ 128
Ornamented Dome and Ceiling ...................................... 129
Architectural Decoration .................................................. 130
B. Wall-Painting .................................................................... 133
Description ........................................................................ 133
Style and Technique ........................................................ 137
Significance of Motifs ...................................................... 144
Conclusions ........................................................................ 146
Wall-painting in Other Tombs ........................................ 146
C. Drawing and Graffiti ........................................................ 148
D. Ornamentations of Coffins, Ossuaries and
Sarcophagi ........................................................................ 150
Wooden Coffin Decoration .............................................. 150
Ossuaries Ornamentation ................................................ 152
contents vii
Sarcophagi Ornamentation .............................................. 155
E. Intentional Imperfection in Jewish Funerary Art .......... 156
Tombs ................................................................................ 156
Ossuaries ............................................................................ 157
Motifs Arranged in Unidentical Symmetry .................... 159
Chapter Five: Inscriptions ...................................................... 163
A. Selected Inscriptions on Tombs, Sarcophagi and
Ossuaries ............................................................................ 163
Inscriptions on Tombs ...................................................... 163
Sarcophagi Inscriptions .................................................... 168
Selected Ossuary Inscriptions .......................................... 170
Ossuary Inscriptions from Jericho .................................. 178
B. Personal Names, Nicknames and Family Names .......... 193
Choosing a Name ............................................................ 194
Personal Names ................................................................ 196
Family Names and Family Relations .............................. 203
Nicknames .......................................................................... 205
Summary and Conclusions .............................................. 231
Chapter Six: Family Tombs .................................................... 235
A. Description of Family Tombs .......................................... 235
Family Tombs at Jerusalem ............................................ 235
Priestly and High-Priestly Family Tombs ...................... 262
Family Tombs of Interred Jews from the Diaspora ...... 273
Family Tombs from Jericho ............................................ 287
B. Family Tombs and Relations, Discussion ...................... 301
Location of the Ossuaries in the Tomb ........................ 302
Family Relationship .......................................................... 303
Dedication to Parents by Children: A Son who
Interred a Relative’s Remains ...................................... 305
Dedication to Children by Parents .................................. 307
Dedication of Siblings ...................................................... 307
Marks and Emblems Designating Family Rank ............ 309
Conclusions ........................................................................ 309
Chapter Seven: Women ............................................................ 311
A. The Status of Women in the Family ............................ 311
Women’s Status and Family Relationship as
Conveyed by Inscriptions ............................................ 311
viii contents
Daughter (Patronym) ........................................................ 313
Wife .................................................................................... 316
Mother .............................................................................. 317
Women’s Status in the Family ........................................ 319
Women Proselytes ............................................................ 320
B. Burial of Women and Children ...................................... 321
Women Dying in Childbirth ............................................ 321
Individual Burial of Women and Children .................... 322
Women and the Cemetery of Qumran .......................... 324
C. Burial Rites involving Women ........................................ 325
D. Women’s Graves Marked by Personal Belongings ........ 327
Summary and Conclusions .............................................. 335
Chapter Eight: The NEFESH .................................................... 339
A. The Finds .......................................................................... 340
The Nefesh as a Funerary Architectural Monument ...... 340
B. The Form of the Nefesh .................................................... 344
A Rectangular, Pyramid-capped Monument .................. 344
A Detached Column, Cone-formed, Obelisk-shaped .... 346
A Cubical Construction Surmounted by Domes .......... 347
C. Discussion .......................................................................... 349
Chapter Nine: Workshops and Craftsmen .......................... 355
A. Ossuaries and Sarcophagi Production and
Workshops .......................................................................... 355
Ossuary Production .......................................................... 355
Sarcophagi Workshops ...................................................... 357
B. Artists and Craftsmen ...................................................... 358
Inscriptions that Mention Artists .................................... 359
C. Ossuary Groups with Similar Design ............................ 361
Group 1 ............................................................................ 361
Group 2 ............................................................................ 366
Group 3 ............................................................................ 370
Marketing of Ossuaries .................................................... 373
Chapter Ten: Grave Goods .................................................... 375
A. Pottery ................................................................................ 377
Bowls .................................................................................. 378
Krater ................................................................................ 379
Cooking Pots .................................................................... 380
contents ix
Unguentaria ...................................................................... 383
Jugs and Jars .................................................................... 385
Storage Jars ........................................................................ 386
Lamps ................................................................................ 387
B. Varia .................................................................................. 390
Glass Vessels ...................................................................... 390
Wooden Vessels ................................................................ 392
Leather .............................................................................. 394
Cosmetic Utensils, Toilet Vessels .................................... 395
Spindle Whorl .................................................................. 396
Jewelry ................................................................................ 397
Bronze Items ...................................................................... 398
Iron Objects ...................................................................... 398
Bone Items ........................................................................ 400
Diverse Objects ................................................................ 401
C. Coins .................................................................................. 437
D. Conclusions ........................................................................ 443
Chapter Eleven: Funerary Customs and Rites .................. 447
A. Burial Types: Jerusalem, Jericho, 'En Gedi,
Qumran ............................................................................ 450
Jerusalem Burial Types, Customs, and Chronology ...... 450
Jericho Burial Types, Customs and Chronology ............ 457
'En Gedi Burial Types, Customs and Chronology ........ 464
Qumran Burial Practices .................................................. 467
Burial Practices at Qumran, Jerusalem and Jericho:
a Discussion .................................................................. 475
B. Funerary Rites, Practices and Customs .......................... 479
Burial Rites ........................................................................ 483
C. Protective Measures Employed against the
Desacration of Tombs, Coffins and Ossuaries .............. 489
Physical Evidence .............................................................. 490
Symbolic Evidence ............................................................ 492
Epitaphs and Inscriptions with Curses and
Warnings ........................................................................ 494
Protective Jewish Inscriptions and Curse-Formulae
in Aramic, Hebrew and Greek .................................... 496
D. Magic Practice .................................................................. 507
Abecedaria Inscriptions .................................................... 508
Iron Nails .......................................................................... 511