Description
Book SynopsisAn impressive collection of Jewish signet rings and seals from the Sasanian Empire
Trade Review"This book should be in any research library for ancient Near Eastern, Iranian, or Jewish history. It will be a useful reference for archaeologists and historians of society, art, religion and commercial practice in those fields."--Michael L. Bates, curator emeritus of Islamic coins, American Numismatic Society
"Friedenberg sets out to catalogue the Jewish seals of the Sasanian Empire, providing some introductory material by way of background and orientation. The access to primary sources, especially recondite ones, is a foundational service of publication. This kind of scholarship holds a special place in our work."--Joshua Holo, director of the Louchheim School of Judaic Studies and associate professor of Jewish history, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Los Angeles
Table of ContentsACKNOWLEDGMENTS xi
GENERAL NOTES xiii
INTRODUCTION
Observations on the Jews of the Sasanian Empire i
NORMAN GOLB 1 A Brief Historical Review 5
2 The Jewish Academies 11
3 Jewish Names on Sasanian Seals 13
4 The Nature and Function of Sasanian Seals 17
5 Old Testament Themes 23
6 Description of Seals 27
Seals of the Lulab
and Etrog 1. Seal of Mari Son of Samuel (Jewish) 27
2. Seal of Isaac Son of Papa (Jewish) 28
3. Seal of Judah - Son of Abba (Jewish) 28
4. Seal of Abbua (Jewish) 29
5. Seal of Ahawa Son of Zachary (Jewish) 29
6. Seal of Joseph (Jewish) 30
7. Seal Without Inscription (Jewish) 31
8. Seal of Hilkiah Son of Samuel (Jewish) 31
9. Seal of Huna Son of Nathan (Jewish) 31
10. Seal of Samuel 32
11. Seal of Levi Son of Simon (Jewish) 32
Seals of Abraham's Binding of Isaac and Related Scenes 12. Seal of Hillel Son of Menasseh (Jewish) 33
13. Seal of Jacob Son of Judah (Jewish) 34
14. Seal Without Inscription: Abraham's Binding of Isaac (Probably Christian) 35
15. Seal Without Inscription: Abraham's Binding of Isaac (Probably Christian) 35
16. Seal Without Inscription: Abraham with Cross on Altar (Christian) 36
17. Seal Without Inscription: Abraham with Cross over Altar (Christian) 36
18. Seal Without Inscription: Abraham with Cross over Altar (Christian) 37
19. Seal Without Inscription: Abraham Holding Isaac (Probably Christian) 37
20. Seal Without Inscription: Abraham with Crosses (Christian) 38
21. Seal with Latin Inscription: Abraham's Binding of Isaac (Christian) 38
22. Seal Without Inscription: Fire Altar and Priest (Zoroastrian) 39
23. Seal Without Inscription: Abraham's Binding of Isaac(?) (Unidentifiable) 39
24. Seal Without Inscription: Abraham's Binding of Isaac(?) (Unidentifiable) 40
25. Seal Without Inscription: Zoroastrian Worship (Zoroastrian) 40
26. Seal Without Inscription: Scene of Worship (Probably Zoroastrian) 41
Seals of the Human Figure 27. Seal of Joseph Son of Nata (Jewish) 41
28. Seal of Isaac Son of Adda (Jewish) 42
29. Seal of Ityonah Yoniya (or Ye'udia) (Jewish) 43
Seals of Animals and Other Life Forms 30. Seal of Hunay (Jewish) 44
31. Seal Without Inscription: Two Standing Rams (Probably Zoroastrian) 44
32. Seal of Isaac Son of Judah (Jewish) 45
33. Seal of Huna Son of Samuel (Jewish) 45
34. Seal of Hada Son of Hiyya (Jewish) 46
35. Seal of Jonah (Jewish) 46
36. Seal of Ibrami(?) (Jewish) 47
37. Seal of Abba (Jewish) 48
38. Seal of Shem Son of Hunar (Jewish) 48
39. Seal of `Uqba Son of Papa (Jewish) 49
40. Seal of Samuel Son of Yosha Tov(?) (Jewish) 49
41. Seal of Vashish(?) (Jewish) 50
Seals of Family Devices 42. Seal of Abba Son of Malka(?) (Jewish) 51
43. Seal of Aha Son of Sumaqa (Jewish) 52
Miscellaneous and Dubious Seals 44. Seal of John (Jewish) 53
45. Seal of Yoash the Dayyan Son of Judah(?) (Jewish) 53
46. Seal of Isaac Son of Moses (Jewish) 54
47. Seal of Yosine Arcohen [Chief Priest] Son of Iyf ... Shalom (Jewish) 54
48. Seal of Samuel Son of Isaac Rabba (Jewish) 55
Fantasy Seals on the Theme of the Binding of Isaac 49. Fantasy Seal on the Theme of the Binding of Isaac 56
50. A Second Fantasy Seal on the
Aqedah Theme (Jewish) 56
51. A Third Fantasy Seal on the
Aqedah Theme (Jewish) 57
Seals of Daniel in the Lions' Den 52. Seal Showing Daniel in the Lions' Den (Christian or Probably Christian) 58
53. Seal Showing Daniel in the Lions' Den (Christian or Probably Christian) 58
54. Seal Showing Daniel in the Lions' Den (Christian or Probably Christian) 59
55. Seal Showing Daniel in the Lions' Den (Christian or Probably Christian) 59
56. Seal Showing Daniel in the Lions' Den (Christian or Probably Christian) 60
57. Seal Showing Daniel in the Lions' Den (Christian or Probably Christian) 60
7 Specific Character of the Known Sasanian Jewish Seals 61 NOTES 63
BIBLIOGRAPHY 67
INDEX 71
