Sepphoris, "the ornament of all Galilee" according to Josephus, was an important Galilean site during the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods and into early Islamic times. It served as Herod Antipas's capital of Galilee in the late first century B.C.E. and the early first century C.E., and the Sanhedrin (the supreme Jewish judicial authority) was located there for a time in the third century C.E. Extensive excavations on the western acropolis-probably the location of many of the Jewish occupants of this multicultural city-by the Duke University-Hebrew University project in the mid- to late 1980s and the Duke excavations of the 1990s produced a remarkable assemblage of ceramic wares. This book provides an overview of the history and chronology of the site. It then presents a detailed examination of the pottery. Featuring 55 plates with line-drawings as well as some photos of the various ceramic types, this important publication will be essential for all studies of the archaeology of early Judaism and Christianity in the Holy Land.
List of Illustrations Chapter 1. Introduction Eric M. Meyers and Carol L. Meyers 1. Description of This Volume 2. History of Occupation; Chronology The Persian Period: 5th-4th Centuries B.C.E The Late Hellenistic Period: Second to First Centuries B.C.E The Roman Period: First to Fourth Centuries C.E. (363) The Byzantine-Early Islamic Period: Late Fourth (post-363) to Seventh Century C.E 3. Notes for the Reader Chronological Designations on the Plates Editors' Comments Chapter 2. Roman Pottery Marva Balouka 1. Historical Background 2. The Roman Pottery of Sepphoris 3. Typology Cooking Wares Closed Cooking Pots (CP) Small Cooking Pots (SCP) Open Cooking Pots (Casseroles) (OCP) Open Cooking Pot Lid (CPL) Galilean Bowls (GB) Small Cooking Jars (SCJ) Cooking Jugs (CJG) Storage Jars (SJ) Hellenistic-Early Roman Storage Jars (HSJ) Roman Storage Jars (SJ) Pithos Amphorae Pouring Vessels Amphoriskoi (AMP) Jugs (JG) Juglets (?JT) Kraters, Basins, Mortaria, and Locally Made Bowls and Cups Kraters (KR) Basins (BS) Mortaria Locally Made Bowls (BL) and Cups Imported Red-Slip Bowls Eastern Terra Sigillata (ETS) Late Roman Red-Slip Ware African Red-Slip Ware (ARSW) Cypriot Red-Slip Ware (LATE ROMAN 'D'W) Varia Lids Miscellanea Ceramic Incense Shovels and Pateras Incense Shovels Pateras Incense Shovel and Patera Lids Discussion Chapter 3. Additional Roman Pottery Eric M. Meyers 1. Early Roman-Middle Roman Period 2. Late Hellenistic-Middle Roman Period 3. Middle Roman-Late Roman Period 4. Late Hellenistic-Middle Roman Period Chapter 4. Fine Wares; Byzantine-Early Islamic Wares Anna de Vincenz 1. Eastern Sigillata A Wares and Other Hellenistic and Early Roman Fine Wares (pls-42) Introduction Eastern Sigillata A Wares (pl) Other Imported Fine Wares (pl. 42) Conclusion 2. Byzantine-Early Islamic Pottery Assemblage from the Byzantine Shops (pls-51) Introduction The Pottery Conclusion 3. Additional Byzantine and Early Islamic Pottery from Various Loci and from Cistern 85.1195 and Locus 85.4120 (pls-54) Introduction Pottery from Various Loci (pl. 52) Vessels from Cistern 85.1195 (pl. 53) Vessels from Locus 84.4120 (pl. 54) 4. Additional Late Roman-Byzantine Fine Wares from Various Loci (pls-57) Introduction African Red-Slip Bowls and Plates (pl. 55) Cypriot Red-Slip Bowls and Plates (pl. 56) Late Roman C, Egyptian Red-Slip, and Other Fine Wares (pl. 57) Conclusions 5. Comments on Sherds with Incised or Painted Menorahs by Carol L. Meyers Description Discussion Bibliography
