This essay explores the various attitudes which Greek and Latin authors assumed toward the Jewish food prohibitions, in the Greek and especially Roman context between the 2nd century BCE and the 2nd century CE. Such attitudes vary from simple curiosity, to mockery, to strong critique, without excluding some fascination toward what was perceived as one of the most representative features of the Jewish religion. The analysis examines the primary historical, social, and cultural contexts in which a discourse on Jewish Food Prohibitions emerged in classical literature and the responses to such discourse offered by Jewish-Hellenistic authors. The interpretation goes beyond the traditional political or identitarian readings of these passages. It highlights the potential of discourses regarding animals (and animal consumption) to foster intellectual and intercultural engagement in ancient religions and philosophies.
University of Siena, Italy - ORCID: 0000-0003-2031-0412
Chapter Title
Riti strani tra avversione e fascino. I divieti alimentari ebraici agli occhi dei Greci e dei Romani
Authors
Anna Angelini
Language
Italian
DOI
10.36253/979-12-215-0767-6.07
Peer Reviewed
Publication Year
2025
Copyright Information
© 2025 Author(s)
Content License
Metadata License
Book Title
Piccole ‘curiosità’ delle religioni antiche. Un approccio antropologico
Book Subtitle
Atti delle giornate di studio - Siena, 4 e 5 aprile 2024
Editors
Ginevra Benedetti, Francesca Prescendi
Peer Reviewed
Number of Pages
124
Publication Year
2025
Copyright Information
© 2025 Author(s)
Content License
Metadata License
Publisher Name
Firenze University Press, USiena Press
DOI
10.36253/979-12-215-0767-6
ISBN Print
979-12-215-0766-9
eISBN (pdf)
979-12-215-0767-6
eISBN (epub)
979-12-215-0768-3
Series Title
Studi di Antichistica