Description
| ITEM | Cooking pot, Type ‘Kedera’ |
| MATERIAL | Pottery |
| CULTURE | Roman, Judaea |
| PERIOD | 1st Century A.D |
| DIMENSIONS | 175 mm x 190 mm diameter |
| CONDITION | Good condition, repaired |
| PROVENANCE | Ex Emeritus collection (USA), collected from the 1950’s to the 1980’s by a distinguished university professor who served as Department head, Dean and Vice President of a major university. |
| PARALLEL | W. CROOK, W., Roman Ceramics in First Century A.D. Palestine, p. 124. Fig. 4 |
Jewish pottery during the Roman period, spanning from approximately the 1st century BCE to the 4th century CE, provides a fascinating glimpse into the life and culture of Jewish communities within the context of the Roman Empire. During this time, regions like Palestine and Judea witnessed significant interaction between Jewish traditions and Roman influences.
Jewish pottery of this era was primarily functional and served various purposes, including food preparation and storage, lighting, and liquid transportation. Numerous pottery fragments unearthed in archaeological excavations offer insights into the dietary habits, cooking techniques, and culinary customs of the Jewish community. Moreover, some of these pottery fragments may bear inscriptions in Hebrew or Aramaic, providing valuable clues about the languages and scripts used by Jews during that period.
One notable find related to Jewish pottery from the Roman era is the use of oil lamps decorated with Jewish symbols, such as the seven-branched menorah, or inscriptions referencing the city of Jerusalem. These lamps bear witness to religious practice and Jewish identity amidst Roman rule.
