Category:Second Temple Studies--Italy

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Second Temple Studies in Italy / Italian Scholarship on Second Temple Judaism

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Overview

The beginnings of an interest on Second Temple Judaism in Italy are connected with the rediscovery of Josephus and "post-biblical" Judaism during the Renaissance. The key-figures are the philosopher Pico della Mirandola, the Jewish scholar Azariah de' Rossi, University professor Carlo Sigonio, and Catholic priest Bartolomeo Dionigi. The Counter-Reformation halted this period of tolerance and dialogue betwenn Chritsxinas and Jews , In the 17th and 18th century the interest was kept alive by a series a fictional works, mostly operas and oratorios, based in Josephus

The first half of the 19th century saw a first beginning of a critical approach to the field. The Histoire philosophique des Juifs was translated in 1841. In the following years two remarkable works were published. The Storia del Second Tempio by Aurelio Bianchi-Giovini and Luzzato.

In the 1930, the leading figure was Giuseppe Ricciotti.

In the second half of the 20th century Arnaldo Momigliano, Jan-Alberto Soggin and Paolo Sacchi.

International Impact

The Italian Renaissance had an extraordinary impact on European culture and so all its major authors. Pico della Mirandola was the inspiring figure of the international movement of Christian Cabalistic.

Italian operas and oratorios also enjoyed international success and their subjects profoundly influenced European culture in the 17th and 18th century. Many oratorios dealing with the Second temple period premiered in Vienna, Austria.

The complex political situation of the 20th century limited the international impact of the work by Aurelio Bianchi-Giovini and Luzzato which went virtually unnoticed even in their most innovative aspects of freedom from religious categories and Jewish-Christian collaboration.

The influence of Giuseppe Ricciotti was limited largely to Catholic circles, yet his History of Second Temple was translated in French, German, English, Spanish and Polish, making it an international bestseller.

In the second half of the 20th century Arnaldo Momigliano and Jan-Alberto Soggin

In the 1990s and 2000s the Italian School led Paolo Sacchi and gave a decisive impulse to the rediscovery of "Enochic Judaism".

in 2001 Gabriele Boccaccini promoted the constitution of the so-called Enoch Seminar, which has become one of the leading international organization for the study of Second Temple Judaism.