Category:Second Temple Studies--Italy

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

• See Second Temple Scholars in Italy

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 is