The way to the "world to come" : some thoughts on iconography of two unique necropolises in Galilee

Abstract

This paper discusses two unique burial complexes in Galilee, Israel: the Jewish the necropolis at Beth Shearim and the Christian necropolis in Shefar'am. The first flourished in the 3rd and 4th centuries of the Christian era, although it probably remained in use until the 6th century. The second necropolis could have been in use throughout the 4th and 5th centuries. The ideas expressed in the illuminated program of the Shefar'am complex seem ideologically connected to those in Beth Shearim. Quite possibly, therefore, the early Christian site was structured as a reflection of Jewish concepts of resurrection and eschatology.

Ovaj rad razmatra dva jedinstvena funerarna kompleksa u Galileji (Izrael): jevrejsku nekropolu u Bet Šearimu i hrišćansku nekropolu u Šefar'amu. Prva je bila aktivna tokom III i IV veka nove ere, premda je verovatno ostala u upotrebi sve do VI veka. Druga nekropola je mogla biti u upotrebi tokom IV i V veka. Čini se da su ideje izražene slikanim programom kompleksa u Šefar'amu povezane sa onima iz Bet Šearima. Moguće je, stoga, da je ranohrišćanski lokalitet struktuiran kao odraz jevreskih eshatoloških ideja i shvatanja vaskrsenja.