Workshop on the Reception of Josephus by Jews and Christians from Late Antiquity to c. 1750

This first workshop helped identify the issues in Josephus’s writings which played a key role in the reception of his work in ancient and medieval times, investigating which themes were specific to certain periods or types of literature (including translations and adaptations into other languages, notably Latin and Hebrew) and which remained relevant in later centuries; the reasons why early modern scholars (both Jewish and Christian) were attracted to Josephus’s writings, and how their approach differed from earlier reception of Josephus; and the role played by Josephus in the popular imagination of Jews and Christians throughout this period.

Topics addressed in this workshop included the Testimonium Flavianum, patristic uses of Josephus, rabbinic references to Josephus in late antiquity, the manuscript tradition, Yosippon, Azariah de’ Rossi, uses of Josephus by Christian humanists in the early modern period, chronography, early printed editions, illustrations and artistic representations, and vernacular translations.

The workshop was held at the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies in Yarnton Manor on 7-8 January 2013.

Full Programme of Speakers (Download PDF)

Compiled Workshop Abstracts (Download PDF)