A book reclassifying names of Palestine sites mentioned in Biblical and post-Biblical literature is published today to overcome the confusion to archaeologists and map-makers caused by frequent changes in names of towns and cities.
The book is “Onomasticon of Palestine” by Dr. Paul Romanoff, curator of the Jewish Theological Seminary Museum. It is based on a study of the entire post-Biblical literature of the first thirteen centuries and comprises the first volume of the compilation.
Dr. Romanoff points out that some names changed so much through translation from early Hebrew into Latin and Greek and through carelessness of scribes that archaeologists have, in some cases, been looking for Biblical references about sites which references have already been discovered. The village of Kefar Kos, for example, has no less than 70 variants in the Talmud, Dr. Romanoff says.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
