Monday, October 01, 2012

Ancient Judaism lecture

AT HARVARD: Professor Speaks on Greco-Roman Influence on Ancient Rabbis.
Discussing the relationship between Greco-Roman folklore and ancient rabbinic texts, [Galit] Hasan-Rokem talked about the interdependence of the cultures, emphasizing the influence of a specific figure from Greco-Roman folklore: the sirens.

The sirens and other Greco-Roman tropes, Hasan-Rokem said, influenced the rabbinic view of women as alluring and punishable. She noted that the oral transmission of information in rabbinic culture facilitated the incorporation of new voices and ideas.