THE DINUR CENTER FOR RESEARCH IN JEWISH HISTORY
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Barag, Dan P. 1935-2009

Personal: Born 1935, London; Ph.D. 1971, Hebrew Univ.; Lect. 1970; Sen. Lect. 1973; Assoc. Prof. 1978; Prof. 1985
E-mail: msdhb@mscc.huji.ac.il
Tel: 972-2-588-2411;
Fax: 972-2-582-5548

Research Interests:
Ancient glassmaking in the Near East. Ancient Jewish and Palestinian numismatics. Ancient Jewish art.

Research Projects:
The coin collection of the Hebrew University. Funding: Israel Science Foundation.

Abstracts of Current Research:

Ancient glassmaking in the Near East:

Studies are devoted to identifying production centers, their areas of distribution and contacts between glassmakers in Mesopotamia, Egypt and the Aegean region during the second and first millennia B.C.E. Special studies deal with glass in the Mediterranean area during the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods with special emphasis on Syro-Palestinian glass of the 1st to early 7th century, C.E.

Jewish and Palestinian numismatics:

Jewish coinage is re-examined in light of recent finds. Fourth century B.C.E. coinage of Judea before and after the conquests of Alexander is examined as well as the problems connected with the beginning of Hasmonean coinage. Numerous aspects of the coins of Bar-Kokhba are studied, e.g., their geographical distribution, as a means of defining the area controlled by the rebels.

Ancient Jewish art:

Jewish attitudes towards figurative art are re-examined. The dividing line seems to be the confrontation with Antiochus IV Epiphanes in 168 BCE and some very Hellenized circles in Jerusalem. After 168 BCE, very strict anti-figurative attitudes prevailed in Jewish art for some four centuries.

Recent Publications:

Barag, D. New evidence for the identification of the showbread table on the coins of the Bar Kokhba War. In: Proceedings of the 10th International Congress of Numismatics (London, 1986), ed. I.A. Carradice, London, International Association of Professional Numismatists, 1990, pp.217-222, Pl.27.

Barag, D. (1991) The contribution of Masada to the history of early Roman glass. In: Roman Glass,Two Centuries of Art and Invention, eds. M. Newby and K. Painter, London, The Society of Antiquaries of London, pp.137-140.

Barag, D. (1992/93) New evidence on the foreign policy of John Hyrcanus I. Israel Numismatic Journal, 12: 1-12.

Barag, D. (1993) Glass inlays in Phoenician ivories, glass and stone vessels. In: Annales du 12e congr?s de l'Association international pour l'Histoire du Verre (Vienne, 1991), Amsterdam, Association international pour l'Histoire du Verre, pp.1-9.

Barag, D. (1993) King Herod's royal castle at Samaria-Sebaste. Palestine Exploration Quarterly, 125: 3-18.

Barag, D. (1993) Bagoas and the coinage of Judea. In: Acts du XIe congr?s international de numismatique (Bruxelles, 1991), Louvain-la-Neuve, vol.1, pp.261-265.

Barag, D. and Hershkowitz, M. (1994) Lamps from Masada. In: Masada IV, Jerusalem, Israel Exploration Society, pp.1-147.