The names of the Jews in Late Ancient Venosa: Latinization, rejudaization or rabbinization?

Abstract

The Jewish epigraphical record of late ancient Venosa (4^th – 6^th centuries) is usually seen as proof of an ongoing rabbinization process in Italy. A greater presence of Hebrew words and Jewish symbols and a larger proportion of biblical names compared to the Jewish catacombs of Rome are presented as clear markers of a rejudaization or/and rabbinization that is consolidated by the 9^th century (highly Hebraized and rabbinized) Venosan Jewish inscriptions. The mention of two rabbis in an inscription is frequently employed to confirm that conclusion. This article proposes a meticulous analysis of the names borne by the Jews in late ancient Venosa, highlighting not only proportions but also the naming practices attested in the inscriptions. Furthermore, comparisons with the Jewish onomasticon of the western Diaspora and the non-Jewish onomasticon of Italy allow us to ponder shared and non-shared patterns. The conclusion is that, at least from an onomastic point of view, neither rejudaization nor rabbinization can be verified, and that naming practices in the catacomb tend towards the Latinization of the names.