The Levantini Podcast

Haggai Olshanetsky, a historian and archaeologist focusing on the Hellenistic and Roman periods at the University of Warsaw, came back on the show to discuss a paper he authored in 2024 that re-examines Queen Zenobia’s relationship with Judaism and how she may have converted in order to support her political and military objectives. Zenobia ruled in Palmyra which is in modern day Syria during the 3rd century and she’s one of the most famous female leaders in history. You can read Haggai's paper here [https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/klio-2024-0027/html?lang=en&srsltid=AfmBOoo1uohaECGuS_EbL_v6boi08zihuuKiYqnIfGBXYcVwE1c36kjH]. Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/156019/open_sms]

Haggai Olshanetsky is a historian and archaeologist focusing on the Hellenistic and Roman periods at the University of Warsaw. He came on the show to discuss his research arguing that the Second Jewish Revolt against Rome, otherwise known as the Bar Kokhba Revolt, may have had more than one leader, specifically Jewish veterans of the Roman army, and it was only later that Bar Kokhba assumed leadership of the revolt.  Here is a link [https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00310328.2024.2435788?scroll=top&needAccess=true#abstract] to Haggai's article as well as links to previous episodes on the Bar Kokhba Revolt [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-levantini-podcast/id1355520780?i=1000544940010] and the Diaspora Revolt [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-levantini-podcast/id1355520780?i=1000681658024]. Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/156019/open_sms]

Baruch Halpern discusses his book David’s Secret Demons: Messiah, Murderer, Traitor, King [https://www.amazon.com/Davids-Secret-Demons-Messiah-Murderer/dp/0802844782/ref=sr_1_1?crid=33FOFP54LEIEP&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ypEVFUwdSHbkmA3NaHTl_w.7de7czunwgY5Rx-4yl8PtdfPW78m3zzerAiIUK7kWIo&dib_tag=se&keywords=david%27s+secret+demons+messiah%2C+murderer%2C+traitor%2C+king&qid=1740850362&sprefix=David%27s+Secret+%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-1]. The book examines the textual and archaeological evidence of David to help paint a better picture of his life, reign, and impact. This second episode covers the Absalom Revolt and Solomon’s rise to power. The first episode covers David's origins and his role in overthrowing the House of Saul. There’s a link above to purchase the book.  Baruch Halpern is  the Covenant Foundation Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies and a Professor of Religion and Linguistics at the Center for Archaeological Science at the University of Georgia. He's also a Emeritus Chaiken Family Chair in Jewish Studies, Ancient History, Classics & Mediterranean Studies, and Religious Studies Fellow at the Institute for the Arts and the Humanities at Penn State. Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/156019/open_sms]

Baruch Halpern discusses his book David’s Secret Demons: Messiah, Murderer, Traitor, King [https://www.amazon.com/Davids-Secret-Demons-Messiah-Murderer/dp/0802844782/ref=sr_1_1?crid=33FOFP54LEIEP&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ypEVFUwdSHbkmA3NaHTl_w.7de7czunwgY5Rx-4yl8PtdfPW78m3zzerAiIUK7kWIo&dib_tag=se&keywords=david%27s+secret+demons+messiah%2C+murderer%2C+traitor%2C+king&qid=1740850362&sprefix=David%27s+Secret+%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-1]. The book examines the textual and archaeological evidence of David to help paint a better picture of his life, reign, and impact. The first episode focuses on the origins of David and his part in overthrowing the House of Saul. The second episode covers the Absalom Revolt and Solomon’s rise to power. There’s a link above to purchase the book. Baruch Halpern is  the Covenant Foundation Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies and a Professor of Religion and Linguistics at the Center for Archaeological Science at the University of Georgia. He's also a Emeritus Chaiken Family Chair in Jewish Studies, Ancient History, Classics & Mediterranean Studies, and Religious Studies Fellow at the Institute for the Arts and the Humanities at Penn State. Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/156019/open_sms]

Tal Ilan is a retired professor of Jewish studies at the Free University, Berlin (Germany), and has researched the Diaspora Revolt of 115-117 CE against the Romans that broke out across Libya, Egypt and Cyprus. The rebellion is less well known than the two other Jewish revolts against Rome, namely the Great Revolt which resulted in the destruction of the Second Temple and the Bar Kochba Revolt. The Diaspora Revolt had disastrous consequences for the Jewish populations of the diaspora and much of what is known about it is pieced together from ancient writings and fragments of papyrii. A related podcast on the Bar Kochba Revolt can be found here [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-levantini-podcast/id1355520780?i=1000544940010]. Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/156019/open_sms]