Temple Life in the Persian Empire. International Workshop Held at Bar Ilan University

The international workshop Temple Life in the Persian Empire brought together scholars working on diverse textual and archaeological evidence for Judean life during the Persian period (538–330 BCE). The conference explored temple life through late biblical texts centered on Jerusalem, Aramaic papyri from Elephantine, cuneiform documentation from Mesopotamia, and archaeological data, highlighting the integration of textual and material sources.

Across the sessions, participants examined how local communities operated within the administrative, economic, and cultural frameworks of the Persian Empire, both in Judah and in the diaspora. The discussions emphasized the interaction between imperial structures and local traditions and offered new perspectives on religious practice, temple institutions, and community formation under Persian rule.

The workshop brought together scholars from Europe and North America, alongside colleagues from Bar-Ilan University and researchers from Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Haifa, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue across fields and regions. A visit to the Givati Parking Lot excavations in Jerusalem further enriched the conversations by grounding textual discussions in archaeological context.

The conference was supported by the Israel Science Foundation, with additional assistance from Bar-Ilan University.

Conference Website >>