Member Registration Guest Registration
*If you register you will be notified once the class date has been set.
The Arch of Titus in Rome is redolent with Jewish history. It is best known for the relief sculpture on one of its inner walls that portrays sacred objects looted from the Temple in Jerusalem—most prominently, a huge menorah. This class will consider the motivations for building triumphal arches and the rituals they embody, and the Arch of Titus in detail: why it was constructed, the meaning its sculptural decorations and inscriptions were intended to convey, how that message impacted Rome’s Jewish community, and how the message has been dramatically transformed over the centuries from a symbol of defeat to a symbol of survival and victory.
Judith Testa received her BA degree from Skidmore College, and MA and PhD from the University of Chicago, in Art History. She is the author of five books, including one devoted to art in Rome. Since retiring from her position as a professor at Northern Illinois University, she has been a staff writer for Fra Noi, the monthly magazine of the greater Chicago area Italian American community. For this publication she has authored several hundred articles about Italy, including travel, art, culture and book reviews.
A Close Look at Prophets with Rabbi Andrea London
Beit Shammai v. Beit Hillel—Legends and History
