The Bible in Its Ancient Iranian Context
An International Conference Convened by:
M. Rahim Shayegan, UCLA
William Schniedewind, UCLA
Catherine Bonesho, UCLA
Co-sponsored by:
The Pourdavoud Institute
The Alan D. Leve Center for Jewish Studies
About the Event
Although there has been renewed interest in the Persian period in biblical scholarship, the profound impact of the ancient Iranian world on the biblical books of Esther and Daniel has often been taken for granted. From their dynamic portraits of foreign kings and Jewish communities in the imperial court to their use of Iranian institutions and literary traditions, it is impossible to disentangle the books of Esther and Daniel from their ancient Iranian contexts. This conference foregrounds the influence of the ancient Iranian world on Esther and Daniel and its lasting impact on ancient Jewish communities.
In organizing this conference, we hope to offer a truly interdisciplinary analysis of Esther, Daniel and ancient Iranian Studies by inviting speakers specializing in subjects related to Second Temple Judaism, Hebrew Bible, and the Achaemenid Empire. Topics explored at the conference include Jewish constructions of the diaspora and Persian court, Achaemenid religions, Aramaic scribalism, and imperial ideology and hybridity.
Event Videos
Tyler Jarvis, University of California, Los Angeles
Sarah Emanuel, Loyola Marymount University
Lisa Cleath, Princeton Theological Seminary
Tawny Holm, Pennsylvania State University
Hong Yu Chen, University of California, Los Angeles
Emma D. Ubl, University of California, Los Angeles
James D. Moore, Ohio State University
M. Rahim Shayegan, University of California, Los Angeles
Roger Nam, Emory University
Mark Leuchter, Temple University
Esther Brownsmith, University of Dayton
Ethan Friedland, University of California, Los Angeles
William Schniedewind, University of California, Los Angeles
Catherine Bonesho, University of California, Los Angeles