Inscriptions in Hebrew on Ceramic Ware of the 17th—18th Centuries

Abstract

In the article the authors deal with the verification, attribution and introduction into scientific circulation of a number of Hebrew inscriptions on Early Modern ceramic vessels. This issue has not been raised in the Ukrainian archaeological publications yet. Such isolated inscriptions were previously wrongly interpreted as potters’ marks. More than a dozen of vessels with inscriptions in Hebrew are known today. In particular, they were found during the excavations of three cities — Bila Tserkva, Kyiv, Ostroh. These are fragments of three plates, two small and one large mugs, which come from the cellar of the first half of the 17th century in Ostroh, two plates and a mug from the building of the late 17th — early 18th centuries in Bila Tserkva, as well as a pot from the building of the 17th century in Kyiv. Two groups of inscriptions can be distinguished. The first one is Passover inscriptions on vessels that were obviously intended for the Passover Seder (a symbolic set of products for a holiday supper) or for daily usage during the holiday. Using an additional set of vessels to the holiday is explained by kashrut norms and specific prohibitions of kvass use. The mug with an inscription “kimkha de Piskha” (“flour for Pesach”) belongs to the second group. It was associated exclusively with religious needs and was intended for the collection of donations (tzadaka) on Passover. Tzadaka as a religious obligation to perform charity laid at the basis of the Jewish community existence. It led to the proliferation of different types of money boxes for collecting donations. In general, the topic requires detailed investigations with the involvement of additional archaeological materials, interpretation and introduction of hitherto unpublished materials into scientific circulation.