-
Milka Levy-Rubin is Curator Emerita of the Humanities collection at the National Library of Israel. She taught for ma... moreMilka Levy-Rubin is Curator Emerita of the Humanities collection at the National Library of Israel. She taught for many years at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and currently teaches at the Schechter Institute for Jewish studies in Jerusalem. Her research focuses on the transition from Byzantine to Islamic rule in the East. edit
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Abstract: M. Levy-Rubin, “Islamization of Space and People” The paper examines the process of Islamization of the region of Samaria in Palestine during the early Muslim period. It is demonstrated that Islamization of Samaria should be... more
Abstract: M. Levy-Rubin, “Islamization of Space and People” The paper examines the process of Islamization of the region of Samaria in Palestine during the early Muslim period. It is demonstrated that Islamization of Samaria should be viewed as a multi-faceted process, the elements of which were intertwined and served as reciprocal triggers. These include the following: A. The settlement of newly arrived Muslims in the area due to the favourable conditions. B. The Arabization of the local Samaritan community, which drew it closer to Arabic language, culture, and religion. C. The conversion of large parts of the community to Islam. D. The spatial Islamization of Samaria, characterized by new Islamic monuments, especially mosques, and by the adoption of various local holy sites and traditions. Thus, though Samaritan presence continued still to be significant in the area, they were no longer masters of the region, and were slowly but surely being pushed aside by growing Islamic presence.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
History and Provenance
... the status of the latter in Muslim society. The ʿUmar implied is traditionally believed to be the mythological caliph and conqueror ʿUmar b. al-Khattab (r. 1323/634 44). This document has been discussed again and again ...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
L'article est consacre a la redecouverte a Uppsala en Suede d'une carte de Jerusalem provenant des Croises dans un manuscrit de l'Historia Hierosolymitana de Robertus Monachus datant du XIIeme siecle. Cette carte est identique... more
L'article est consacre a la redecouverte a Uppsala en Suede d'une carte de Jerusalem provenant des Croises dans un manuscrit de l'Historia Hierosolymitana de Robertus Monachus datant du XIIeme siecle. Cette carte est identique a la carte Florence. L'A. decrit le manuscrit (C 691 de la bibliotheque universitaire d'Uppsala) et la carte.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Abstract: M. Levy-Rubin, “Islamization of Space and People” The paper examines the process of Islamization of the region of Samaria in Palestine during the early Muslim period. It is demonstrated that Islamization of Samaria should be... more
Abstract: M. Levy-Rubin, “Islamization of Space and People” The paper examines the process of Islamization of the region of Samaria in Palestine during the early Muslim period. It is demonstrated that Islamization of Samaria should be viewed as a multi-faceted process, the elements of which were intertwined and served as reciprocal triggers. These include the following: A. The settlement of newly arrived Muslims in the area due to the favourable conditions. B. The Arabization of the local Samaritan community, which drew it closer to Arabic language, culture, and religion. C. The conversion of large parts of the community to Islam. D. The spatial Islamization of Samaria, characterized by new Islamic monuments, especially mosques, and by the adoption of various local holy sites and traditions. Thus, though Samaritan presence continued still to be significant in the area, they were no longer masters of the region, and were slowly but surely being pushed aside by growing Islamic presence.
Research Interests:
The existing discussion regarding the motives for building the Dome of the Rock revolves around two suggestions: that the incentive for building was the fierce competition between ʿAbd al-Malik and ʿAbdallah b. al-Zubayr in Mecca, and... more
The existing discussion regarding the motives for building the Dome of the Rock revolves around two suggestions: that the incentive for building was the fierce competition between ʿAbd al-Malik and ʿAbdallah b. al-Zubayr in Mecca, and that it was competition with local Christian monuments that moved ʿAbd al-Malik to building this outstanding edifice. This paper suggests that a third incentive lay in the political and ideological rivalry with Constantinople that was at its peak during that period. This rivalry drove ʿAbd al-Malik to build a monument that would outdo those of Constantinople, and especially that of the Hagia Sophia. Muslim tradition emphasized that Constantinople had contaminated the site of the Temple and had claimed to inherit its place as God's throne on earth. The building of the Dome of the Rock, the New Temple of Solomon, was thus meant to redeem the Temple of Jerusalem's honour as of old against the claims of Constantinople.
Research Interests:
There is an ongoing discussion among scholars concerning the date and the pace of the process of Islamization in Palestine during the early Muslim period. Evidence concerning this subject is rare. Muslim sources relate that there was a... more
There is an ongoing discussion among scholars concerning the date and the pace of the process of Islamization in Palestine during the early Muslim period. Evidence concerning this subject is rare. Muslim sources relate that there was a substantial presence of Muslims in the area of Samaria from the tenth century onwards. It has been presumed until now that this was solely a result of immigration of Arab Muslims to this area. Basing itself upon new evidence found in a local Samaritan chronicle, this article strives to show that a small part of this Muslim population originated in Samaritan population which converted to Islam during the early Muslim period mainly as a result of difficult economic conditions. As of now, this is the only evidence we have of mass conversion to Islam in Palestine during the early Muslim period. It should be emphasized that this evidence cannot be applied automatically to the Jewish and Christian communities in Palestine whose circumstances, though similar, were nevertheless somewhat different.
Research Interests:
Abstract: M. Levy-Rubin, “Islamization of Space and People” The paper examines the process of Islamization of the region of Samaria in Palestine during the early Muslim period. It is demonstrated that Islamization of Samaria should be... more
Abstract: M. Levy-Rubin, “Islamization of Space and People”
The paper examines the process of Islamization of the region of Samaria in Palestine during the early Muslim period. It is demonstrated that Islamization of Samaria should be viewed as a multi-faceted process, the elements of which were intertwined and served as reciprocal triggers. These include the following: A. The settlement of newly arrived Muslims in the area due to the favourable conditions. B. The Arabization of the local Samaritan community, which drew it closer to Arabic language, culture, and religion. C. The conversion of large parts of the community to Islam. D. The spatial Islamization of Samaria, characterized by new Islamic monuments, especially mosques, and by the adoption of various local holy sites and traditions. Thus, though Samaritan presence continued still to be significant in the area, they were no longer masters of the region, and were slowly but surely being pushed aside by growing Islamic presence.
The paper examines the process of Islamization of the region of Samaria in Palestine during the early Muslim period. It is demonstrated that Islamization of Samaria should be viewed as a multi-faceted process, the elements of which were intertwined and served as reciprocal triggers. These include the following: A. The settlement of newly arrived Muslims in the area due to the favourable conditions. B. The Arabization of the local Samaritan community, which drew it closer to Arabic language, culture, and religion. C. The conversion of large parts of the community to Islam. D. The spatial Islamization of Samaria, characterized by new Islamic monuments, especially mosques, and by the adoption of various local holy sites and traditions. Thus, though Samaritan presence continued still to be significant in the area, they were no longer masters of the region, and were slowly but surely being pushed aside by growing Islamic presence.
Research Interests:
הדיון בשאלת הסיבות לבנייתה של כפת הסלע התמקד עד כה בשתי הצעות: האחת, שמקור המיזם היה בתחרות העזה בין הח'ליף עבד אל-מלכ לבין יריבו, עבדללה ב. אלזבייר במכה, והשנhיה שהתחרות עם המבנים הנוצריים המרשימים בארץ ישראל ובסוריה, ובפרט בירושלים, הם... more
הדיון בשאלת הסיבות לבנייתה של כפת הסלע התמקד עד כה בשתי הצעות: האחת, שמקור המיזם היה בתחרות העזה בין הח'ליף עבד אל-מלכ לבין יריבו, עבדללה ב. אלזבייר במכה, והשנhיה שהתחרות עם המבנים הנוצריים המרשימים בארץ ישראל ובסוריה, ובפרט בירושלים, הם אלה שהניעו את עבד אל-מלכ להשקיע במיזם השאפתני. מאמר זה מציע מניע שלישי, המתווסף לשניים שנזכרו: היריבות הפוליטית והאידיאולוגית הקשה ששררה באותה עת בין הח'ליפות האומיית לבין השליטים בקונסטנטינופול. יריבות דרבנה את עבד אלמלכ לבנות מונומנט שיעלה על אלו של קונסטנטינופול, ובמיוחד על כנסייתה המפוארת, ההאגיה סופיה. המסורת המוסלמית בת הזמן הדגישה את העובדה שקונסטנטינופול חיללה את מקום המקדש ואת יומרתה החצופה לרשת את כס האל עלי אדמות. כפת הסלע, "מקדש שלמה החדש", נועד להשיב להר הבית את כבודו ולבטל את טענותיה היומרניות של קונסטנטינופול.
Abstract The existing discussion regarding the motives for building the Dome of the Rock revolves around two suggestions: that the incentive for building was the fierce competition between ʿAbd al-Malik and ʿAbdallah b. al-Zubayr in... more
Abstract
The existing discussion regarding the motives for building the Dome of the
Rock revolves around two suggestions: that the incentive for building was
the fierce competition between ʿAbd al-Malik and ʿAbdallah b. al-Zubayr
in Mecca, and that it was competition with local Christian monuments that
moved ʿAbd al-Malik to building this outstanding edifice. This paper suggests
that a third incentive lay in the political and ideological rivalry with
Constantinople that was at its peak during that period. This rivalry drove
ʿAbd al-Malik to build a monument that would outdo those of
Constantinople, and especially that of the Hagia Sophia. Muslim tradition
emphasized that Constantinople had contaminated the site of the Temple
and had claimed to inherit its place as God’s throne on earth. The building
of the Dome of the Rock, the New Temple of Solomon, was thus meant to
redeem the Temple of Jerusalem’s honour as of old against the claims of
Constantinople.
Keywords: Dome of the Rock, ʿAbd al-Malik, Jerusalem, Solomon’s
Temple, Constantinople, God’s Throne, Hagia Sophia
The existing discussion regarding the motives for building the Dome of the
Rock revolves around two suggestions: that the incentive for building was
the fierce competition between ʿAbd al-Malik and ʿAbdallah b. al-Zubayr
in Mecca, and that it was competition with local Christian monuments that
moved ʿAbd al-Malik to building this outstanding edifice. This paper suggests
that a third incentive lay in the political and ideological rivalry with
Constantinople that was at its peak during that period. This rivalry drove
ʿAbd al-Malik to build a monument that would outdo those of
Constantinople, and especially that of the Hagia Sophia. Muslim tradition
emphasized that Constantinople had contaminated the site of the Temple
and had claimed to inherit its place as God’s throne on earth. The building
of the Dome of the Rock, the New Temple of Solomon, was thus meant to
redeem the Temple of Jerusalem’s honour as of old against the claims of
Constantinople.
Keywords: Dome of the Rock, ʿAbd al-Malik, Jerusalem, Solomon’s
Temple, Constantinople, God’s Throne, Hagia Sophia
Research Interests:
The scarcity of churches (located only in places holy to Christians, such as Sebaste and Neapolis) and the utter absence of synagogues in Samaria serves as proof of this; see maps of churches and synagogues in Byzantine Palestine in... more
The scarcity of churches (located only in places holy to Christians, such as Sebaste and Neapolis) and the utter absence of synagogues in Samaria serves as proof of this; see maps of churches and synagogues in Byzantine Palestine in Tsafrir, Di Segni and Green 1994; see also maps 2 and 3 (the latter being a map of Samaritan sites in Palestine in the Byzantine period) in Abstract There is an ongoing discussion among scholars concerning the date and the pace of the process of Islamization in Palestine during the early Muslim period. Evidence concerning this subject is rare. Muslim sources relate that there was a substantial presence of Muslims in the area of Samaria from the tenth century onwards. It has been presumed until now that this was solely a result of immigration of Arab Muslims to this area. Basing itself upon new evidence found in a local Samaritan chronicle, this article strives to show that a small part of this Muslim population originated in Samaritan population which converted to Islam during the early Muslim period mainly as a result of difÞcult economic conditions. As of now, this is the only evidence we have of mass conversion to Islam in Palestine during the early Muslim period. It should be emphasized that this evidence cannot be applied automatically to the Jewish and Christian communities in Palestine whose circumstances, though similar, were nevertheless somewhat different.
