The workshop aims at investigating the various roles and architectural layouts of the basilica in Roman Palestine and Arabia, in comparison to Italy, Sicily and North Africa. Through presentation of recent discoveries and comprehensions resulting from research and surveys it intends to broaden our knowledge of the diffusion of Roman influence into the eastern and southern provinces, as well as of the significant aspects of construction of self-identification of the urban citizens of the provinces between Roman rule and local traditions.
It will allow a better understanding of the agents who first introduced the basilica to these regions and the ways they adapted and adjusted this institution to local needs throughout the Roman era.
At the focal point of the workshop stand the cities of Roman Palestine. Despite significant archaeological remains, these cities were somewhat neglected in general discussions on Roman architecture, compared to other regions of the Empire, such as Asia Minor, Greece, Africa and Hispanic Peninsula. This lacuna is especially problematic, in light of the fact that in recent decades large-scale excavations in some of these cities have revealed the remains of remarkable buildings of this type, some of them are quite well preserved.
The workshop aims at addressing this gap in research and examining the topic of the basilica in Roman Palestine in light of comparanda from both Italy, at the heart of the Empire, as well as from the provinces of North Africa.

Institute of Classical Archaeology
University of Tübingen
December 5-6, 2019

Dr. Antonio Dell‘Acqua, University of Tübingen
Dr. Orit Peleg-Barkat, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

The Institutional Strategy of the University of Tübingen
(Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft ZUK 63)

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