Synagogue - origins, functions, architecture, iconography and sources

art studies

elementary

HS1_W02

HS1_W06

HS1_U04

HS1_U05

HS1_U06

Basic knowledge of Polish and European art of the 17th-20th centuries.

The lectures concern the architecture and iconography of Jewish religious art based on examples from Poland, Europe, and Israel. Scopes: origins of art, literature, databases, terminology, sources of iconography, Hebrew language and selected religious writings, iconography in the historical and cultural context - the Temple of Jerusalem as a reference point for the synagogue, wooden and masonry synagogues in Poland, plant and animal symbolism, meaning of Zodiac – as decoration for synagogues.

Classes include a lecture illustrated with a presentation and film material. Students are required to read a text indicated by the teacher a week before the class. And answer the question concerning it.

SCOPE OF CLASSES:

1. The short history of Jews and the Judaism. A specificity of art, its sources of iconography, religious writings, terminology.

2. The Tabernacle and its biblical description – equipment and its symbolic meaning. The Temple in Jerusalem – sources, a short history, an architecture, furnishings, symbolic significance of the Temple and Jerusalem.

3. The synagogue - terminology, history and sources, architecture, functions, furnishings, its references to the Temple of Jerusalem and key examples of ancient synagogues in the Middle East.

4. The iconography of the ancient synagogue decoration and its sources. A Zodiac - Beth Alpha synagogue and other examples in Israel, Dura Europos synagogue and its iconographic program.

5. Synagogues in Poland - the history of the Jewish community, the architecture and furnishings of synagogues and their patterns over the centuries. Masonry and wooden synagogues - selected examples.

6. The iconography of synagogue decoration - animal, floral, temple motifs, and colours.

7. The Jewish mysticism - Wooden synagogue in Gwoździec - history, architecture and iconographic programme.

8. Credit colloquium - online.

Classes include a lecture illustrated with a presentation and film material. The class consists of 15 hours of lectures - 7.5 meetings - including 3 hours online. Students are required to read a text indicated by the teacher 2 weeks before the class. And answer the questions concerning it. All articles are added to MTeams.

COMPULSORY LITERATURE:

1. Bible (Old Testament) - selected passages (The Book of Exodus,The Book of Kings 1, Psalms among others).

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings+6&version=NIV

2. Friedman Mira, The Meaning of the Zodiac in Synagogues in the Land of Israel Turing the Byzantine Period: Ars Judaica, 2005, vol. 1, pp 51 – 66.

3. Ida Huberman, Living Symbols, Massada 1988

4. Perek Shirah.

5. Piechotka Maria and Kazimierz, Heaven's Gates: Wooden Synagogues…, Warsaw 2020 - selected passages.

6. Piechotka Maria and Kazimierz, Heaven's Gates: Masonry Syngaogues…, Warsaw 2020 - selected passages

7. Articles in English indicated by the lecturer to read in order to supplement knowledge and prepare to answer questions. [all of them are added to MTeams]

1) The lecture participant has a basic knowledge of the significance of the history of Jewish art among humanities and is aware of its subject matter and methodological specificity.

2. Student has a structured basic knowledge of types, functions, and iconography of religious Jewish art, in particular concerning the synagogue.

3. Knows and understands basic methods of interpreting objects of Jewish art and terminology appropriate to it. Understand the influence of historical and cultural conditions on art and its symbolism.

4. Is aware of the complexity of issues connected with Jewish art and the need to research it.

5. Knows institutions that research the issues connected with Jewish art.

6. Can construct a logical written and oral statement in English on the architecture and iconography of Jewish art at the B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

The student workload includes 15 [30] hours of monographic lecture, 55 hours of preparation and presentation, reading and text analysis of selected texts, answering questions, 15 hours of reading material, 90 hours altogether (3 ECTS).

REQUIREMENTS TO BE FULFILLED TO COMPLETE THE COURSE:

- attendance in class - max 30 pts / one absence allowed, further absences "cost" minus 3 pts each

- answering a question on a text assigned for a lecture - max 5 points

- passing a colloquium - max 65 pts, 39 pts for a pass.

- SEMESTER GRADE - MAX 100 PTS

- attendance in class - max. 30 pts

- answers to questions from the lecture text - max 5 points

- Passing the colloquium - max 65 points/ minimum 39 points.

- Grading scale: 60-75 = 3,0 / 76-79 = 3,5 / 80-90 = 4,0 / 91-94 = 4,5 / 95-100 = 5,0

n.a.