About Steven Fine

Steven Fine

Steven Fine is director of the Yeshiva University Center for Israel Studies and is both chair of the Department of Jewish History and professor of Jewish History at Yeshiva University, where he focuses on the interrelationships between ancient Jewish literature, art and archaeology. He received his doctorate in Jewish History from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, holds an M.A. in Art History from the University of Southern California and a B.A. in Religious Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Professor Fine has produced a broad range of publications including academic monographs, museum catalogs, articles and even a book for children. His most recent publication is Art and Judaism in the Greco-Roman World: Toward a New Jewish Archaeology (Cambridge, 2005). He is also an editor of the new journal, IMAGES: A Journal for the Study of Jewish Art and Visual Culture.


Presenter at

Bible & Archaeology Fest XIX, November 18 – 20, 2016
The Arch of Titus Menorah Panel: Adding Color to the Jewish War

Standing uniquely at the matrix of Roman, Jewish and Christian literary and visual sources, the menorah panel of the Arch of Titus (ca. 81 CE) is a unique artifact of Roman imperial propaganda. This presentation builds upon the discovery of the original yellow ochre pigment of the Arch menorah relief by the Arch of Titus Project and the implications of this discovery for the experience of Roman art and for our understanding of the Jewish War (66-74 CE). We will examine a tentative reconstruction of the polychromy and animation of the menorah panel, prepared by our team in cooperation with the Institute for the Visualization of History.

Bible & Archaeology Fest XIII, November 19 – 21, 2010
What is that Greek Sun God Doing in a Synagogue? Reflections on a Late Antique Floor Mosaic

Large carpet mosaics with images of the zodiac have been discovered throughout Israel, including in Tiberias, Sepphoris and Beth Alpha. At the center of many of these mosaics is the image of the Greek sun god, Helios. The presence of Helios in synagogues has long been a point of discussion among historians, archaeologists and art historians. This presentation will explore what Helios is doing in a synagogue in the first place, and suggest some tentative answers. Could this be the image of God?


Selected Articles by Steven Fine