De Spoliis Templi Hierosolymitani in Arcu Titiano Romae conspicuis [The Spoils of the Jerusalem Temple conspicuous in the Arch of Titus, Rome]

RELAND, HADRIAN.

Guilielmi Broedelet

Utrecht

1716

FIRST EDITION. Latin interspersed with Hebrew. Title in red and black. Five engravings of Menorah, Trumpets, etc.

First Critical Examination of the Accuracy of the Bas-Relief on the Arch of Titus. Reland’s study examines in great scholarly depth the various vessels purportedly despoiled from the Second Temple in Jerusalem which are displayed on the Arch of Titus in Rome. Reland was the first scholar to point out the discrepancy between the Menorah on the Arch of Titus and the Menorah of Biblical and Rabbinic tradition. Much later, a voice of alarm was raised by Chief Rabbi Herzog when the State of Israel adopted the Titian depiction of the Menorah as its seal. Rabbi Herzog argued that the animals, mythological sea monsters and other figures depicted on the pedestal are representations forbidden by Judaism. Also, according to Jewish tradition, the candelabrum was three-footed, whereas that on the Arch of Titus possesses a solid base. More recently, the late Grand Rabbi of Lubavitch, M.M. Schneersohn, encouraged his followers to adopt as authoritative, Maimonides’ diagram of the Menorah (contained in the autograph manuscript of his Commentary to the Mishnah, Menachoth), whose arms are angular or spike-shaped, rather than rounded as in the Roman version. See I. Herzog, “The Menorah on the Arch of Titus,” in: Essays in Memory of S.M. Mayer (1956)