Contents

Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents ix
3. List of Illustrations xi
4. Preface xiii
5. A Note on References, Names, Abbreviations, and Translations xv
6. Introduction 1
7. PART I SETTING THE STAGE
8. Chapter 1 The Miracle of (Hot) Water: The Emergence of the Roman Public Bathhouse as a Cultural Institution 21
9. Chapter 2 A Literary Bathhouse: Realities and Perceptions at a Roman (Jewish) Public Bath 44
10. Chapter 3 Earliest Encounters: Archaeology, Scholarly Debate, and the Shifting Grounds of Interpretation 77
11. PART II FILTERED ABSORPTION
12. Chapter 4 A Sinful Place? Rabbinic Laws (Halakhah) and Feelings about the Public Bathhouse 107
13. Chapter 5 Tsni‘ut (Rabbinic Modes of Modesty) in the Halls of Promiscuity: Mixed Bathing and Nudity in the Public Bathhouse 138
14. Chapter 6 The Naked Rabbi and the Beautiful Goddess: Engaging with Sculpture in the Public Bathhouse 161
15. PART III SOCIAL AND CULTURAL TEXTURES
16. Chapter 7 A Social Laboratory: Status and Hierarchy in a Provincial Roman Bathhouse 195
17. Chapter 8 A Scary Place: The Perils of the Bath and Jewish Magic Remedies 226
18. In Conclusion 252
19. Abbreviations 255
20. Notes 257
21. Bibliography of Primary Sources 313
22. Bibliography of Scholarly Works 323
23. Index of Ancient Citations 349
24. General Index 355
25. A note on the type 369