Rona-Shani Evyasaf E-mail: erona@mscc.huji.ac.il M.A. thesis topic: The Forum in the Roman Cities of Palestine and Transjordan Advisor: Prof. Y. Tsafrir

Abstract:

The forum was the heart of the Roman city. Usually located in the city center, it was the setting of most of the political, administrative, religious and economic activities of the city. Whether it was planned and built as a single project or evolved slowly as the city developed, the forum complex consisted of a quadratic square surrounded by a portico and shops, with a basilica built adjacent to one of its sides, a curia next to it, and in most cases one or more temples.

In many of the Roman cities of Palestine and Transjordan the area that has been exposed in excavations is the heart of the city, containing most of its public buildings, and in some cities, such as Hippos-Susita and Philadelphia-Amman, a forum has been identified. The purpose of this research is to examine the archaeological data from the cities of Palestine and Transjordan and determine what can be learned about the design, structures and history of their fora. 

Projects:

• Sepphoris excavations (directed by Dr. Z. Weiss). Area supervisor (during the season), data processing (during the year).
• Preparation of exhibitions: “Hasmonean Palaces in Jericho”, “From Scythopolis to Baisan – The Archaeological Excavations of Ancient Bet Shean”, “The Masada Archaeological Museum”, Collections, Institute of Archaeology
• “Introduction to Roman Archaeology” course (teaching assistant).

Previous Studies:

B.A. (1987-1991) in Landscape Architecture, summa cum laude, Technion, Haifa. Final project: “Archaeology Park in Zippori”

Publications:

“Yin and Yang – On Archaeology and Landscape Architecture”, Landscape Architecture 8 (2002), p. 34.

“Hortus, Paradisos and the ‘Sacred Grove’: On Gardens in the Roman Period”, Landscape Architecture 7 (2002), pp. 20-23.

“An Archaeological Park at Zippori”, Garden and Landscape 57 (1992), pp. 13-15.