Evolution of the Jewish Funerary Art in the “Filantropia” Cemetery of Bucharest (19th and 20th Century)
Evolution of the Jewish Funerary Art in the “Filantropia” Cemetery of Bucharest (19th and 20th Century)

Summary/Abstract: The paper traces the history of the “Filantropia” Cemetery and underlines its important role in the documentation of the evolution undergone by the Jewish funerary art in Eastern Europe. Jewish tombs in this part of Europe follow the Ashkenazi tradition developed in Central Europe from the 11th to the 14th century. Their main features are the vertical position, the rectangular shape and the prominence of the inscription area. Epigraphists grant particular attention to the inscriptions on the tombs of Jewish community leaders and their families (rabbis and their sons and grandsons, heads of communities, chacham-bashas (great rabbis), various scholars, singers, doctors, calligraphy writers, etc.) because these inscriptions provide information about local demography and community life, as well as about religious trends. Among the Jewish symbols of the “Filantropia” Cemetery, the menorah and the blessing of the Kohanim (Priests) appear the most often on the tombstones. But the variety of adornments is quite wide, including details of hands, lions, eagles, pigeons and crowns.

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