“Now These Are the Names”. The Names of the Jews of Imperial Rome as Mirror of their Urban Identity

This paper focuses on one of the most important facets of the urban identity of the Jews living in Imperial Rome, the onomasticon, or the list of names adopted or chosen by the Jews living in Rome. While Noy makes use of seven diachronic categories of names indicating the status of a person, however, whenever possible, I tried to add a synchronic element. Thus, I shall differentiate between the early Imperial period and Late Antiquity. This study of Jewish names in use amongst the Jews of Imperial Rome is followed by a comparison between the use of the seven categories of names, amongst Jews and among some of the most important foreign groups. This comparison makes clear how the Jews as a group well fitted amongst other immigrant groups. Last, but not least, this study focuses on the issue of group identity. Thus, through the study of names, it is clear that although Jews had a very strong group identity, on the other hand, they were a mixed bunch. Slaves from Judaea, Roman born Jews, immigrants from Asia, and proselytes saw themselves part of the same group, bound together in collegia licita, or in communitarian associations.