Innovating the Aesthetics of Hebrew: Jewish Headstones in Basel and Humanist Epitaph Writing

This article argues that scholarly interest in Jewish epigraphy and realia aligned closely with the general interests of Renaissance humanists, emerging significantly earlier than previously suggested. A case in point is Basel, where scholars had access to a unique collection of medieval Jewish headstones built into the city walls. These headstones provided an extraordinary number of Jewish epitaphs, which scholars studied, translated, imitated, and innovated by composing their own Hebrew epitaphs. By examining the origins of scholarly engagement with Jewish epitaphs in Basel and analyzing Sebastian Münster’s Hebrew epitaphs, this article explores a particular aspect of the evolution of Renaissance humanism: the discovery, appreciation, and innovation of the aesthetics of Hebrew and Jewish material culture in the early sixteenth century. From the city walls of Basel, a new appreciation for Jewish realia emerged, inspiring humanists to extend established scholarly practices to the study of Hebrew, and to innovate the aesthetics of Hebrew and the humanist art of commemoration.