"Authenticity" in the (Re)Creation of the Past? A Case Study of the Synagogue in Nazareth Village Open Air Museum
Nazareth Village Open Air Museum, which opened in the year 2000, attempts to recreate an ‘authentic’ experience from the time of Jesus. Through content analysis and other interdisciplinary contributions from Archaeology, and New Testament, Tourism, Heritage, and Synagogue Studies, the paper critically problematizes the concept of 'authenticity' in the heritagization of sites. It is argued that the language of authenticity inherent to the marketing of Nazareth Open Air Museum leads to a partial illusion, and the integrated role of imagination and emotion in the experience of the past is overlooked. The primary example used to problematize 'authenticity' is the museum’s synagogue (re)construction. Previous research into Nazareth’s importance for Christians has largely focused either on the historical context, or on modern tourism and cultural conflict. The paper points to the relevance of this museum also for New Testament studies, despite its contemporaneity, and suggests ways forward for future research.
Publisert i AAR/SBL Annual Meeting, 2025
Les artikkelen her