Medieval and Early Modern European Travelers on the Jewish Epigraphy of Southeastern Europe and Caucasus

A Jewish inscription from the 16th century, discovered on the wall of a caravanserai in Azerbaijan and later published by German traveler Adam Olearius (1599–1671), provides epigraphic evidence linking medieval Jewish communities in Transcaucasia to accounts by Western European travelers. The inscription, dating back to 1224/5 AD, mentions a figure named Faraj, son of Yitzhak, and aligns with testimony from William (or Guillaume) Rubruck, who visited the region in 1254. This finding suggests that the stone block was repurposed during the construction of the caravanserai after the Jewish communities had disappeared or left the area. The study reconstructs and translates the inscription's text, offering new insights into medieval Jewish epigraphy in Southeastern Europe and the Caucasus.

Rashkovskiy, B. (2021). Medieval and Early Modern European Travelers on the Jewish Epigraphy of Southeastern Europe and Caucasus. Tirosh. Jewish, Slavic & Oriental Studies, (21), 25–43. https://doi.org/10.31168/2658-3380.2021.21.1.1