The Use of Alternative Names by Diaspora Jews in Graeco-Roman Antiquity

In contrast to Palestine, where the use by Jews of nicknames and other forms of alternative name has been extensively studied, little scholarly attention has been paid to the behaviour of Diaspora Jews in this area of onomastics. This paper aims to fill that gap by collecting and analysing all the available evidence, most of it epigraphic. It will be shown that contrary to popular belief, the use of alternative names by Diaspora Jews was relatively rare. It was also largely different in form from that found in Palestine, as it arose out of different social circumstances and was a response to different social imperatives.