Follow That Crown: Or, Rhetoric, Rabbis, and Women Patrons

Although the stream of tradition concerning Rabbi Akiba's wife and her support for her husband does not on the surface resemble serious benefaction, this article reexamines these narratives in light of hints that connect her to other women patrons of the ancient world. As these narratives link Akiba's wife with a special "city of gold" or "Jerusalem of gold" crown, elsewhere walled crowns appear in association with other cities and other powerful women. Meanwhile, rhetorical emphasis on the personal relationship of Akiba and his wife, including his gift of this crown, obscures recognition of her public patronage. Examination of these tensions discloses important aspects of the construction of gender, money, and power within rabbinic literature.