Arch of Titus vase smasher

[CastleAnthrax]

My history professor described a scene from when he was in Rome that he hasn’t been able to find out more about. I’m hoping someone here knows.
He was walking under the Arch of Titus and was standing near the section about the sack of Jerusalem when a woman came in, unwrapped a small vase, and smashed it on the ground. I guess he looked pretty shocked, as she said something to him about it being a ritual. She then carefully picked up all the pieces and left.
Does anyone recognize this a A Thing?

[Isilder]

Hmm …well it doesnt seem to require the victim to help, and in fact makes the victim scared, so it would always fail if it was a pick pocket attempt.
Italians do smash vases at weddings.

http://www.brevardminister.com/blog/the-breaking-of-the-glass-a-jewish-and-italian-ritual-of-conclusion

[CalMeacham]

The Arch depicts the sacking of the Temple at Jerusalem after Titus conquered the city (and is interesting because it probably depicts the treasures of the Temple as they actually appeared – they were almost certainly brought back to Rome and paraded at the Triumph). Jews throughout the centuries have understandably not been very happy about this.
The Jewish tradition of breaking a wine glass at the wedding supposedly derives from

The tradition is traced back to the Talmud which tells of a Rabbi who broke a vase at a wedding because he didn’t want people to be too happy

It seems to me that your vase-smasher was following this Talmudic practice of smashing a vase so “people wouldn’t be too happy” in protest of the Sacking of Jerusalem.
http://yourjewishspeech.com/tag/smash-a-glass-at-the-wedding/

Arch of Titus

[bob_2]

I can’t see it documented as one of the ‘traditions’.

I stand a long time trying to decide what to do. I’ve read about the Jewish traditions associated with the Arch–never walk under it, spit when you go near, be wary of the history it commemorates. But since Israel became a state, these traditions have been largely modified, if not the feelings about the Arch. The Jewish community of Rome even held a parade beneath it in May of 1948 when the state of Israel was recognized. But I’m still debating.
Titus's Arch, A Jewish Perspective