Classical Piyyut of the Land of Israel and Its Great Payyetanim

Piyyut, Hebrew liturgical poetry, had a classical age in the Land of Israel with masters such as Yose ben Yose, Yannai, and especially Eleazar ha-Kallir. These payyetanim composed poetic cycles of great virtuosity, rich in midrashic allusions, meant to adorn festival prayer. Their dense, learned language profoundly marked later Jewish liturgy.