October 2009 - BiblePlaces.com

Egypt and the Bible Symposium, Toronto

There was a notice yesterday in ANE-2 of two conferences related to Egypt in Toronto next weekend. You can read more about the Scholarly Colloquium on Ancient Egypt (Nov 6, 8) here.

The Egypt and the Bible symposium falls on the middle day between the colloquium and, while not free like the other, has a number of interesting lectures. I heard Hoffmeier give the same lecture as listed below last month and it was very good. I imagine that most of the others are as well.

EGYPT AND THE BIBLE

Saturday, November 7th, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Location: University of Toronto campus, 5 Bancroft Ave., Room 1050

Advance online registration: Public $90.00, Member $80.00, Student $40.00, SSEA Members $80.00

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Of plots, women and lawgivers: Egypt as pictured in Genesis & Exodus Prof. Donald B. Redford, Pennsylvania State University

Abraham in Egypt Prof. John Gee, Brigham Young University

Exodus Geography and Location of the Re(e)d in the Light of Recent Archaeological and Geological Work in North Sinai
Prof. James K. Hoffmeier, Trinity International University

The Campaign of Pharaoh Sheshonq, the Bible’s `Shishak’, to the Levant, ca. 920 B.C: Myth, Legend, or Something you can put your (hand-)pick into?
Prof. John S. Holladay, Emeritus University of Toronto
The Rescue of Jerusalem: The Alliance between Hebrews and Kushites
Henry T. Aubin, author of The Rescue of Jerusalem

Two Hymns as Praise: Poems, Royal Ideology, and History in Ancient Israel and Ancient
Egypt: A Comparative Reflection Prof. Susan T. Hollis, Empire State College – State University of New York

Egypt and the Infant Jesus Dr. F. Terry Miosi

Tagged Egypt, Lectures

Herodium, Then and Now

Early Western visitors were intrigued by a conical mountain about 4 miles (6 km) southeast of Bethlehem. Known by the Arabs as Jebel el Fureidis (Little Paradise Mountain), the site was believed to be the monument built by King Herod and named after himself.

Herodium, eastern tower, date of photograph: 1910-26.

From the Southern Palestine volume of The American Colony and Eric Matson Collection (Library of Congress, LC-matpc-01383).

Edward Robinson visited the site in 1838. He described his visit in his second volume of Biblical Researches in Palestine: “Leaving here our horses, a steep ascent of ten minutes brought us to the top of the mountain, which constitutes a circle of about seven hundred and fifty feet in circumference. The whole of this is enclosed by the ruined walls of a circular fortress, built of hewn stones of good size, with four massive round towers standing one at each of the cardinal points. . . . The tower upon the East is not so thoroughly destroyed as the rest” (170-71).

Today one can see how impressive that solid eastern tower is. Excavations began at Herodium in 1962 under the Franciscan Virgil Corbo. After Israel took the area in 1967, Ehud Netzer continued the archaeological work. Two years ago, Netzer discovered the long-sought-for tomb of Herod.

Herodium with eastern tower on right

Tagged American Colony Photos, Judah, Then and Now

Support Sought for Tel Dor

The Tel Dor team is looking for support and volunteers, and I’m glad to help out by posting a recent letter I received here. Times are tough for archaeology, as noted by Jeffrey Zorn in this column in the current issue of Biblical Archaeology Review. They would appreciate your support.

Dear Madam/Sir,
The exquisite gemstone of Alexander the great that captured your attention is only the tip of the iceberg, so to speak, of one of the largest, long-lasting and high-profile archaeological projects in Israel. If you care about the archaeology of biblical times (Israelites, Phoenicians and Sea People), the Classical periods, and the cultural heritage of Israel and the Mediterranean; and if you are interested in forging a bond between Israel and the international community – please take a moment to look at the attached file. Like almost cultural projects around the globe, we need your help to endure.
We would be grateful if you could pass this message to any other interested parties.
Sincerely,
Dr. Ilan Sharon,
Institute of Archaeology, Hebrew University Jerusalem
Mt. Scopus, Jerusalem 91905
Tel. 972-2-2881304
Dr. Ayelet Gilboa
Chair, Dept. of Archaeology,
University of Haifa, Mount Carmel
Haifa 31905, Israel
Tel: 972-4-8240234, 972-4-8240531
Tel Dor website: http://dor.huji.ac.il/
Email: [email protected]
Tel Dor has also a facebook page; you are welcome to visit us.

The cover story this month in BAR is about a beautiful mosaic found in the excavations of Dor.

If your idea of a perfect summer is excavating on the beach in the best climate in the world, you have found what you’re looking for.

Harbor of Dor, looking south

Tagged Excavations, Opportunities

Menorah Cave Opened at Beth Shearim

The cave previously known as the “Cave of the Coffins” has been restored and renamed. From Arutz-7:

Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin unveiled a huge ancient relief depicting a seven branched menorah at Beit Shearim in the Galilee Tuesday. The menorah, which is 1.90 m. (75”) high, is one of the major tourist attractions at the renovated ancient burial cave site.
The burial caves were discovered decades ago but their recent renovation took place largely thanks to Rivlin’s initiative. In 2004, during his first term as Knesset Speaker, Rivlin visited the site and was stirred by the site of the numerous depictions of the menorah, which is the modern State of Israel’s symbol as well.
He took action to make sure that the site received special preference and that funds were allocated to its restoration and preservation. A team, which included restoration expert Jacques Neger and architect Ram Shoef, got rid of roots that had invaded the caves and restored the wall carvings, and the renewed site was opened to tourists.

The rest of the article, with photos, is here.

The Haaretz report adds this note:

Another two newly discovered burial caves not far from the current archaeological site will be opened to the public in three months.

Another Haaretz article notes the claims of a 93-year-old architect that he discovered the necropolis of Beth Shearim and not the famed watchman Alexander Zaid.

Beth Shearim Cave of Coffins menorah, tb040603019

Menorah decoration before restoration, Beth Shearim

HT: Joe Lauer

Tagged Galilee, New Exhibits

New Blog for Tel Burna Excavation

A promising new blog started last week with the intention of chronicling the excavation of a site from the very beginning. The Tel Burna Excavation Project is headed by Itzhaq Shai and Joe Uziel of Bar Ilan University and we look forward to continued informative postings. So far, they have covered:

Welcome to the New Tel Burna Blog—an image of the site using GIS technology
A Little Bit about the Site—with a map of the area and a photo of visible fortifications
Identifying the Site—is this biblical Libnah?
The Survey Season—includes a survey map
A Nice View of the Tel—it’s more a photo of the area next to the tell than the tell itself.

The Arabic name for the site is Tell Bornat, and it has been identified as Libnah by W. F. Albright and A. F. Rainey.

Tell Bornat, possible Libnah, from west, tb011606860

Tel Burna from the west

Tagged Excavations, Shephelah

Pottery Baskets

If you’ve ever thought it strange that they call them “pottery baskets” when they’re really just plastic buckets, the photo below may help.

This photo was taken in the first season of William F. Albright’s excavation of Tell Beit Mirsim (1926). It is one of 25 photos taken at the site included in the newly published Southern Palestine volume of The American Colony and Eric Matson Collection (originally Library of Congress, LC-matpc-05733).

Tagged American Colony Photos, Technology, Then and Now