Big News from Jerusalem Seminary

Post by A.D. Riddle

This week, Jerusalem Seminary announced completion of a merger between University of the Holy Land and Jerusalem Seminary under the Jerusalem Seminary name.

The University of the Holy Land was established by Stephen and Claire Pfann in 1986 — 40 years ago. Sadly, Stephen passed away in 2025 and Claire in 2026. Jerusalem Seminary is the natural place to carry forward the Pfann’s original vision, because both schools share a conviction that “the story of the Bible must never be separated from the Land of the Bible.” The Jerusalem Seminary website tells the story of University of the Holy Land and the combining of the two institutions.

In conjunction with the announced merger, Jerusalem Seminary invites everyone to a free “Open Day” this Thursday and Saturday for one hour on Zoom. It begins at 11:00am (U.S. Central Time) on both days. To see the schedule and to sign up, visit this page: Jerusalem Seminary Open Day. At the Open Day can learn more about the seminary’s course offerings, degree programs, and its three schools:

Finally, for those interested in studying Biblical Hebrew, there will be a dedicated Hebrew Program Open Day on Saturday, September 5. To learn more, there is a link to “Ask for Details” on the sign-up page.

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Weekend Roundup, Part 3

Archaeologists uncovered a complete bath complex that was used for centuries in Port Said.

Archaeologists are planning to restore the ceremonial gateway to the ancient city of Parseh (Persepolis).

“The concept of zero began with Sumerian accountants, who first used a blank space to denote an absence in records.”

Now online: “New Insights on Nimrud,” hosted by The British Institute for the Study of Iraq, with talks by:

  • John MacGinnis: Recent Work at Nimrud
  • Nigel Tallis: Publishing the Nimrud Bowls
  • Dirk Wicke: Ivories from the Burnt Palace

The British Institute for the Study of Iraq honored Gertrude Bell who died one hundred years ago in Baghdad. The 2016 movie about her life, “Letters from Baghdad,” is available for rent on several platforms.

Polis is offering an online course in the Eblaite language.

“The French archaeological mission in Libya has concluded its 2026 field season, presenting the key results of its work, which included significant archaeological discoveries and studies at the sites of Apollonia, Lathron, and Leptis Magna.”

“A 1,500-year-old Madaba map of the Holy Land will reach a new generation through virtual reality (VR), interactive displays and traveling exhibitions under a new project at the University of Göttingen in Germany.”

“Italian divers have discovered an ancient Roman shipwreck off the coast of Sicily, believed to be more than 2,000 years old. The vessel was found piled high with hundreds of well-preserved containers, which were used to transport goods such as wine and olive oil.”

“Archaeologists have uncovered a second-century building with mosaics and frescoes near the Colosseum that may have been barracks used by ancient Roman firefighters.”

Archaeopress is hosting a Summer Sale: “For the next four weeks, more than 400 archaeology, heritage and ancient history titles are available at specially reduced prices, with discounts of 30–75% across a wide selection of our backlist.”

Archaeological Paths is offering an 8-day tour of Egypt during the time of the solar eclipse for a cool $20,000. An extra day at Alexandria is only $2,000. Tips not included.

HT: Agade, Ted Weis, Explorator, Paleojudaica

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Weekend Roundup, Part 2

“A mosaic-floored hall believed to date back nearly 2,000 years to the Roman Empire period has been uncovered during excavations at the ancient city of Tralleis” in Turkey. Lauren K. McCormick interviewed the excavator about the “Olympic”-sized pool discovered there.

“Archaeologists excavating in the world-famous Temple of Artemis in [Ephesus] have uncovered an extraordinary 1,200-year-old Byzantine grave containing premature twin infants.”

“Archaeologists excavating the ancient city of Sardis in western Türkiye have uncovered a monumental marble statue of a young man dating back approximately 2,500 years.”

Excavations at Pisidian Antioch have uncovered a 6th-century vessel that depicts the vision of Daniel 7.

A new study has been published on inscribed bronze bowls from the kingdom of Urartu (biblical Ararat).

Turkish Archaeological News rounds up the top stories for the month of July.

Carl Rasmussen recently visited Patara and writes about the oldest lighthouse on the Mediterranean, now reconstructed.

UNESCO has added 25 sites to its World Heritage Site list, including Mount Olympus and the Aqaba Marine Reserve in Jordan.

A new 3D animation reveals how the ancient Greek trireme “was the most powerful warship in the Mediterranean.”

The Greek Reporter has a story on 15 archaeological sites in the Peloponnese that most tourists never visit.

A new study claims to explain the mystery of the amazing acoustics at the theater of Epidaurus. The secret is in how the limestone material of the secrets suppresses low frequencies of background crowd noise and reflects high frequencies back towards the audience.

Writing for The Ancient Near East Today, Alex Joffe gives his take on Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey.

HT: Agade, Ted Weis, Explorator, Paleojudaica

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Weekend Roundup, Part 1

The Temple Mount Sifting Project writes about the research into the reconstruction of the temple courts’ colorful geometric floor patterns, including the release of a couple of new digital reconstructions of the Temple Mount.

The rabbi of the Western Wall is demanding the Israel Museum return the Temple Mount stone inscribed “to the place of trumpeting.”

An archaeological project to cultivate ancient varieties of grapes at Avdat has begun to bear fruit.

“Hidden beneath a thick canopy in the western Galilee, Khirbet Tzonam, once a Byzantine town, has amazing stone arches, courtyards and ruins – and still feels like a discovery.” (Haaretz subscription)

“The Byzantine-era church in Nahariya that had been hit by a Hezbollah rocket in April has reopened to the public.”

A couple of antiquities thieves have been indicted after they were caught collecting artifacts at Horvat Hadarim near Tel Dor.

Bible Mapper Atlas has created a new poster map of the land of Israel during the New Testament. It is available in high-resolution for free.

Titus Kennedy is on Digging for Truth to discuss archaeology and the people of the Bible.

On the Biblical World podcast, Paul Anderson discusses the extensive archaeological evidence that supports the historicity of the Gospel of John.

The latest video from Expedition Bible looks at five of the most significant evidences for the enduring name of God.

Marek Dospěl provides an overview of the Gezer Calendar.

New release: Judeans in the Land of the Nile. Papers on Achaemenid Egypt, Elephantine, and the Hebrew Bible Presented in Copenhagen, August 19–20, 2024, edited by Kacper Ziemba and Frederik Poulsen (Münster, 75 EUR)

Available for pre-order on Logos: Jerusalem: The Temple Mount, by Leen and Kathleen Ritmeyer (Carta, $13)

Yuval Goren, archaeology professor at Ben Gurion University in the Negev, died recently.

Keith Schoville, longtime professor at University of Wisconsin-Madison, died at the age of 98. Gordon Govier writes about their partnership on The Book & The Spade.

Daniel Sivan, longtime professor at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, died last week.

HT: Agade, Ted Weis, Explorator, Paleojudaica

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Weekend Roundup, Part 2

Archaeologists discovered a Ramesside-era tomb belong to “Paser” on Luxor’s west bank.

“An Egyptian archaeological mission has uncovered three New Kingdom rock-cut tombs at the Bubasteion Necropolis in Saqqara.”

A new study suggests that a sophisticated hydraulic system was built near the Red Pyramid in Dahshur.

“Many of Syria’s archaeological sites were damaged not only by looting but also, in areas occupied by the Turkish military, by systematic bulldozing.”

Restoration work has been completed for the Hidirlik Kulesi, an ancient Roman tower, in Antalya, and a new viewing terrace has been opened.

Archaeologists excavating at Aspendos discovered a large Roman-era mosaic that depicts the river god Eurymedon. They have also been uncovering portions of the city’s main street.

“Archaeologists at Pompeii have partially reconstructed a rare ceiling fresco depicting scenes from Greek mythology.”

“Archaeologists have identified the oldest known library on the Iberian Peninsula inside a Roman villa in southern Spain.”

Bible History Daily explains who the “People of the Sea” are that “hang over the plot [of Nolan’s Odyssey] like a dark cloud.”

On Digging for Truth, Ted Wright shares some of the most significant discoveries related to the New Testament.

New release: Egypt and the Levant: Networks and Negotiations in the Bronze Age, by Anna-Latifa Mourad (Cambridge Elements; open-access until August 6)

New release: Magic in the Ancient Near East and the Hebrew Bible, by Ilan Peled (Cambridge Elements; open-access until August 7)

New release: Proto-Elamite: Writing and Society in Early Iran, by Kathryn Kelley (Cambridge Elements; open-access until August 14)

First time on sale on Kindle: Jews vs. Rome: Two Centuries of Rebellion Against the World’s Mightiest Empire, by Barry Strauss (Simon & Schuster, 2025; reg. $15; sale: $4). When I noted its release last year, I pointed to this positive WSJ review.

When it comes to deciphering lost languages like Linear A, Jane Adkins explains what AI can and cannot do. This article gives the background on the AI engineer’s claim to have cracked Linear A.

There will be no roundup next weekend.

HT: Agade, Ted Weis, Explorator, David Barrett

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Weekend Roundup, Part 1

One thousand female figurines have been found in Jerusalem, but until now no such mold has been discovered in the city. Archaeologists found one when sifting soil from the Kishle excavation south of the Tower of David Museum. Lauren K. McCormick gives more background on Judean Pillar Figurines, including some explanations for why so few molds have been found in Israel.

“A municipal employee searching for lost jewelry on the beach in Ashdod instead uncovered a rare 2,500-year-old coin from ancient Cyprus, which archaeologists say is the first of its kind ever found in Israel.”

A raid of a home of an antiquities thief in the Jordan Valley recovered “approximately 400 ancient coins, pottery fragments, several arrowheads, an antique dagger, and multiple seals and rings, all dating to the Persian, Hellenistic, Hasmonean, and Byzantine eras.”

Aren Maeir visited the excavations at Tel Shadud and Hazor.

“The top three reports in biblical archaeology in July 2026 featured evidence of Judahite idolatry, remains from the Babylonian destruction in Jerusalem, and the discovery of three, previously unknown Assyrian kings.”

Online lecture on Oct 6: “When Worlds Collide: Mediterranean Mercenaries and Israel’s Genesis,” by Aaron Burke (BAS Scholars Series, $10)

New release: Jewish Quarter Excavations in the Old City of Jerusalem Conducted by Nahman Avigad, 1969-1982, Volume X: Area M (The Peristyle House), by Ronny Reich (Israel Exploration Society, $111)

First time for sale on Kindle: Pax: War and Peace in Rome’s Golden Age, by Tom Holland (Basic Books, 2023; $1.99)

SBL Press is running a $5 flash sale through August 2 on three ebooks related to Phoenicia when you use code PHOENICIA:

HT: Agade, Ted Weis, Arne Halbakken, Explorator

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About the BiblePlaces Blog

The BiblePlaces Blog provides updates and analysis of the latest in biblical archaeology, history, and geography. Unless otherwise noted, the posts are written by Todd Bolen, PhD, Professor of Biblical Studies at The Master’s University.

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