Egypt Archives - BiblePlaces.com

Weekend Roundup, Part 2

The recent discovery of 131 cuneiform tablets at Kayalipinar, Turkey, brings the total to 184, making it “the most comprehensive Hittite archive discovered in this century.”

“Remains of what appears to be the world’s oldest shipwreck have been found near the island of Kekova, off the southwest coast of Turkey.” The Early Bronze Age vessel was carrying amphorae likely containing oil or wine.

“Fragments of two massive statues depicting Ramesses II were discovered by accident by a farmer working on his land in a northern Egyptian village.”

Thomas E. Levy reviews the “Ramses and the Pharaohs’ Gold” exhibition in London and marvels at the lack of mention of the biblical exodus. He notes as well the absence of the Merneptah Stele.

The Agios Athanasios site in Greece, popularly known as the “School of Homer,” will be transformed into an archaeological park and opened to the public.

Greece’s National Archaeological Museum has extended its temporary exhibition, “Pylos of Nestor: A Mycenaean Kingdom Revealed,” until Sunday, 31 January 2027.

New release: The Synagogue at Sardis: Archaeological Exploration of Sardis Reports, by Andrew R. Seager, Frank Moore Cross, Jane DeRose Evans, et al. ($120)

A Roman imperial marble torso sold at Sotheby’s for $34.3 million, setting an auction record for a Roman antiquity. Sotheby’s has more information about the artifact.

“Retired Turkish archaeology professor Fahri Isik has raised concerns over the growing number of archaeology departments in Türkiye, arguing that universities should prioritize academic expertise, research infrastructure and long-term institutional development rather than simply opening new programs.”

Jason Borges is offering free reviews of itineraries for biblical tours in Turkey.

HT: Agade, Ted Weis, Explorator

Tagged Discoveries, Egypt, Greece, Museums, New Exhibits, Resources, Tourism, Turkey, Weekend Roundup

Weekend Roundup

Archaeologists uncovered a 1,000-foot section of the Lower Aqueduct between Bethlehem and Jerusalem. This aqueduct was in use from 100 BC until about 100 years ago.

A seal impression discovered by the Temple Mount Sifting Project and possibly connected to an adviser to King Josiah will be published by the end of the year.

“A bronze signet ring depicting the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, has been discovered beneath the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of the Egyptian city.”

A new study of a Byzantine-era church mosaic discovered at Hadrianoupolis suggests that its depiction of the four rivers flowing from the Garden of Eden may have been intended to instruct worshippers in spiritual virtues.

Zev Stub reviews an exhibition at the Israel Museum, “Tiny Footprints: Childhood in the Ancient Land of Israel.”

“Israel on Tuesday returned a collection of 22 artifacts illegally removed from Greece, in the first repatriation of its kind between the two countries.”

Lauren K. McCormick considers what has been learned from the contents of ancient toilets in a preview of an article in Biblical Archaeology Review.

Lauren K. McCormick writes an explainer about the Bar Kokhba Revolt.

Hybrid lecture at the Albright on Oct 28: “A Taste of the Holy Land? Exploring Travel & Hospitality in Early 19th-Century Ottoman Palestine,” by Federica A. Broilo

On the Biblical World podcast, Steve Notley joins Chris McKinny in an on-location interview at el-Araj, the New Testament site of Bethsaida.

HT: Agade

Tagged Discoveries, Egypt, Galilee, Jerusalem, Lectures, Museums, New Exhibits, Temple Mount, Turkey, Weekend Roundup

Weekend Roundup

A new study of the industrial compound at Tel Shiqmona reveals that the space was “structured by the seasonal cycle: olive pressing in late autumn, livestock sheltering in winter, and textile production in spring.” A news report may be found here.

“Two rediscovered photographs from a 1930s excavation show where tombs were located inside the North Church baptistery” of Shivta.

The Israeli government has begun renovating “Herod’s Pools,” located near the Petzael Springs in the Jordan Valley. Another project recently begun is the “Joshua Trail” which will include a suspension bridge between Elon Moreh and Mount Kabir.

Chandler Collins has converted his Jerusalem Tracker Part 2 series into “Jerusalem in Brief,” focusing on the most interesting stories and providing further comment and context.

Researchers believe there are additional rooms behind King Tut’s burial chamber based upon “cumulative architectural, decorative, and geophysical indicators.” Kara Cooney gives some fascinating background.

“Forensic reexaminations of 5,000-year-old skulls indicate over a dozen ancient Egyptian royal attendants met gruesome ends to honor their beloved, deceased pharaohs.”

“An ancient Greek funeral elegy stele was found within a pyramid-shaped mud-brick tomb in the Bir al-Shaghala archaeological site in the Dakhla Oasis.”

An AI-generated design depicting Tutankhamun and Nefertiti has been removed after residents of Cairo complained about their skin color.

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

Archaeologists working in southern Turkey may have discovered tombs belonging to Alexander the Great’s soldiers.

The archaeological site of ancient Nicopolis, which Paul planned to visit (Titus 3:12), has reopened after a major restoration project.

“The top three reports in biblical archaeology in September 2026 included discoveries of an ancient treaty, a ritual bath, and a famous school.”

New release: Forgotten Empires – Remembered. Studies on the Ancient Near East in Honour of John E. Curtis, edited by Dirk Wicke, Paul Collins and Nigel Tallis (Zaphon, 125 €)

Ellen Morris reviews Eric H. Cline’s new book, Love, War, and Diplomacy: The Discovery of the Amarna Letters and the Bronze Age World They Revealed.

For sale on Kindle: Jesus, A Visual History: The Dramatic Story of the Messiah in the Holy Land, by Donald Brake with me ($4.99)

HT: Agade, Explorator, Mark Hoffman, Paleojudaica

Tagged Egypt, Greece, Israel's Coast, Jerusalem, Jordan Rift, Negev, Resources, Samaria, Technology, Tourism, Turkey, Weekend Roundup

Weekend Roundup

A new study based on the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 will allow scholars to more accurately date other ancient volcanic eruptions.

“The Kelsey Museum of Archaeology at the University of Michigan (U-M) has opened its first new permanent gallery in nearly two decades: The Byzantine and Islamic Worlds: 400–1800.”

CBN News has produced a 25-minute special on the first-century street from the Pool of Siloam to the Temple Mount.

CBN News has created a 10-minute video on the special exhibit of the Great Isaiah Scroll at the Israel Museum.

The Colosseum in Rome was closed for two days after a worker fell to his death.

Elon Gilad surveys the major views on the origins of the Samaritans.

Indiana Jones is the best and worst thing to happen to archaeology.

James Hoffmeier talks about the historical and archaeological context of the exodus on The Week in Bible Prophecy.

Steven Notley is on The Book and the Spade to discuss finding Bethsaida.

Free hybrid lecture at Harvard on Oct 21: “The Many Lives of Theban Tomb 16,” by Suzanne Onstine

The program is online for last week’s conference, “The Medes: 25 Years Afterwards.” The recordings are posted on YouTube.

New release: Bible Mapper Atlas, Volume 1 (Old Testament) – includes nearly all the online maps along with 90 photographs and a timeline. A second volume will include all of the New Testament maps.

Jason Borges has posted an updated version of his “Public Inscriptions at the Seven Churches of Revelation: A Historical Introduction for Guides, With Translations and Explanations.”

Bible Odyssey has published some new short articles:

Horses in the Hebrew Bible, by Kirsty L. Jones
Patmos, by Ian Boxall
The James Ossuary, by Jonathan L. Reed

If you are planning to be at the Annual Meetings in Denver, I’ll be giving a couple of papers and would be happy to see you:

Evangelical Theological Society, Nov 17, Psalms and Hebrew Poetry section, “Psalm 69 and the Messianic Context of Psalms Book II”
Society of Biblical Literature, Nov 22, Historical Geography of the Biblical World Section, Celebrating the Publication of the Lexham Geographic Commentary, “The Palace at Susa and the Geographical Setting of the Book of Esther.”

HT: Agade, Alexander Schick, Explorator

Tagged Dead Sea Scrolls, Egypt, Galilee, Italy, Jerusalem, Lectures, Museums, Persia, Resources, Samaria, Technology, Turkey, Weekend Roundup

Weekend Roundup, Part 2

“The tomb of an ancient Egyptian royal chamberlain was discovered in Sector A of the Bubasteum necropolis in Saqqara during its first excavation season.”

The Pyramid of Menkaure is now closed to visitors following the reopening of the Pyramid of Khafre. The closure allows for the maintenance and preservation work.

BBC Science Focus discusses the latest theories for how the Giza pyramids were constructed.

Jerusalem University College is opening their graduate field studies to Egypt and Greece to individuals who are not enrolled in the accompanying semester courses.

“More than 3,000 people gathered at the historic site of Mukawir (Machaerus) on 12 September for a sunset performance of Handel’s Messiah.”

The largest Roman wall mosaic ever found, together with a colorful fresco, was opened in Rome to the public for the first time, thirty years after its discovery.

A multiyear underwater archaeology project studying ancient harbors in the Mediterranean determined that ports were larger than usually assumed because of anchoring areas beyond the built walls of the harbor.

Konstantinos Politis, excavator of the “Sanctuary of Lot” on the eastern side of the Dead Sea, died last month.

HT: Agade, Ted Weis, Explorator, Alexander Schick

Tagged Discoveries, Egypt, Italy, Lectures, Sad News, Tourism, Weekend Roundup

Weekend Roundup

During excavations of the agora at Smyrna, archaeologists discovered three rooms with wall paintings and mosaics.

“For nearly 180 years, archaeologists studying Nimrud in northern Iraq have focused on palaces, temples, and royal buildings. A new project is shifting attention to the vast lower city, where most of the Assyrian capital’s people lived.”

Archaeologists have discovered at Saqqara the tomb of a judge who heard the appeals of ordinary people.

“A scientific journal has retracted a study that claimed satellite radar could reveal hidden structures inside the Great Pyramid of Giza, finding ‘serious methodological flaws and statistical errors’ that undermined its conclusions.”

“The Egyptian Museum in Cairo completed restoration work on a stele of Ramesses II.”

Scientists are stomping grapes in an ancient reconstructed winepress in order to determine “whether ancient Judean winemakers let the juice flow directly into the adjacent collection vats to ferment, or instead left it to ferment on the treading floor itself.”

ASOR has teamed up with the Libyan Department of Antiquities to restore the archaeological site of Cyrene. The article includes many photos.

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

The Museum Fine of Arts, Boston, is presenting the exhibit “Maverick Kings,” highlighting the reigns of three Egyptian rulers of the 18th Dynasty: Hatshepsut, Amenhotep III, and Akhenaten.

New release: The Animals of Ancient Egypt: Then and Now, by Richard Hoath and Salima Ikram (AUC Press, $22)

On Digging for Truth, Ted Wright discusses a panel from Sennacherib’s palace that may depict Jerusalem.

Friends of ASOR Webinar on Sept 24: “Digging into The Odyssey: An Epic Reimagined or a Misinterpretation of Epic Proportions?,” with Eric Cline, Kim Shelton, and Alex Joffe

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

Writing for Bible History Daily, Robin Gallaher Branch explores the significance of Cornelius and his conversion.

Carl Rasmussen explains how to easily find images on his website.

The Friends of ASOR Tours is offering a 15-day tour of Tunisia, led by Andrew G. Vaughn.

HT: Agade, Ted Weis, Explorator

Tagged Discoveries, Egypt, Judah, Lectures, Mesopotamia, Museums, New Exhibits, Resources, Tourism, Turkey, Weekend Roundup