Tourism Archives - BiblePlaces.com

Weekend Roundup, Part 3

Excavations began this year at Lystra, the hometown of Timothy and place where Paul was stoned and left for dead. They have already uncovered a third of a Byzantine church.

“An alabaster seal, believed to be from the Assyrian Empire and belonging to a nobleman, was discovered in the ancient Kef Fortress built by the Urartians.”

Archaeologists excavating under a Hellenistic theater in southwestern Turkey have discovered a sewage system large enough to walk in.

The Kestros Fountain at Perga in Turkey is operational after 1,800 years.

“A variety of reliefs, inscriptions, and grave stelae unearthed by archeologists help expand the understanding of gladiator history in the region of ancient Anatolia.”

The Luwian Studies Foundation wants to fill in a gap in the eastern Mediterranean around the year 1200 BC.

A 4-minute BBC video features an island off Turkey’s southern coast with underwater Roman cities, underwater Lycian tombs, and the oldest shipwreck in the world.

Over at BiblicalTurkey.org, Jason Borges describes his three-day visit to the historical sites of Cyprus.

Archaeological discoveries made during the construction of a subway line in Thessaloniki have been put on display at many of the subway stations.

Three books that caught my eye in the exhibit halls at ETS and SBL are:

The Topography of Ancient Jerusalem. 2nd Century BC – 2nd Century AD: Essays on the Urban Planning Record, Defences and Gates, by D. M. Cabaret (Peeters, 2022, $120)
The Realia Jesus: An Archaeological Commentary on the Gospel of Luke, by David Fiensy (Wipf and Stock, 2024, $10-$57)
The Odyssey of Marcus Panthera: A Journey to the Land of Israel in the First Century, by Makram Mesherky (Gesher, 2024, $20)

HT: Agade, Gordon Franz, Arne Halbakken, Ted Weis, Cenk Eronat, Explorator

Tagged Discoveries, Excavations, Greece, Mediterranean Islands, Resources, Tourism, Weekend Roundup

Weekend Roundup, Part 2

“A new study of DNA extracted from the bones inside Pompeii’s famous plaster casts has largely debunked long-held assumptions based solely on the physical appearance and positioning of the casts.”

The Pompeii Archaeological Park is now limiting the number of daily visitors to 20,000 and using timed personalized tickets with the visitors’ full names.

In a new program sponsored by Airbnb, some tourists will be chosen to participate in a mock gladiatorial fight inside Rome’s Colosseum.

An amulet depicting the “prophet Solomon” was discovered in Karabük, Turkey.

The earring holes on King Tut’s famous golden mask indicate that it was originally created for a female or child.

“Scientists at Chicago’s Field Museum are studying Egyptian mummies using a mobile CT scanner.”

Ellie Bennett tells the story of one of the “Queen of the Arabs” mentioned in Assyrian inscriptions.

“On Sunday, November 17, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, followed by a keynote from 6:00-7:30 PM, the George Washington University Department of Classical and Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations & the Capitol Archaeological Institute will co-host an international symposium focused on the Amarna Letters, a collection of 14th-century BCE diplomatic correspondence which offers a rare insight into the political dynamics of the ancient Near East.” Register here for the full day, or here for the keynote.

Virtual tour on Nov 20: “Rome’s Legendary Emperors: Nero, Hadrian, and Constantine”

Available for preorder on Logos: Archaeology and the Ministry of Paul: A Visual Guide, by David A. deSilva ($28). This is the first of three planned volumes.

New release: The Labors of Idrimi: Inscribing the Past, Shaping the Present at Late Bronze Age Alalah, by Jacob Lauinger (SBL Press, $58-$78; open-access ebook).

New release: The Archaeology of the ‘Margins’: Studies on Ancient West Asia in Honour of Peter M.M.G. Akkermans, edited by Bleda S. Düring and Jo-Hannah Plug (Sidestone, €15+; read online for free)

Barbara Aland, former director of the Institute for New Testament Textual Research, died earlier this week.

Dan Diffendale has posted many thousands of photos, organized by albums on Flickr. He has written a short guide to using them.

“Biblical Field Studies are funded study trips to biblical sites in Turkey for Bible scholars and teachers in the Majority World. The program is designed to equip Christian teachers and professors who work in the Majority World by introducing them to the geographical, historical, and social contexts of early Christianity. The 2025 trip (June 11–18, 2025) will visit the sites related to the Seven Churches of Revelation and the Seven Ecumenical Councils.”

There will be no roundup next weekend. If you will be attending ETS or SBL, stop by the BiblePlaces booth and say hi.

HT: Agade, Gordon Franz, Arne Halbakken, Mark Hoffman, Ted Weis, Wayne Stiles, Paleojudaica

Tagged Discoveries, Egypt, Italy, Lectures, Museums, Photo Resources, Resources, Sad News, Technology, Tourism, Turkey, Weekend Roundup

Weekend Roundup, Part 2

“A tiny house full of exquisite frescos has been discovered in the ancient city of Pompeii.”

“Thessaloniki offers visitors 2,300-plus years of history, tremendous shopping, and a Jewish story like no other in Europe.”

“A recent British Museum video reveals that the ‘oldest map of the world in the world’ on a clay tablet from Babylon was deciphered to reveal a surprisingly familiar story.

Despite claims to the contrary, ancient peppermint was not found in the Giza Pyramids.

Bryan Windle surveys the top three reports from biblical archaeology in the month of October.

Bible History Daily remembers Donald B. Redford.

In the latest episode of Thin Edge of the Wedge, Simo Parpola reflects on his career and the State Archives of Assyria project.

Friends of ASOR Zoom webinar on Nov 6: “Beyond the Museum Walls: Engaging with Archaeology and New Media,” with panelists Michael Zimmerman, Sarah Beckmann, Deidre Brin, and Adam Aja

New release: To Eat or Not to Eat: Studies on the Biblical Dietary Prohibitions, by Peter Altmann and Anna Angelini (Mohr Siebeck, €94; open access)

New release: Knossos: Myth, History and Archaeology, by James Whitley (Bloomsbury, $22-$81)

The American Center of Research in Amman, Jordan, has announced a number of fellowships for the coming year.

Carl Rasmussen shares photos from his two visits this year to Antakya, Turkey (biblical Antioch on the Orontes). The city was largely destroyed by earthquake in February 2023.

The Zoom seminar video is now available for “Reading the Bible as an Insider,” with Lois Tverberg and Milly Erema.

HT: Agade, Gordon Franz, Wayne Stiles, Joseph Lauer

Tagged Discoveries, Egypt, Greece, Lectures, Mesopotamia, Museums, Resources, Tourism, Weekend Roundup

Weekend Roundup, Part 1

Archaeologists have discovered a large Early Bronze site on the outskirts of Beit Shemesh.

“Israeli researchers have posited a possible scientific explanation for the Christian ‘miraculous catch of fish.’”

A new study suggests that the faience head discovered at Abel Beth Maacah was “probably meant as a votive offering that depicted the person who was making the offering to the deity represented by the standing stone.” While the identity of that person has not been determined, they suggest it was either a king or a noble, but it is not clear if this individual was from Israel, Aram, Tyre, or Sidon.

Aren Maeir took a small team out to Gath for a one-week fall season.

A severe drought in Israel has led to a poor olive harvest this year.

Matthieu Richelle’s views of literacy in ancient Israel and Judah is the subject of an article in The Jerusalem Post. The academic article on which it is based may be found here.

Wayne Stiles is hosting a live Zoom walk-through on sites in the Old City of Jerusalem on November 4. Register here.

The 100th episode of This Week in the Ancient Near East looks at the question of how long Hezekiah reigned given evidence from tiny seal impressions.

Now on Digging for Truth: Isaiah: The Top Ten Archaeological Discoveries, with Bryan Windle

Hybrid lecture at the Albright on Dec 7, 5:00 pm local time, 10:00 am EST: “Staying on the Surface at Qadas,” by Rafi Greenberg (Zoom)

Over the past year, Hans Kristensen has written a number of well-documented articles on The Bible, Archaeology, and History blog, including:

For sale on Kindle: Ultimate Guide to the Holy Land: Hundreds of Full-Color Photos, Maps, Charts, and Reconstructions of the Bible Lands. I don’t know anything about this book beyond what is online, including that there are “more than 500 full-color maps, images, photos, and reconstructions.” The book is 1,260 pages long, no author is listed, and the sale price (today only?) is $6.55. The book may look nice on the new color Kindle.

HT: Agade, Gordon Franz, Wayne Stiles, Joseph Lauer

Tagged Discoveries, Galilee, Jerusalem, Lectures, Philistines, Resources, Shephelah, Tourism, Weekend Roundup

Weekend Roundup – Israel

A new study of textiles found in the Judean wilderness reveals that the color scarlet was made using powder of a scale insect.

“A nearly 2,000-year-old ring engraved with the image of Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and battle — known to the Greeks as Athena — was found on Mount Carmel.”

An 8th century seal discovered at Hazor “depicts a battle between an unknown figure accompanied by Greek and Egyptian mythical creatures, and a large seven-headed serpent, commonly believed to be an illustration of the Lernaean Hydra from the Greek myth of Hercules’s 12 labors.”

The “altar” on Mount Ebal was recently damaged.

“The Saint Hilarion complex, one of the oldest monasteries in the Middle East, has been put on the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites in danger due to the war in Gaza.”

The final excavation season at Tel Burna (Libnah?) has concluded. Co-director Steven Ortiz is interviewed on The Book and the Spade, which is now available on a number of podcast platforms.

A discovery of lost papers from a dig in 1937 prompted a reevaluation of the Central Church of Shivta in the Negev.

Christopher Rollston explains why three mosaic inscriptions found at the Christian worship site near Megiddo are important in the study of Early Christianity.

A proposed Israeli law would expand the Israel Antiquities Authority’s jurisdiction into the West Bank.

Brent Nongbri shares photos of the Bedouin who first discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls. But there are questions. And another photo.

Israel’s Good Name reports on his outings to the Yodfat Monkey Park and Eilat and the Arava (Day I, Day II).

Wave Nunnally is on the Biblical World podcast to discuss recent events in Israel and the parables of the kingdom.

New release: Colonial Archaeology in Palestine in the 1930s: The First Expedition to Lachish, by Yosef Garfinkel (Israel Exploration Society and The Hebrew University of Jerusalem; 260 NIS).

New release: The Economy of the Later Roman Province of Third Palestine, by Walter D. Ward (Archaeopress, £16–34)

New release: Ancient Synagogues in Palestine: A Re-evaluation Nearly a Century After Sukenik’s Schweich Lectures, by Jodi Magness (Oxford University Press, $100, free download)

New release: The Dead Sea Scrolls: New Insights on Ancient Texts, by Alex P. Jassen and Lawrence H. Schiffman (Springer, $89–119)

New release: Hesi after 50 Years and 130 Years: Paying Tribute to the Long Excavation History at Tell el-Hesi, edited by John R. Spencer, James W. Hardin, and Jeffrey Blakely (Eisenbrauns, $100, but Amazon has it at 60% off right now; Kindle $53). The Bible and Interpretation has posted the first chapter which is an introduction to the volume.

Israel now requires visitors from visa-exempt countries to purchase electronic travel authorization prior to boarding their flight to Israel. The government website is here.

As a reminder, we have number of useful photo collections related to Israel, including the Pictorial Library’s Galilee and the North, Samaria and the Center, Judah and the Dead Sea, and Negev and the Wilderness. All five Israel volumes are available as a set (6,000 photos) for only $119 today with code RAMAH.

HT: Agade, Gordon Franz, Arne Halbakken, Ted Weis, Steven Anderson, Gordon Dickson, Mark V. Hoffman

Tagged Dead Sea Scrolls, Excavations, Galilee, Israel's Coast, Resources, Samaria, Shephelah, Tourism, Weekend Roundup

Weekend Roundup – Jerusalem

I’m back from a 9,000-mile road trip, and though there are not many active excavations in Israel this summer, I have a lot of stories to catch up on. This roundup will be a six-parter, with today’s focus on Jerusalem.

A stone quarry with massive building stones was discovered in a northern neighborhood of Jerusalem. It was in use when Herod was carrying out his many construction projects, and the “geological signature” matches that of stone slabs used in the “Pilgrim’s Road” that runs from the Pool of Siloam to the Temple Mount.

The publication of a journal article has brought a fresh wave of attention to the discovery of a large moat that separated Jerusalem’s Temple Mount from the City of David during the time of the monarchy.

Construction workers discovered a Medieval altar in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

Nails from the sandals of Roman soldiers have been discovered in the Temple Mount Sifting Project.

A stone fragment with a drilled hole was uncovered in the Temple Mount Sifting Project.

“The Kishle moat at the Citadel in Jerusalem is now hosting the ‘Umbilicus’ exhibition . . . [which] delves into ancient ideas of Jerusalem being the center of the world.”

“The Israel Antiquities Authority is offering limited tours this summer of its Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel, a new and modern facility, long under construction next to the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.” The campus is expected to be fully open in a year or two.

Chandler Collins considers whether the evidence supports the popular interpretation that the Broad Wall in Jerusalem cut through houses, as described in Isaiah 22:10.

Bryan Windle evaluates the evidence to decide whether the ivory pomegranate inscription mentioning the temple is authentic.

Tuvia Pollack provides an overview of the archaeological significance of the City of David.

Ariel David writes about Israel’s Finkelstein’s new book, Jerusalem the Center of the Universe: Its Archaeology and History (1800–100 BCE). The book is available from SBL Press or from Amazon for $50-$85.

Nachi Weinstein interviews Jodi Magness about the city of Jerusalem throughout history (85 min).

On Sept. 4, the Friends of ASOR will be hosting a free webinar with Jodi Magness explaining, “What Makes Jerusalem Special?”

Jodi Magness is guest on the Biblical World podcast to discuss her new book, the Huqoq synagogue mosaic, the importance of pottery, and more.

Registration is now open for fall online courses at the Jerusalem Seminary. Courses include “The Life and Land of Yeshua,” “Journeying with Paul,” and a number of Biblical Hebrew courses.

BiblePlaces.com offers a number of photo collections related to Jerusalem, including our classic Pictorial Library collection on Jerusalem (1,500 photos), the American Colony collection on Jerusalem (650 photos), and the Photo Companion to the Gospels (10,000 slides).

HT: Agade, Gordon Franz, Arne Halbakken, Ted Weis, Steven Anderson, Gordon Dickson, Mark V. Hoffman

Tagged Jerusalem, Resources, Tourism, Weekend Roundup