|
|
BiblePlaces Newsletter
Vol 4, #1 -
February 7, 2005
Winter is typically quieter for the archaeological world. Few
excavations are taking place in the Middle East, and scholars are usually found
working in the classroom or lab. Or giving special lectures.
After sending this newsletter, I'm heading into Jerusalem to hear
Jerome Murphy-O'Conner lecture on the architecture of the Dome of the
Rock, and then back to our campus to hear Shimon Gibson speak on
Jerusalem burial customs. It will no doubt be a worthwhile
evening!
For the newsletter this month, we'll take the opportunity to look at
some of the changes that have occurred in Israel in the past couple of
years. If you haven't been to "God's country" in that
time, this will help to "catch you up" on various developments around
the country. I hope
you'll enjoy the look around, and I recommend that you come back soon.
There's always more to see and learn.
Todd Bolen
Editor, BiblePlaces.com
Assoc. Professor, The Master's College
Israel
Bible Extension (IBEX), Judean
Hills, Israel
|
|
|
News
Home of the Editor of the Mishnah?
A father and son archaeologist team believes they have
identified the home of Judah the Prince in excavations carried out
previously at Beth Shearim. What had been regarded as four
auxiliary buildings to the synagogue are now understood as different
wings of a single building where the rabbi lived. Judah the Prince was the editor of the Mishnah and he lived in Beth Shearim in approximately 200 A.D.
(Full story:
Haaretz)
Wine Production Facility
A Hellenistic farmhouse was excavated in the southern
coastal plain. Built in the third century B.C., the house was
13,000 sq. feet (1200 sq. m) and was surrounded by five winepresses.
The size of the complex indicates that grapes were likely processed here
for export via the port at Yavneh-Yam. Other facilities like this
have been found in the region; this site was excavated ahead of the
construction of a water treatment plant. (Full story:
Haaretz)
Updates
Cana of Galilee: Where Is It?
In the last newsletter, the recent discoveries at Kefar Kenna were reported. We made a brief comment that the
evidence is strongly against the identification of Kefar Kenna as Cana
in the time of Jesus. We have now made available the article by J. Carl
Laney on the "Identification
of Cana of Galilee" (pdf format). This is extracted from
Laney's doctoral dissertation and is the best discussion of the subject
of which we are aware.
Bethany Beyond the Jordan: Where Is It?
We have also just finished digitizing J. Carl Laney's
help ful
article on the location of John's baptism site
at
Bethany Beyond the Jordan (pdf). This issue is discussed in
the most recent Biblical Archaeology Review magazine,
but Laney's study goes further in examining the claims made by the competing
sites. You might also be interested in seeing
photos of the traditional
(but recently excavated) site.
Photos
If you haven't been to Israel in a few years, many
things have changed. This is a rather random collection of sites -
some ancient, some modern, and some surprising.
|
Hazor's Awning
In the process of revealing the past, archaeological work
often destroys what it is discovering. If the remains aren't
destroyed in the digging process, they often deteriorate quickly when
exposed to the elements. At Hazor they built a roof to protect the
Canaanite palace from the elements. This metal monstrosity, however, destroys the view
and any hope of good aerial photos of the site in the future. Good
thing I got there first. |
|
Click picture
for higher-resolution version. |
|
The Rising Water Level of the Sea of Galilee |
 |
|
 |
|
Three years ago, Israel was in a severe drought.
The gauge for the severity of the drought is usually given in terms of feet
that the Sea of Galilee is down (at its lowest it was 14 feet (4 meters)
below maximum). But it's easier to see the difference with
photographs. These photographs are of the "holy place" at Tabgha
where tradition says that Jesus spoke to the disciples and fed them
breakfast (John 21). The photo on the left was taken at the time of
the drought three years ago, and the photo on the right was taken last
summer. For perspective, note the people in the distance in the left
photo. |
|
Click picture
for higher-resolution version. |
|
Egypt in Israel
If you have ever trekked to the top of Tell Beth Shean,
you've probably not been impressed with the visible remains.
The excavators from Hebrew University made important discoveries,
including three Canaanite temples, but it's hard to pick any of these
out. Recent restoration of the Egyptian governor's residence
(Building 1500) makes the climb more worthwhile. This structure dates to
about 1200 B.C. when Egypt had a firm grip on the trade routes through
Canaan. |
|
Elvis in Israel |
 |
|
 |
|
If you lived in Israel, what landmark would you want to use
as a
reference in giving directions to your home? I can think of a number
of good ones (how about, "go to Mount Zion and turn right"; or "on
top of the hill
overlooking Capernaum"). But no, the closest historic icon next to my
home
is the recently renovated Elvis Inn. :-) |
|
Click picture
for higher-resolution version. |
|
Old City, New Tunnel
The city streets of Jerusalem have been torn up for
several years now, making the normal traffic problems even worse. A
light rail system is scheduled to be completed later this year.
Another road project was this tunnel just outside the northwest corner of
the Old City walls (about 30 feet from the
right edge of the photo). This tunnel connects the roads from Jaffa Gate (behind the photographer) to the
road on the north
side of Damascus Gate. |
|
Western Wall
Construction was finished last year on the expanded prayer
area at the Western Wall, b ut now repair work
has commenced on the adjoining
wall. No sign yet of any excavation of the ramp to the Mughrabi Gate
(just out of the photo to the right). |
|
Click picture
for higher-resolution version. |
|
Click picture
for higher-resolution version. |
|
Yotvata Restaurant
No good day of exploring is complete without a good
lunch stop, and Yotvata is one of my favorites. They recently
rebuilt the restaurant, and the 70s kibbutz feel is gone. Nor do
you have to hike around the gas pumps to get to the outhouse. Still
best in the country (or world?): their chocolate milk. |
Use These Photos!
The images included in this newsletter are original
BiblePlaces.com photographs and are linked to high-resolution versions.
They may be used freely for personal and
educational purposes. Commercial use requires separate permission. For more high-quality, high-resolution
photographs and illustrations of biblical sites, purchase the
Pictorial Library of
Bible Lands or the new
Historic Views of
the Holy Land series. There are no better collections than
these, at any price!
Forward This Newsletter
Please feel free to pass this newsletter link on to others.
They can subscribe to this newsletter
here. Email addresses will never be used for any purpose
other than this newsletter.
To subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter,
click here.
All contents (c) 2005 Todd Bolen. Text and
photographs may be used for personal and educational use.
Commercial use requires written permission.
|
