BiblePlaces Blog - Page 421 of 555

Review of the American Colony Collection

Rubén Gómez of Bible Software Review published a review of the latest photo collection from BiblePlaces.com / LifeintheHolyLand.com. Here is his conclusion:

I cannot overemphasize what a great deal The American Colony and Eric Matson Collection is. And if you happen to teach the Bible, you will find numerous illustrations that will take your teaching to a new level. The pictures, the people depicted, the atmosphere that surrounds them, the interesting and well-researched notes, all add to a truly valuable learning experience. Get this set and see for yourself what the Land of the Bible looked like. You will not be disappointed.
After having visited Israel just a few months ago (and taken a good number of pictures and personal notes!), this DVD set helped me appreciate even more some of the many details this fascinating land has to offer.

You can read the full review, with illustrations, here.

Let us know if you’re interested in reviewing this collection for a journal, magazine, or website.

Tagged American Colony Photos

The Latest at Biblical Studies and Tech Tools

If you haven’t checked his blog lately, Mark G. V. Hoffman has several helpful posts at Biblical Studies and Technological Tools.

You might start with 2009 Review of Biblical Studies and Tech Tools. I’d like to see a certain new collection of photos included in that list, but I suppose that it’s just a tad bit outside the realm of materials considered. Then take a look at Looking Ahead in 2010, where he considers the future with regard to mobile devices, the cloud, as well as the major software options. Separately, he has written the first part of a review of Glo.

I certainly appreciate all the work that Mark puts into his blog and websites in helping the rest of us to make the most of the resources available.

Tagged Resources

Qeiyafa Ostracon Update

There was some news this month regarding the Qeiyafa Ostracon. I previously posted the new reading by Gershon Galil. That was criticized by some, including Christopher Rollston who has some good thoughts on his blog. The Khirbet Qeiyafa team has attacked Galil in an open letter for ethical concerns as well as problems of scholarship and “scientific methodology.”

Gordon Govier interviewed a number of scholars about the ostracon in an article for Christianity Today. Govier also interviewed Seth Sanders and Chris Rollston for the radio program, The Book and the Spade (also online temporarily as #1210 and #1211).

The Mormon Times has an article that summarizes the latest, with input from BYU professor Jeffrey R. Chadwick.

The Khirbet Qeiyafa website has been updated with new photographs and drawings of the ostracon (and page two here).

An article has just been published (and posted online in pdf format) in PalArch’s Journal of Archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology by Gregory Bearman & William A. Christens-Barry entitled “Spectral Imaging of Ostraca.” The article includes several photos of the Qeiyafa Ostracon.

Tagged Shephelah

Thursday Roundup

I continue to catch up on stories from earlier this month.

A building from the Neolithic period has been discovered in Tel Aviv.

Scholars in the British Museum discovered a couple of fragments similar to the Cyrus Cylinder in their collection. Iran is upset that this will delay the promised loan of the artifact.

Abu Gosh decided it wanted to take the world record for the largest hummus dish ever made. I drove by the restaurant a day after the big event and thus missed the opportunity to sample part of the 8,000 pounds of hummus, but I did see the satellite receiver in which the dish was served.

If you’re looking for a more academic trip of Turkey, I’d recommend this BAS tour led by Mark Wilson.

The sad state of the “Sanhedrin Tombs” in Jerusalem is reported in an article in Haaretz.

Two-Columned Tomb in Sanhedria neighborhood of Jerusalem

HT: Joe Lauer

Tagged Weekend Roundup

Jaffa Gate Excavations

One of the items on my list for this blog was some new photos of the renovations at Jaffa Gate. Tom Powers has beat me to it, however, and done a much better job. He has a number of high-resolution photographs, along with explanations of what you’re seeing (as best as can be determined by an outsider). I have heard through the grapevine that the archaeologists uncovered both ancient and modern aqueducts as well. This makes sense given the location of Jaffa Gate and the nearby presence of the Towers/Hezekiah’s Pool.

Read the post on his Tom’s new blog and subscribe to future posts using the RSS feed.

Jaffa Gate area with excavations underway
Photo taken January 3, 2010

Tagged Jerusalem

360 Degree Views in Jerusalem

360 degree views in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher – if you didn’t want to stand in the long line to enter the tomb, this gives you a perfect view without the crowds, noise, or fragrances.

360 degree views in the Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa Mosque – if you’re not Muslim, you can’t stand in a line long enough. One other 360 degree view is the Western Wall, but these photos are less unique. The entry point to all three sites is here.

Line to enter tomb at Church of Holy Sepulcher, earlier this month. One tour guide estimated the wait time to be two hours.

Tagged Jerusalem, Tourism