Archaeological News

[Michael Eastes]

 

Mr Yahweh used to have a Mrs. Yahweh.

 

 

Another inscription, found at the site of Kuntillet Arjud, is dedicated to, ““YHWH and his ASHERA”. Such practices continued into the late Iron Age of the Land of Israel (10th–6th centuries BC), according to Fridman.

 

Professor Francesca Stavrakopoulou of the University of Exeter said, “There is increasing evidence that the ancient Israelites worshipped a number of gods alongside their ‘national’ patron deity, Yahweh. The goddess Asherah was among these deities.

 

Check your Bible, and you'll see that ancient Hebrews had a tendency to slip, back and forth, in and out of paganism of various flavours. It's one of the reasons that YHWH sent Assyrians, Babylonians, and similar, as a sharp reminder to avoid such things.

[DADI]

 

 

Recent finding in the Holy Land..

 

A short video in Hebrew describing the new find - from today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50yQwAtBNz4&feature=youtu.be

 

It seems that Michael Eastes and Co. have been walking on nothing less than treasure:

 

A Gold Torah decoration hidden in a bag, dated Byzantine era aprox' 7th century AC..

Including a Menorah, a small Shofar and a very rare decoration of a small Torah..

 

The decoration found hidden in the ground, in the Ophel garden, just south of the Temple mount:

 

The complete decoration bag was under another harmed bag that had some 36 gold coins

 

 

Coin dates spread along some about 250 years, from the days of Emperor Constantine II in the middle of the fourth century, to the days of the Emperor Mauritius who ruled until 602 AD.

Researchers believe that the treasure was brought to Jerusalem by Jewish community representatives, probably from abroad, who came to the city after it was conquered by the Persians in 614 AD. Persians promised the Jews that they could return to rebuild Jerusalem As a Jewish city and therefore aroused great expectations, especially after hundreds of years that Jews were forbidden to settle in the city.

Shortly after, the persians weakened, and broke the promise by allowing the Christians to persecute and expel the Jews from the city.

The treasure was abandoned by those Jews who were surprised by the Persian betrayal and had to flee the city.

 

Where is that in relation to the City of David dig that we participated in ( briefly ) in 2011?

 

Your site is on the bottom left... Just left of the road close to the parked cars..

[DADI]

 

 

Mr Yahweh used to have a Mrs. Yahweh.

 

 

Another inscription, found at the site of Kuntillet Arjud, is dedicated to, ““YHWH and his ASHERA”. Such practices continued into the late Iron Age of the Land of Israel (10th–6th centuries BC), according to Fridman.

 

Professor Francesca Stavrakopoulou of the University of Exeter said, “There is increasing evidence that the ancient Israelites worshipped a number of gods alongside their ‘national’ patron deity, Yahweh. The goddess Asherah was among these deities.

 

Check your Bible, and you'll see that ancient Hebrews had a tendency to slip, back and forth, in and out of paganism of various flavours. It's one of the reasons that YHWH sent Assyrians, Babylonians, and similar, as a sharp reminder to avoid such things.

 

Used to drive the prophets crazy...

[mnm]

But it gave them purpose

 

Look, what's that big round golden thing in that photo above, with a kind of a little brother beside? Has anyone tried to ding under there recently?

[T19]

But it gave them purpose

 

Look, what's that big round golden thing in that photo above, with a kind of a little brother beside? Has anyone tried to ding under there recently?

I understand there is a demolition permit awaiting signature

[Corinthian]

Has there been a computer reconstruction of what Mt Zion looks like before Jerusalem was built on it? ISTR seeing pix of the summit of Mt Zion underneath that mosque. Would be really interested as to why Zion is particularly a special place. Some mountains are like that because of its shape or height or because of the view from the summit.

[DADI]

Has there been a computer reconstruction of what Mt Zion looks like before Jerusalem was built on it? ISTR seeing pix of the summit of Mt Zion underneath that mosque. Would be really interested as to why Zion is particularly a special place. Some mountains are like that because of its shape or height or because of the view from the summit.

It's not a Mosque..

 

 

It's the Dome of the Rock built over the stone that was in the Temple "Holy of Holies"...

[DADI]

Has there been a computer reconstruction of what Mt Zion looks like before Jerusalem was built on it? ISTR seeing pix of the summit of Mt Zion underneath that mosque. Would be really interested as to why Zion is particularly a special place. Some mountains are like that because of its shape or height or because of the view from the summit.

 

Mount Moriah (Mount Zion is actually to the south west from there - on the left in the pic' below) has that stone on top.

Other than that,it is surrounded closely by higher mountains...

What's so special about it? God knows....

 

 

This scheme of David's city, before Solomon built the first Temple...

The Temple Mount, Moriah.. Is that hill just behind those two towers on the far side..

 

This picture is looking from south to north.

So, when written in the Bible that evil will come from the north.. easy to see why.

Edited October 8, 2013 by DADI

[mnm]

A surprising sight, a fortified place in a hollow beteween elevations. I had no idea, thank you.

[Mobius]

The complete decoration bag was under another harmed bag that had some 36 gold coins

 

 

Coin dates spread along some about 250 years, from the days of Emperor Constantine II in the middle of the fourth century, to the days of the Emperor Mauritius who ruled until 602 AD.

Researchers believe that the treasure was brought to Jerusalem by Jewish community representatives, probably from abroad, who came to the city after it was conquered by the Persians in 614 AD. Persians promised the Jews that they could return to rebuild Jerusalem As a Jewish city and therefore aroused great expectations, especially after hundreds of years that Jews were forbidden to settle in the city.

Shortly after, the persians weakened, and broke the promise by allowing the Christians to persecute and expel the Jews from the city.

The treasure was abandoned by those Jews who were surprised by the Persian betrayal and had to flee the city.

 

614 AD? Didn't they do that before?

Edited October 8, 2013 by Mobius

[Corinthian]

Thanks DADI. Indeed, that is a most interesting pic. I've always figured that cities like Jerusalem sprouted as forts in strategic areas, guarding passes, maybe started out as small villages to guard a pass to greener pastures and such. From there, religious significance took off, starting with an altar perhaps as a sort of "toll fee" for foreigners i.e. not-of-the-same-tribe people wanting to go through a pass for the pastures etc etc.

 

Another thing that fascinates me is the rock itself. The Kaaba is another temple built around a rock - theory has it it's a meteorite. ISTR that rocks have been the object of worship in other parts of the world, either due to their size, shape, physical properties, or origin (for early man, watching a fireball cross the sky then crash onto Earth, with a sizable smoldering piece of stone would have evoked superstition and other feelings).

[T19]

Other feelings? Like holy crap that was cool

[Ivanhoe]

Thanks DADI. Indeed, that is a most interesting pic. I've always figured that cities like Jerusalem sprouted as forts in strategic areas, guarding passes, maybe started out as small villages to guard a pass to greener pastures and such. From there, religious significance took off, starting with an altar perhaps as a sort of "toll fee" for foreigners i.e. not-of-the-same-tribe people wanting to go through a pass for the pastures etc etc.

 

Remember that Jerusalem has its own water wells, a rather important strategic thing in that neck o' the woods.

 

Cities can also spring up around mines; not strategic, but economic. And then there's Washington DC, sited in the hope that malaria would keep government small.

[Corinthian]

 

Thanks DADI. Indeed, that is a most interesting pic. I've always figured that cities like Jerusalem sprouted as forts in strategic areas, guarding passes, maybe started out as small villages to guard a pass to greener pastures and such. From there, religious significance took off, starting with an altar perhaps as a sort of "toll fee" for foreigners i.e. not-of-the-same-tribe people wanting to go through a pass for the pastures etc etc.

 

Remember that Jerusalem has its own water wells, a rather important strategic thing in that neck o' the woods.

 

 

Yeah, I forgot to mention the water bit also.

 

I reckon during the earlier times of Jerusalem, the place was somewhat forested...? Thems depictions of the MidEast being either sandy or near barren run counter to its being a "Land of Milk and Honey." Like in that pic of early Jerusalem DADI posted. Looked like bare hills, with nary a tree in sight. If not trees, grazing/grassy area?

 

Anyhow, always fascinated as to how things looked like before large scale urban sprawl.

[Colin]

A surprising sight, a fortified place in a hollow beteween elevations. I had no idea, thank you.

Likely water was present there

[Marcello]

A surprising sight, a fortified place in a hollow beteween elevations. I had no idea, thank you.

 

No long range siege weapons back then. By the looks of it it does actually command or is about on the same level of most of the terrain surrounding the walls. Perhaps some fancy long range bow shots might be attempted from some of the closer slopes but without 3D and a good idea of what was possible back then I would not know.

Edited October 9, 2013 by Marcello

[X-Files]

Does this map from 1418 prove historian's controversial claim that the New World was discovered by the CHINESE 70 years before Columbus?

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2449265/Who-Discovered-America--Controversial-historian-Gavin-Menzies-claims-Chinese-reached-New-World-first.html#ixzz2hESoPSmD

 

[Corinthian]

 

Does this map from 1418 prove historian's controversial claim that the New World was discovered by the CHINESE 70 years before Columbus?

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2449265/Who-Discovered-America--Controversial-historian-Gavin-Menzies-claims-Chinese-reached-New-World-first.html#ixzz2hESoPSmD

 

 

 

Does that mean it should now be called Amelica?

[MiloMorai]

 

Does this map from 1418 prove historian's controversial claim that the New World was discovered by the CHINESE 70 years before Columbus?

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2449265/Who-Discovered-America--Controversial-historian-Gavin-Menzies-claims-Chinese-reached-New-World-first.html#ixzz2hESoPSmD

 

 

 

And a few centuries after the Norse.

[DADI]

 

 

Thanks DADI. Indeed, that is a most interesting pic. I've always figured that cities like Jerusalem sprouted as forts in strategic areas, guarding passes, maybe started out as small villages to guard a pass to greener pastures and such. From there, religious significance took off, starting with an altar perhaps as a sort of "toll fee" for foreigners i.e. not-of-the-same-tribe people wanting to go through a pass for the pastures etc etc.

 

Remember that Jerusalem has its own water wells, a rather important strategic thing in that neck o' the woods.

 

 

Yeah, I forgot to mention the water bit also.

 

I reckon during the earlier times of Jerusalem, the place was somewhat forested...? Thems depictions of the MidEast being either sandy or near barren run counter to its being a "Land of Milk and Honey." Like in that pic of early Jerusalem DADI posted. Looked like bare hills, with nary a tree in sight. If not trees, grazing/grassy area?

 

 

 

David's city rain water gathering system still works - as well as the main springs mentioned in the bible.

Michael Eastes's co. walked a 45 minute walk in the dark tunnel of the Siloam - ice cold fresh water flowing knee high..

 

 

Another huge water depot found there.. http://www.tank-net.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=33820&p=1036999

 

The view from Olive Mount west to Jerusalem or east, to the Judea desert, the Dead Sea and Moab mountains is breath taking.

When Second Temple pilgrims came, they gathered on the mountains over looking the temple.

But then, came down to a huge pool on the lowest side of the city, and after cleaning them selves, walked up the stairs to the Temple Mount.

Those stairs - are there to walk on, amazingly built - two steps, and a pause to look up, two steps and a pause...

The break in the stairs was done by Roman soldiers to pull out Jews hiding in the sewer during the Jewish mutiny 70AC.

6000 people were killed in those tunnels - new evidence are found every day.

 

You can find out some more at http://www.cityofdavid.org.il/en

Edited October 11, 2013 by DADI

[Mobius]

 

Does this map from 1418 prove historian's controversial claim that the New World was discovered by the CHINESE 70 years before Columbus?

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2449265/Who-Discovered-America--Controversial-historian-Gavin-Menzies-claims-Chinese-reached-New-World-first.html#ixzz2hESoPSmD

 

 

Something about that map just doesn't add up.

[sunday]

Googled a bit and seems the Gihon Spring was one of the main reasons for building the city there. It's one of the biggest intermittent springs in the world.

Edited October 11, 2013 by sunday

[Colin]

A Roman bathhouse still in use after 2,000 years

 

Roman ruins are rarely boisterous places, full of noise, laughter and life. But Edward Lewis stumbled across one that is - a place to have a daily wash, and to enjoy the companionship of friends, just as it was for the Romans who built it.

Observing middle-aged men swathed in white foamy soapsuds is not something I would normally write home about and it certainly wasn't why I was in north-east Algeria.

I had come to look at the Roman baths in Khenchela and had overlooked the fact that for many of the local population the attraction was not the ancient architecture or remarkable state of preservation but the fact there was a free and plentiful supply of hot water - still feeding into two open air baths.

Fully clothed and with no towel in sight, the stares and hush that followed me as I walked around the water's edge began to make me wonder if my visit was entirely appropriate.

As with many such situations, I needn't have worried. Algeria is no exception to the humbling levels of warmth and generosity that strangers are afforded in this part of the world and within minutes of trying to talk in my best French - or, even less comprehensible there - my best Egyptian Arabic, I was surrounded by a group of men in swimming shorts eager to answer my queries about the baths and their history.

We were standing next to the smaller bath, its circular rim beautifully shaped by large white blocks of stone worn smooth over centuries of use. Complete with a ledge on which to sit, it resembled a sort of ancient hot tub.

"The Romans built them, before Jesus," shouted one man, shampoo bottle in hand. Another piped up: "But they were damaged in an earthquake and that's when the Ottomans came and repaired it."

Indeed there had been an earthquake in the 14th Century. Even if their dates were a little out, you couldn't fault their enthusiasm and glowing pride.

The daily ritual of public bathing is still clearly alive and well in Khenchela.

In fact, as I stepped over the stretched legs and passed reclined bodies dangling their legs in the sea-green water, I got the impression nothing had really changed since the baths were constructed in the first century AD. Only the more recent Ottoman brickwork, the newly constructed changing room doors and the numerous brightly coloured plastic buckets gave the game away.

The important social function of a bathhouse has also been retained - family issues are discussed and resolved and jokes and stories are told to echoing laughter and the sound of a slapped thigh, back or hand.

Sport is heatedly debated, politics perhaps less so in this country - suspicion of who is hearing what remains a hangover from the civil war when careless talk cost lives. Few have the stomach or wish to risk more conflict - one of many plausible explanations as to why the Arab Spring went largely unnoticed in Algeria.

Aside from this striking continuity, what makes Khenchela stand out from many other historical sites in Algeria is the fact that despite being amongst the smallest, and certainly lesser known, it is one of the few places where you can easily interact with the local people.

In the days preceding my visit I had wandered some of the country's most prominent Roman ruins:

• Tipasa, a beautiful seaside town on the shores of the Mediterranean once famous for its fish paste
• Timgad, a perfect example of Roman town planning that was once home to 15,000 people.

And then my personal favourite:

• Djemela (meaning "beautiful" in Arabic) - nestled in a lush valley with a market square that looks like it ceased to be used only last century.

Yet in all of these places I didn't get the chance to speak to anyone - indeed in the Roman Army garrison of Lambesis my only other companion was a Jaribu stork that had made its impressive nest on top of the triumphal arch.

In Khenchela I said my goodbyes and had a few last knowing laughs with my semi-naked hosts, the younger ones by now reeling off every English footballer they could think of in a bid to impress.

"Have you been to Khemissa?" One of the older men asked.

"No," I replied, genuinely not knowing where he meant or what was there.

"Oh, but you must. The best preserved Roman amphitheatre in the country - djemela, beautiful!"

I checked my guidebook. There was no mention of Khemissa,. My towelled friend placed his damp finger on the map where three dots indicated a site of historic interest, one of dozens scattered all over the country. I got in the car and prepared myself for another solitary visit - already grateful for my bath encounter.

From Our Own Correspondent: Listen online or download the podcast.

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Edited October 13, 2013 by Colin

[X-Files]

The tragic tale of George Smith and Gilgamesh In 1873, the Telegraph funded a groundbreaking expedition. Now, a new book by Vybarr Cregan-Reid tells the story of what happened when George Smith rediscovered The Epic of Gilgamesh.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/10321147/The-tragic-tale-of-George-Smith-and-Gilgamesh.html

[X-Files]

Loc-Nar

http://popular-archaeology.com/issue/june-2013/article/brooch-of-tutankhamun-holds-evidence-of-ancient-comet