Current Events Articles: August 2017

A donation of 75 gold coins from Giovanna Adda Coen to Jerusalem's Israel Museum has more than doubled the number of gold coins on display in Israel. The coins were part of Victor A. Adda's famed collection, which numbered over 1000 by the time of his death, and were left to his four daughters. The new exhibit at the Israel Museum, called "Faces of Power," includes the images of 40 Roman emperors as well as the portraits of 13 women who were part of the imperial family. The coins span 300 years of history, from the end of the first century AD to the beginning of the fourth century AD, and give a rare glimpse into the world of those who ruled the Roman Empire. The curators of the museum have grouped them both chronologically and thematically, with titles such as "Forever Young," "The Senator," "The Philosopher," and "Usurpers." The donated coins are insured for $7.5 million and are able to be seen by the general public for the first time.

Off-site Links:
- http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-museum-coin-exhibit-shows-a-daughters-love-is-worth-more-than-gold/
- http://www.imj.org.il/en/exhibitions/faces-power

Archaeologists excavating at Tel Burna, identified as biblical Libnah, have unearthed more artifacts that identify a large Canaanite-era building with cultic activities. The 50-foot-long building with a large courtyard was first uncovered in 2009. Since then, the discovered artifacts indicate that the site was used for pagan cultic activity. Discoveries this year include a massebah (a stone pillar used for worship and memorials) possibly representing a deity, as well as other objects associated with cultic practice such as goblets, chalices, figurines, zoomorphic vessels and two ceramic masks. Excavators are not yet calling the building a temple; they do, however, believe that the concentration of cultic objects indicates that the courtyard of the building was used for pagan worship and not daily activities. Libnah was one of the cities that Joshua conquered (Jos 10:29-30) and was later given to the descendants of Aaron (1 Chr 6:57).

Off-site Links:
- http://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/1.808353
- http://www.archaeology.org/news/5860-170822-israel-ritual-canaanite-site

Excavations at Carchemish have uncovered 250 bullae (impression seals) from the Hittite kingdom. Archaeologists report that among the bullae, more than 110 of them have inscriptions that are decipherable, and that these identify more than 10 Hittite state officials. Excavations led by the Turks and Italians have been ongoing at the site since 2001, but the discovery of inscriptions dating to the second half of the early Bronze Age only began this year. Carchemish was one of the most important cities in the ancient Hittite empire and the site of an important battle between the Egyptians and Babylonians that is mentioned in the Bible (Jer. 46:2; 2 Chr. 35:20). Much of the confusion surrounding the biblical Hittites has been cleared up by Dr. Bryant Wood in his article examining Scriptures concerning the terms Hittite and Hethite (link below).

Off-site Links:
- http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/impression-seals-to-illuminate-hittite-administration.aspx?pageID=238&nID=116395&NewsCatID=375

Dr. Wood's article on Hittites/Hethites:
- http://www.biblearchaeology.org/post/2011/11/08/Hittites-and-Hethites-A-Proposed-Solution-to-an-Etymological-Conundrum.aspx

For years the site of NT Bethsaida has been a matter of debate, with at least three different sites contending for the honor. Et-Tell has been the frontrunner despite the numerous problems with this identification, including its distance from the Sea of Galilee, its elevation from the ancient level of the lake, and the lack of remains from the first century. Excavators at a competing site, el-Araj, have just announced that they believe they have identified the ancient city of Julias. Josephus writes that Herod Philip expanded the village of Bethsaida to create the Roman polis of Julias. The site is on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, in the Bethsaida Valley Nature Reserve. Archaeologists found a layer of Roman-era remains beneath the Byzantine level, which contained pottery sherds and coins dating from the first to third centuries AD. In addition, the remains of a Roman-style bathhouse were uncovered. Evidence was also discovered that this site, previously thought to be under water during the NT era, was actually near the shore and that the ancient sea level was 6 ft lower than most had believed. If further excavations confirm these findings, it may be that the site of Bethsaida/Julias – home to Peter, Andrew and Philip (John 1:44, 12:21) – may have finally been found.

Off-site Links about These Findings:
- http://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/1.805402
- http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/New-evidence-of-Lost-City-of-Julias-unearthed-near-Sea-of-Galilee-501701
- http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4999227,00.html
 
Links about the Identification of Bethsaida:
- http://www.biblearchaeology.org/post/2012/09/14/Text-and-Tell-The-Excavations-at-Bethsaida.aspx
- http://www.biblearchaeology.org/post/2007/08/15/Three-Woes!.aspx
- http://www.bibleplaces.com/bethsaida/

Excavations at the Jerusalem Walls National Park have uncovered evidence of the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in 587 BC. Archaeologists discovered significant burn layers in the buildings that were outside the city walls on the eastern border of the city at that time. Numerous artifacts were unearthed within the collapsed rooms, including an ivory statue of a woman and several smashed pottery jars, one with a rosette seal dating to just before the fall of the First Temple. The rosette replaced the "For The King" seal used during previous administrations in Judea. The Fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonian forces of King Nebuchadnezzar is described in the Bible in 2 Kings 25.

Off-site Links:
- http://www.antiquities.org.il/article_eng.aspx?sec_id=25&subj_id=240
- http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Evidence-of-Babylonian-destruction-of-Jerusalem-unearthed-in-City-of-David-500786
- http://www.timesofisrael.com/new-jerusalem-finds-shore-up-biblical-account-of-babylonian-conquest/