Current Events Articles: November 2018

First Temple-Era Stone Weight Unearthed in Jerusalem posted by Bryan Windle

A small stone weight which was once used to measure the half-shekel temple tax during the First Temple period has been unearthed in Jerusalem. The weight was found at the City of David's wet-sifting project in the Emek Tzurim National Park amidst the rubble taken from the 2013 excavations under Robinson's Arch. Exodus 38:26 mentions the "beka" in regard to the weight of silver brought by the Israelites for the maintenance of the temple: "A beka a head (that is, half a shekel, by the shekel of the sanctuary), for everyone who was listed in the records, from twenty years old and upward, for 603,550 men." Archaeologist Eli Shukron explained, "When the half-shekel tax was brought to the Temple during the First Temple period, there were no coins, so they used silver ingots. In order to calculate the weight of these silver pieces they would put them on one side of the scales and on the other side they placed the Beka weight. The Beka was equivalent to the half-shekel, which every person from the age of 20 years and up was required to bring to the Temple." This particular stone weight is extremely rare, as it is the only one yet discovered that has the word "beka" inscribed in ancient Hebrew script in reverse. Scholars hypothesize that it was inscribed by someone who was used to making seals, which are also inscribed in reverse. The fact that the "beka" was discovered in dirt taken from next to the foundations of the Temple Mount confirms what is known biblically and historically about payments at the Jewish Temple.

Off-site Links:

- https://www.timesofisrael.com/straight-from-the-bible-tiny-first-temple-stone-weight-unearthed-in-jerusalem/
- https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Half-shekel-from-First-Temple-era-unearthed-near-City-of-David-572423
- https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/MAGAZINE-second-first-temple-weight-this-one-with-mirror-writing-found-in-jerusalem-sifting-1.6676037

Early Depiction of Jesus Discovered in Byzantine Church in Negev posted by Bryan Windle

In a recent article in the journal Antiquity, scholars revealed their discovery of what they believe is an early depiction of Jesus. The image was found in the baptistery apse of a sixth century AD church located in the ancient village of Shivta in the Negev Desert. While it is fragmented, the depiction is of a young man's face, with short, curly hair, large eyes, and an elongated nose. Art historians recognize it as an early style of short-haired pictures of Christ that were popular in Egypt and Syro-Palestine. Remains of paint found in the apse suggest that the face was part of a bigger scene which may have contained other images. The article's authors conclude: "Thus far, it is the only in situ baptism-of-Christ scene to date confidently to the pre-iconoclastic Holy Land. Therefore, it can illuminate Byzantine Shivta's Christian community and Early Christian art across the region."

Off-site Links:

- https://www.timesofisrael.com/jesus-image-hidden-in-plain-sight-at-negev-church-is-one-of-earliest-in-israel/
- https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/117035/earliest-depictions-jesus-byzantine/
- https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/christs-face-revealed-at-shivta-an-early-byzantine-wall-painting-in-the-desert-of-the-holy-land/1D3584D4866168E6764035D5DE740781/

Ramp Used to Move Quarry Stones Discovered in Egypt posted by Bryan Windle

Archaeologists working at the ancient Hatnub Quarry in the Eastern Desert of Egypt have discovered a ramp system that was used to move the large alabaster stone blocks. A central ramp was unearthed with a set of stairs on each side containing post holes. The Egyptians used a sled which was attached by ropes to the wooden poles to carry the quarried stones. These ropes would have acted as a "force multiplier" making it easier to pull the sled and stone blocks up the steep 20% slopes. Researchers have also been studying the multiple inscriptions at the site and have discovered at least two that mention Pharaoh Khufu. This has led them to date the ramp system to at least the Fourth Dynasty in Egyptian history, and suggest that it may have been used in the construction of the Great Pyramid in Giza. Comparing conventional Egyptian chronology with biblical chronology, Pharaoh Khufu's reign in Egypt predated Abraham.

Off-site Links:
- http://luxortimesmagazine.blogspot.com/2018/10/discovered-how-ancient-egyptians-moved.html
- https://www.livescience.com/63978-great-pyramid-ramp-discovered.html

Intact Greco-Roman Statues Unearthed at Biblical Gerasa posted by Bryan Windle

The Department of Antiquities at Jerash (biblical Gerasa) recently unveiled some of the statues that have been unearthed over the past three years by French archaeologists. To date 27 statues of Greco-Roman gods have been discovered, including a colossal figure of Aphrodite, a statue of Zeus, and images of the Nine Muses sitting on their thrones. The statues were all discovered in a monumental bath complex dating to the second century AD. The statue of Aphrodite is made of Pentelic marble from Athens, and includes an inscription that indicates it was donated by a local priest named Demetrios and dedicated on March 20, 154 AD. Some of the statues are currently on display at the Visitor Center of Jerash. It was in this predominately Gentile area around Jaresh/Gerasa that Jesus healed the demon-possessed man who lived among the tombs (Mark 5/Luke 8).

Off-site Links:
- http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/unearthed-graeco-roman-statues-unveiled-jerash
- https://www.archaeology.org/news/7012-181004-jerash-roman-sculptures
- http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/nations/jordan/2018/10/04/archaeology-rare-roman-sculptures-discovered-in-jerash_1b2e14b1-5af7-43ce-afbe-3c18e470e034.html

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