Tag Archives: ancient Near East

First Temple Period Ivory (Ornament)

Posted on September 12, 2022 by zjb

Recent lovely little finds from the First Temple Period (8th or 7th C. BCE) are made out of ivory. These materiele suggests something about luxury and decoration, the power and influence of ancient Judea, at the time a vassal to … Continue reading →

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(Rich Crimson Purple) The Color of Power in the Bible (אַרְגָּמָן)

Posted on February 1, 2021 by zjb

The Hebrew Bible is full of vital color, no more prominently than in the description of the Mishkan, or Tabernacle dwelling, in the book of Exodus.  Some of that color might look like these textile remains described here at Haaretz. … Continue reading →

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Judean Pillar Figurines (Probably not a Goddess)

Posted on December 1, 2020 by zjb

Excellent article here at Haaretz about Judean Pillar Figurines, thousands of which have been dug up in Jerusalem and its surroundings from the First Temple Period. The author makes reference to scholarship and speculation by Carol Meyers and Erin Darby … Continue reading →

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(Striking Gods & Other Objects) Canaanite Temple Remains (Lachish)

Posted on February 18, 2020 by zjb

Sharing and saving for students these images from this article in Ha’aretz of diminutive temple remains, including two tough little striking gods. They were dug up in central Israel at Lachish, an important Canaanite town-city circa 1800 B.C.E.. From the … Continue reading →

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(Diminutive) Ancient Judahite Art (Tel Motza Temple)

Posted on February 4, 2020 by zjb

Not gods or god-like are these diminutive little figures from the Tel Motza temple site in the Judean Hills, in close proximity to Jerusalem. One can only speculate if similar figures were on hand at the Jerusalem temple site during … Continue reading →

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The Priestly Blessing is Weird and Most Impressive (Hertz Pentateuch)

Posted on August 2, 2019 by zjb

As I continue to scroll through the Hertz Pentateuch in search of wayward things and other points of interest that tell us something about the HP and its time and place, I found this odd and unexpected thing. It’s his … Continue reading →

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(About Death) Thinking (Canaanite Figurine)

Posted on November 24, 2016 by zjb

What’s on this Canaanite fellow’s mind? The main body of the decorative figurine is formed out of the neck of a Bronze Age pottery jug, to which the arms, legs, and head were added. He’s almost 4,000 years old, uncovered at … Continue reading →

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Watching Block Statue (Ancient Egypt Middle Kingdom)

Posted on February 1, 2016 by zjb

In the Christian west, devotion tends to be identified with the erect figure of the orant who extends his or arms towards the heavens in an act of supplication. Compare in contrast this fellow from ancient Egypt, Middle Kinddom. With its … Continue reading →

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Fishing & Duck Hunt (Ancient Egypt Middle Kingdom)

Posted on January 30, 2016 by zjb

Another little vignette of daily life in Middle Kingdom ancient Egypt. Again, to get a good sense of the liveliness of this scene, you need to zoom into the action on this smart model sporting boat. Unlike so much ancient … Continue reading →

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Life and Death at Work in Ancient Egypt (Middle Kingdom)

Posted on January 28, 2016 by zjb

No god-like king with his calm and arrogant gaze presides over the busy and buzzing little scene of daily life at work in this Middle Kingdom ancient Egyptian slaughter house. A bird’s eye view gives a good sense of the whole, … Continue reading →

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