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New findings have overturned existing notions regarding the abandonment of ancient Beit Shemesh once the First Temple was destroyed and are part of a new exhibit about the tensions between conservation and new construction projects. A new exhibit, called "Highway through History," at the Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem explores the site's findings and public debate about the tension between modernity and conserving archaeological findings. The uncovering of new Iron Age artifacts in Beit Shemesh in the middle of a new highway construction have prompted changes in the project so as not to damage the ancient site. A stone figurine of the god Bes was among the important finds at a rescue excavation as the new Route 38 is being built. After King Sennachrib of Assyria destroyed the ancient city of Beit Shemesh in 701 BCE, many scholars thought the city was deserted in the following generations. However, during the rescue excavation, jars and tools related to olive oil production were found at the site which may indicate that activity returned to Beit Shemesh earlier than previously thought. The stone dwarf Bes figurine also indicates the potential presence of Egyptian influence at the site. Bes, originally a Nubian deity imported and incorporated into the religious life of ancient Egypt, was also recently discovered in the City of David, where a Persian Bes vessel was recently found. A popular god, figurines of Bes have been found in locations even as far as Cyprus.
While pottery from this time period had been previously exposed in the City of David, “this is the first time that such a vessel has been found in excavations in Jerusalem” or anywhere in the region, according to Prof. Yuval Gadot of Tel Aviv University and Dr. Yiftah Shalev of the authority. Biblical accounts assert that Jerusalem, and particularly the area today known as the City of David, was rebuilt at the beginning of the Persian period after the Babylonians had destroyed and deserted the city for decades. It is supposed by some scholars that during the Persian period, Jerusalem resurged as a capital of the newly established province of Yehud, from 586 BCE until the late fifth century BCE. However, few archaeological finds from the Persian period in Jerusalem have been discovered by archaeologists.
The few finds that have been discovered through excavations include more pottery sherds (a form of pottery fragments), coins and stamp impressions, and most have been found in the City of David area. The type of jar the sherd belongs to is called a Bes vessel, a jar type that was common during the Persian period, and is originally from Egyptian mythology. Bes was the protector deity of households and domestic issues, as well as mothers, children and childbirth in general. Such Bes vessels from the Persian period have been likewise discovered in other regions, such as Tel el-Hesi, an ancient site south of modern-day Kiryat Gat. Bes later became a god affiliated with music and dancing, and his image was used to decorate walls of houses and various vessels, or worn as an amulet around the neck. His image is depicted as a bearded dwarf with a large face, protruding eyes and a tongue sticking out, and wearing a feather hat. The image of Bes is intended to illicit joy and to drive away evil spirits with his absurd appearance. Bes images have been found in cities such as Shushan and Persepolis, and were spread to other settlements in the Persian Empire outside of Persia itself.
-------------------- It's not my burden to disabuse the ignorant of their wrong opinions Posts: 2699 | From: New York | Registered: Jun 2015
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I wonder how long this "new finding" has been pending?
Posts: 22234 | From: האם אינכם כילדי הכרית אלי בני ישראל | Registered: Nov 2010
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-------------------- It's not my burden to disabuse the ignorant of their wrong opinions Posts: 2699 | From: New York | Registered: Jun 2015
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Rare ‘smiting gods’ among artifacts found at 12th century BCE Canaanite temple Once-in-a-career Bronze Age findings from Lachish described as ‘breathtaking’ by archaeologist Yosef Garfinkel, who published a comprehensive report on 2013-2017 excavations
A pair of smiting gods and other rare ritual artifacts are among the fascinating discoveries described in a recently published comprehensive report of the 2013-2017 excavations of the archaeology-rich Lachish site. The report digs deep into 12th century BCE Canaanite worship practices, from the modest temple structure, to ritual items discovered inside.
“This excavation has been breathtaking,” said lead archaeologist Professor Yosef Garfinkel at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Institute of Archaeology in a press release on Monday. The excavation report, “The Level VI North-East Temple at Tel Lachish,” was recently published in the academic journal Levant: The Journal of the Council for British Research in the Levant.
Only once every 30 or 40 years do we get the chance to excavate a Canaanite temple in Israel. What we found sheds new light on ancient life in the region. It would be hard to overstate the importance of these findings,” said Garfinkel, who led the excavation along with Professor Michael Hasel of Southern Adventist University in Tennessee.
During the middle and late Bronze Ages, the people of Lachish controlled large parts of the Judean lowlands and the city was among the foremost Canaanite cities in the Land of Israel. Mentioned in the Bible, Lachish was built around 1800 BCE and later destroyed by the Egyptians around 1550 BCE. The city rose and fell twice more, “succumbing for good around 1150 BCE,” according to the press release.
The 12th century BCE Canaanite temple, while not a massive compound, is a once-in-a-lifetime find for archaeologists. The Levant article writes that, “in comparison to the plan of other temples of the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age I, the North-East Temple of Lachish is modest in its dimensions and can be defined as medium-sized.” In addition to the standing stones, the press release lists a plethora of other ritual items that were discovered, such as “bronze cauldrons, jewelry inspired by the ancient Egyptian goddess Hathor, daggers and axe-heads adorned with bird images, scarabs, and a gold-plated bottle inscribed with the name Ramses II, one of Egypt’s most powerful pharaohs.” Perhaps the most fascinating finds are a pair of smiting gods, which were discovered inside the temple’s inner sanctum, comparable to the Jerusalem Solomonic Temple’s “Holy of Holies.” Labeled Room H in the article, it “is located in the innermost part of the structure and on its central axis, directly opposite the main entrance.” Smiting gods are found in the Levant in temples from the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age I. The authors write that the figurines are commonly identified with two Canaanite gods, Baal or Resheph, who are both known as war gods, “although it is impossible to identify our figurines with either due to the lack of clear attributes.”
A pair of smiting gods uncovered at a 12th century BCE Canaanite temple at Lachish. (T. Rogovski) According to the article, the smiting gods measure a scant 10 cm (4 inches) and 8.5 cm (3.3 inches). The two little male figurines are made of bronze and were originally coated with silver. Both are marching with their right hands raised and are wearing short kilts and tall hats, one of which, the article writes, recalls the White Crown of Upper Egypt. One of the gods is still holding a weapon, a mace or club that is attached to the figure’s forehead, writes the article. “Below their feet are pegs that were used to attach the figurines to wooden stands, as attested by the remains of wood.” According to other remains found on one of the gods — beads and indications of a necklace — one may have been worn as a pendant.
Among the most headline catching finds that were reporting during the excavation is the discovery of what researchers are calling the first known account of the Semitic letter “samech.” Reported in 2015, the letter was found on a “potsherd slightly larger than a business card,” as The Times of Israel wrote then, which was found inside the temple’s ruins.
The inscription, three lines containing nine early Semitic letters, was discovered during excavations at the site in 2014 and is believed to date from around 1130 BCE. It’s the first Canaanite inscription found in a Late Bronze Age context in over 30 years
-------------------- It's not my burden to disabuse the ignorant of their wrong opinions Posts: 2699 | From: New York | Registered: Jun 2015
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Ashkelon Iron Age II, late 7th century BCE Bronze and gold
H: 7.5 cm
Israel Antiquities Authority IAA: 1934-27
Archaeology/Israelite & Persian Periods
-------------------- It's not my burden to disabuse the ignorant of their wrong opinions Posts: 2699 | From: New York | Registered: Jun 2015
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