Museum of the Bible - Part III - The People of the Land

Museum of the Bible includes many artifacts and exhibits.  Many of those artifacts are owned by the museum itself, they are part of the collection started by the Green family that were the inspiration for the Museum itself.

You can also find several exhibits from outside groups.  One of the largest currently present is "The People of the Land: History and Archaeology of Ancient Israel."  This exhibit is presented by the Israeli Antiquities Authority and features about 800 artifacts from Israel.

"This exhibition presents the history of ancient Israel in light of research and archaeological discoveries from the second millennium BCE--the Canaanite period in the land of Israel--to the Bar Kokhba revolt in the second century CE.  We aim to provide visitors with the broadest possible picture, ranging from everyday life in the home through administration and government to worship and ritual practices, as well as the gradual, complex emergence and crystallization of the Jewish faith and monotheistic religion."

 --from exhibit signage

 The exhibit space is very open and includes quite a few artifact cases along with great artwork.

 As to be expected many small artifacts are completely enclosed in cases.

 A number of signs also use old artwork to further illustrate the exhibit.

Quite a few artifacts were outside of cases though and were thus easier to see.  I understand cases, but I also enjoy seeing artifacts outside of cases.  They're often easier to see and photograph when you don't have to worry about glare.

Judean Weight System.  Toward the end of the First Temple period, a new payment practice was implemented in the Judean kingdom alongside the customary bartering commerce system.  Scales, weights, and silver pieces began to appear, suggesting movement to the exchange of silver for goods.
"So I bought the land in Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel.  I weighed out the money to him, seventeen shekels of silver.  I wrote a deed, sealed it, and had it witnessed; and I weighed out the silver on a balance."
~Jeremiah 32:9-10, NJPS

ROYAL ARCHITECTURE.  Proto-Aeolic stone capitals are characteristic of royal and public buildings in the First Temple period (ca. 1000-586 BCE).  The capitals were hewn from large limestone blocks and their decoration was inspired by the palm-tree motif.
~exhibit signage

 These fragments contain a number of examples of ancient writing.

 I love looking at different column designs.

This photograph shows the ancient fortress of Masada, famously besieged by the Romans during the Jewish Revolt.

This section of a plastered wall comes from a mikveh or ritual bath located in an underground cave in Jerusalem.  "The inscriptions mention the names of Josef, Joshua, and Shimeon, popular Jewish names of the period.  Palm trees, dates, and other images are still discernible." ~exhibit signage

The Greek inscription "Megiste, the Priestess" appears above each medallion.  Megiste is a well-attested Greek name, which is rare in Jewish onomastics (list of proper names).  It seems that the woman was the daughter or the wife of a priest.
~exhibit signage

 The detail on this stonework is amazing and it was great to be able to get fairly close to the ossuaries.

This ossuary has an amphora between the yellow-painted rosettes.

 This ossuary has the name "Selampis (Shelamzion), daughter of Ariston" in both Hebrew and Greek on it.

We also saw a fascinating video about the discovery and preservation of coins in Israel.

As you leave the exhibit area you see this photo of Jerusalem.  I'll leave you with the words of the sign right next to the photo, and tomorrow's post will look at The History of the Bible.

SACRED CITY, HOLY LAND

... I have not chosen a city among all the tribes of Israel for building a House where My name might abide... 1 Kings 8:16 NJPS

Jerusalem was chosen by King David to be his capital.  Under King Solomon, the First Temple--the house of the Israelite god--was built.  These choices determined the city's fate and future.  Similarly, the Second Temple served as Israel's religious and spiritual core.  Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims would come to Jerusalem from Judea, Galilee, and from the Diaspora.

With the conversion to Christianity of the Roman Empire in the fourth century CE, the land of Israel became the "Holy Land," with numerous churches and monasteries built throughout.  Later, the sacred compound of the Haram al-Šarīf on the Temple Mount of Jerusalem, built in the eighth century CE, turned Jerusalem into the third-most important site in Islam.  Archaeological excavations over the last century revealed layers of the rich history of the holy city.  With its glorious spirituality, Jerusalem played, and continues to play, a major role in the spiritual life of millions of people around the world.

All of the photos I took in this section can be found in this album.

~Matt