Machaerus — Fortress of Herod Antipas What It Is Machaerus (Greek: Μαχαιροῦς, “sword”; Arabic: Qala’at Mukawir) was a Hasmonean hilltop fortress east of the Dead Sea, rebuilt and expanded by Herod the Great and later used by his son Herod Antipas as a palace-fortress. Why It Matters The Jewish-Roman historian Josephus identifies Machaerus as the … Read more
Erastus Inscription at Corinth What It Is A Latin pavement inscription found near the theater at Corinth reads: > ERASTVS PRO AEDILITATE S[VA] P[ECVNIA] STRAVIT > “Erastus, in return for his aedileship, laid [this pavement] at his own expense.” The inscription was discovered in 1928/1929 and is generally dated to the mid-1st century C.E., contemporary … Read more
Gallio / Delphi Inscription What It Is A Greek imperial inscription discovered at Delphi (central Greece), dating to around 52 C.E., in which Emperor Claudius addresses the local city and refers to “Lucius Junius Gallio, my friend and proconsul of Achaia.” This is the same Gallio before whom Paul was brought by the Jews of … Read more
Jericho — Bronze Age Destruction and the Book of Joshua Sources attempted: Kennedy 2023 MDPI article: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/6/796 — fetch/extraction blocked Biblical Archaeology Society overview: https://library.biblicalarchaeology.org/article/did-the-israelites-conquer-jericho-a-new-look-at-the-archaeological-evidence/ — blocked by 403 What the Scholarly Discussion Is About The destruction of Bronze Age Jericho is one of the most debated topics in biblical archaeology. Kathleen Kenyon’s mid-20th-century excavations … Read more
The Royal Seal of King Hezekiah (Bulla) Sources: Wikipedia + Biblical Archaeology Society + ScienceDaily URLs: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Hezekiah_bulla https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/news/king-hezekiah-in-the-bible-royal-seal-of-hezekiah-comes-to-light/ https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151202132519.htm Artifact Summary Artifact: Clay bulla (seal impression) Date: Reign of Hezekiah, c. 716–686 B.C.E. Discovered: 2009–2010 in the Ophel excavations, Jerusalem; announced in 2015 Excavator: Dr. Eilat Mazar (Hebrew University / Israel Antiquities Authority) Current location: … Read more
The Lachish Reliefs Sources: Wikipedia + British Museum URLs: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lachish_reliefs https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tel_Lachish Artifact Summary Artifact: Assyrian palace wall reliefs depicting the siege and capture of Lachish Date: Carved c. 700–681 B.C.E. Created for: South-West Palace of Sennacherib at Nineveh Discovered: 1845–1847 by Austen Henry Layard Current location: British Museum, London Biblical connection: Sennacherib’s siege of Lachish … Read more
Sennacherib’s Annals (Taylor Prism) Source: Wikipedia + Israel Museum + Biblical Archaeology Society URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sennacherib%27s_Annals Artifact Summary Artifact: Hexagonal clay prisms inscribed with Akkadian annals Date: c. 691–689 B.C.E. Created: During the reign of Sennacherib, king of Assyria Known copies: Taylor Prism (British Museum), Chicago Prism (ISAC), Jerusalem Prism (Israel Museum) Language: Akkadian cuneiform Biblical … Read more
The Kurkh Monoliths Source: Wikipedia + British Museum URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurkh_Monoliths Artifact Summary Artifact: Two Assyrian stelae of Ashurnasirpal II (c. 879 B.C.E.) and Shalmaneser III (c. 852 B.C.E.) Discovered: 1861 at Kurkh (modern Üçtepe Höyük, Turkey) by John George Taylor Current location: British Museum, London Language: Akkadian cuneiform Biblical connection: Extra-biblical mention of King Ahab … Read more
The Nazareth Inscription Source: Wikipedia URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazareth_Inscription Artifact Summary Artifact: Marble tablet with a Greek imperial edict Date: 1st half of the 1st century C.E. (based on epigraphy; debated) Acquired: 1878 in Nazareth by collector Wilhelm Fröhner Current location: Bibliothèque nationale / Cabinet des Médailles, Louvre, Paris Language: Koine Greek Biblical connection: Tomb disturbance / … Read more
The Caiaphas Ossuary Source: Wikipedia + Israel Museum + Biblical Archaeology Society URLs: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caiaphas_ossuary https://www.imj.org.il/en/exhibitions/ossuary-caiaphas-high-priest-18-36-ce https://library.biblicalarchaeology.org/article/caiaphas-name-inscribed-on-bone-boxes/ Artifact Summary Artifact: Ossuary (limestone bone box) of Joseph son of Caiaphas Date: 1st century C.E. (Second Temple period) Discovered: December 1990 in a burial cave in south Jerusalem (Peace Forest / North Talpiot area) Current location: Israel Museum, … Read more
The Pilate Stone (Pontius Pilate Inscription) Source: Wikipedia + Israel Museum URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilate_stone Artifact Summary Artifact: Pilate Stone (limestone dedicatory inscription) Date: c. 1st century C.E. Discovered: June 1961 at Caesarea Maritima, Israel Discoverer: Italian archaeologist Maria Teresa Fortuna Canivet (Antonio Frova expedition) Current location: Israel Museum, Jerusalem Language: Latin Biblical connection: Pontius Pilate, Roman … Read more
The Merneptah Stele (“Israel Stele”) Source: Wikipedia (summarized from multiple scholarly citations) URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merneptah_Stele Artifact Summary Artifact: Merneptah Stele (also called the Israel Stele or Victory Stele of Merneptah) Date: c. 1208 B.C.E. (5th year of Pharaoh Merneptah, 19th Dynasty) Material: Black granite Discovered: 1896 at Thebes, Egypt Discoverer: Flinders Petrie Current location: Egyptian Museum, … Read more