Ein Gedi synagogue incense burner_IMJ, 1970-1746

© THE ISRAEL MUSEUM, JERUSALEM

HOLY SMOKERS. Censers for burning incense came in a variety of shapes and sizes. Originally identified by archaeologists as a goblet, this rather plain 4-inch-tall bronze censer from the sixth-century synagogue at Ein Gedi near the Dead Sea once had a lid that might have allowed incense to be burned as needed.