Birth Announcement

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The Israel Exploration Society and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem are proud to announce the arrival of the newest addition (or edition) to their family. The proud parents have named the offspring Excavations at Tel Beth-Shean, 1989–1996. The delivering physician was Professor Amihai Mazar. He was assisted by 35 interns, each of whom contributed separately to the delivery

Although the delivery was somewhat difficult, the baby is healthy indeed. At 736 folio pages and weighing nearly 6 pounds, it is the largest and heaviest in memory. Moreover, it expects to have three siblings in the next few years.

Although it is a beautiful production, it nevertheless includes an ugly pazuzu, an inch and a half high, which is being cared for by Tallay Ornan of the Israel Museum. Pazuzu was a fierce but benevolent first-millennium B.C.E. Assyro-Babylonian demon who, by inducing fright, would ward off maladies of all kinds. The Beth-Shean pazuzu is made of bronze and has round, bulging eyes, a wide nose, protrusions on the cheeks representing cheek-beards and a wide, crooked mouth. It was intended to be worn as an amulet. It is now being scientifically tested in the laboratories of the Israel Museum to determine whether or not it has retained its demonic effectiveness.

In the meantime, the celebration of the birth continues.

The Israel Exploration Society and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem are proud to announce the arrival of the newest addition (or edition) to their family. The proud parents have named the offspring Excavations at Tel Beth-Shean, 1989–1996. The delivering physician was Professor Amihai Mazar. He was assisted by 35 interns, each of whom contributed separately to the delivery Although the delivery was somewhat difficult, the baby is healthy indeed. At 736 folio pages and weighing nearly 6 pounds, it is the largest and heaviest in memory. Moreover, it expects to have three siblings in the next few years. Although […]