Glenn J. Corbett
Archaeology is a beautiful thing. Excavations in Israel and beyond allow us to glimpse all the complexities and intricacies of the biblical world as it was experienced thousands of years ago. Indeed, the more we uncover, the more we realize just how interconnected were the peoples of the Bible, who shared much more in common than what the Bible’s stories of war, conflict, and struggle might suggest.
It somehow seems fitting that our Spring 2024 issue presents sites and discoveries that reveal how traditions, styles, and beliefs have been adopted, blended, and reshaped across the ages to create shared identities and cultures. In “The Cave of Salome,” explore an underground labyrinth of early Jewish burial caves that later Christians commemorated as the tomb of Salome, an early disciple of Jesus remembered in the Gospels as one of the first to witness the empty tomb. In “Lifestyles of Jerusalem’s Rich and Famous,” visit sixth-century BCE Jerusalem, on the eve of its destruction, to see how the city’s wealthiest residents enjoyed many of the finer things that life under foreign imperial domination had to of-fer. As we read in “The Jerusalem Ivories,” this included exquisite decorative plaques that adorned the furnishings of the royal buildings where Jerusalem’s high officials entertained in sophisticated luxury. And in “House of the Rising Sun,” journey to the Late Bronze Age Canaanite city of Azekah, where archaeologists have unearthed a temple dedicated to the sun’s daily renewal that combined elements of both Canaanite and Egyptian religious practice.
Check out Strata for the latest biblical archaeology news and discoveries, including new findings that suggest the Hyksos kings of Egypt—the foreign Asiatic rulers whom many associate with the biblical story of Joseph—brought their own brutal brand of justice to the throne. Learn how advanced photographic methods are helping scholars overcome the challenges of documenting thousands of Mesopotamian seals, and hear from Kiersten Neumann, curator of the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures (ISAC) Museum (formerly the Oriental Institute Museum), who explains how the museum’s recent name change is helping it keep pace with the times. And for those itching to join an excavation, we provide our annual list of dig opportunities and information about applying for a BAS Dig Scholarship to support your next adventure.
In Epistles, sail with Paul between the port cities of the Roman Mediterranean to understand how ancient mariners traversed the seas before open-water navigation was safe or routine. Examine the tradition of Solomon’s unprecedented marriage alliance with Egypt and the biblical and archaeological evidence that suggests his Egyptian bride was no idle boast. Finally, meet Egeria, the fourth-century pilgrim who left a remarkable and detailed account of her journeys to the sites, monuments, and churches of the early Christian Holy Land.
So as we enter the season that celebrates beauty and renewal, we hope this issue inspires readers to dwell not on divisions, but rather on the multifaceted interactions and fruitful exchanges that people throughout history have been engaged in—especially in the lands of the Bible.
Archaeology is a beautiful thing. Excavations in Israel and beyond allow us to glimpse all the complexities and intricacies of the biblical world as it was experienced thousands of years ago. Indeed, the more we uncover, the more we realize just how interconnected were the peoples of the Bible, who shared much more in common than what the Bible’s stories of war, conflict, and struggle might suggest. It somehow seems fitting that our Spring 2024 issue presents sites and discoveries that reveal how traditions, styles, and beliefs have been adopted, blended, and reshaped across the ages to create shared identities […]