August 2019
Vol. 7, No. 8
The Ancient Near East after 1919
By Alex Joffe
Prior to the signing of treaties in 1919 that ended World War I, study of the Ancient Near East, though copious, was neither especially systematic nor particularly scientific, but the advances after 1919 came with a cost. Read More
Potters and Their Fingerprints
By Akiva Sanders
Pot sherds are ubiquitous on Near Eastern archaeological sites. But occasionally the fingerprints of the potters can tell us unexpected things about their lives and the economic systems they labored in. Read More
Concepts and Metaphors in Sumerian
By Erika Marsal
The Sumerian language is unrelated to any other language past or present. While it can be read, making sense of things requires understanding how Sumerians used metaphors. Some are surprisingly familiar. Read More
Crosses and Crucifixions, Misunderstood and Misinterpreted
By Joe Zias
The popular image of crucifixion has been created by the symbol of the t-shaped cross, and by one reconstructed bone. That bone bears too much weight, but a long overlooked inscription gives a new view on the cross itself. Read More
Birth and Rebirth in Ancient Egypt
By Cathie Spieser
Birth is one of the most dangerous parts of life. But for ancient Egyptians the birth of a child had a counterpart: the rebirth after death. Both of these were necessary to maintain the balance of the universe. Read More