| Precarious
Scholarship: |
| Response by Amihai Mazar "In addition to the good arguments of Christopher Rollston against the attribution of seal IAA 56-321 to Queen Jezebel (as widely publicized by Marjo Korpel) may I add the following: To the best of my knowledge there are no inscribed seals dated to the 9th century found in any reliable archaeological context in Israel, and perhaps in the entire Levant. In our excavations at Tel Rehov we excavated extensively during 8 seasons 10-9th centuries BCE occupation levels and revealed almost 30 seals and seal impressions. They carried various symbols none was inscribed. The same is true with the collection of almost 160 seal impressions on bullae excavated in recent years by Ronny Reich and Eli Shukron at the City of David, and dated to the late 9th century BCE. None of these bullae was inscribed though they carried various symbols and icons. A brief examination of other 10-9th centuries contexts brings to similar conclusion. Previous suggestions to attribute the seal of Shema servant of Jeroboam from Megiddo to Jeroboam I have no foundation. If IAA 56-321 is authentic it probably should be dated to the 8-7th centuries BCE."
Amihai Mazar |