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ARTICLES
The Jewish Temple at
Elephantine
by Stephen G. Rosenberg
A Nabatean/Roman Temple
at Dhat Ras, Jordan
by Terry W. Eddinger
Commemorating Sacred Spaces
of the Past: The Mamluks and the Umayyad Mosque at Damascus
by Bethany J. Walker
The Unique Church at Abila
of the Decapolis
by Clarence Menninga
DEPARTMENTS
ARTI-FACTS
A Late Bronze Age Cultic Installation
at Tel al Umayri in Jordan
by Kent Bramlett
New Mesopotamian Gallery at
the Oriental Institute
by The Oriental Institute Museum Staff
A Channel to the Underworld
in Syria
by Billie Jean Collins
REVIEW
Jesus and the Ossuaries: What
Jewish Burial Practices Reveal about the Beginning of Christianity
(Gabriele Fassbeck)
FORUM
Special Report: Afghan Archaeology
on the Road to Recovery
by John W. Betlyon |
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The Jewish Temple at Elephantine
by Stephen G. Rosenberg
The Jewish Temple at the military garrison on Elephantine
island has been known from papyrus sources since 1911. Built
sometime in the sixth century, it was destroyed in 410 bce
at the hands of the priests of the Egyptian god, Khnum. Although
rebuilt, the temple was eventually abandoned sometime after
400 bce. The papyri, obtained from locals on the island, date
to the Persian period and reveal much about the lives of the
Jewish mercenaries who worshiped in the temple. Thanks to
recent excavations by the German Archaeological Institute
of Cairo, the author is able to offer a tentative reconstruction
of what the temple might have looked like and how it might
have functioned, and concludes that it comes closer to the
description of the Wilderness Tabernacle in Exodus than any
other known remains!
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A Nabatean/Roman Temple at
Dhat Ras, Jordan
by Terry W. Eddinger
The small modern village of Dhat Ras, Jordan, contains the
remains of three Nabatean or Roman-period temples. One of
the temples, the small temple, remains largely intact and
is quite impressive in design and appearance. Unfortunately,
these temples have been neglected by both historians and archaeologists
and, because modern villagers are robbing the ruins for building
materials, are in danger of disappearing.
26 Commemorating
Sacred Spaces of the Past: The Mamluks and the Umayyad Mosque
at Damascus
by Bethany J. Walker
Considered one of the wonders of world by medieval geographers,
the Umayyad mosque at Damascus, with its shimmering gilded
glass mosaics, had a tremendous impact on medieval Islamic
architectural decoration. The mosque was, and continues to
be, one of the most celebrated and frequently visited holy
places in the Islamic world. One of the largest congregational
mosques of its day, it served as a gathering place for the
citizens of Damascus. No wonder the fledgling Mamluk state
chose to patronize it, in the process situating themselves
in a long line of legitimate Muslim leaders. Its splendor,
expansiveness and expensive contruction represented the prosperity
and grandeur of the fourteenth century.
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The Unique Church at Abila
of the Decapolis
By Clarence Menninga
A church has been uncovered at Abila in northern Jordan having
an architectural plan similar to that of the Church of the
Nativity at Bethlehem. Dubbed the Five-Aisle Church, it is
one of the most unusual examples of Byzantine architecture
to be found in Jordan. Until the discovery of the Church,
this ancient city was known mainly for its beautiful mosaics
and its association with the league of cities known in the
Bible as the Decapolis. In this article, the author treats
us to a tour of this amazing structure.
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