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April 2023
Vol. 11, No. 4
The Meaning and Symbolism of Swimming-Girl Spoons from Egypt
By Peter Lacovara
Elegantly crafted out of fine materials, the swimming-girl spoons from Egypt retain an appeal across time and space. But what do these iconic objects represent? Read More
The Başbük Rock Wall Panel: Serving Empire, Honoring Syro-Anatolian Gods
By Mehmet Önal, Celal Uludağ, Yusuf Koyuncu and Selim Ferruh Adalı
Neo-Assyrian reliefs in the provinces tend to present the sacred using standardized Assyrian court motifs. A recently discovered relief at Başbük, however, offers a rare depiction of local gods in Assyrian court style but with traditional Syro-Anatolian motifs. Read More
The Myth of the Twelve Tribes of Israel
By Andrew Tobolowsky
The twelve tribes of Israel are, in a nutshell, how the Hebrew Bible’s historical narratives define Israel. Even today, the tribes are the ultimate through-line, the enduring symbol, what I have called elsewhere “the permanent, impermeable vision of who Israel is, and always will be.” The centrality of the twelve tribes tradition to the vision of Israel is indisputable. But did the twelve tribes actually exist? Well, it’s complicated. Read More
The Ishtar Gate of Babylon: One Monument, Multiple Narratives
By Helen Gries
Few ancient monuments are more iconic than the Ishtar Gate of Babylon, but its significance can differ from person to person. Helen Gries lays out some of the different narratives attached to this structure. Read More
