6th century B.C.E. artifacts unearthed near Ein Gedi

Haaretz ^ | 2/20/2004 | Zafrir Rinat

[yonif]

Rare artifacts from the Shivat Zion ("Return of Zion") era, after the destruction of the First Temple, were discovered last week in a cave in the Ein Gedi region. The discovery of the items, dating back to the sixth century B.C.E., was announced Thursday by the Nature and National Parks Protection Authority.

For the past three years the Archaeology Institute at Bar-Ilan University (BIU) and the Cave Research Center at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have been conducting an archaeological survey of the cliffs of the Judean Desert. BIU's Prof. Hanan Eshel is in charge of the project.

A week ago, in one of the caves, the archaeologists unearthed objects that belonged to Jews who came back to the land of Israel following their exile in Babylonia, after King Cyrus of Persia declared that they could return in 538 B.C.E.

According to the first chapter of the Book of Ezra, Cyrus made this declaration in the first year of his reign. The book also lists the families who had been exiled by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar.

The findings in the cave consisted, among other things, of glass and gold beads, a stick used for applying makeup, an alabaster bowl, a pendant, bronze mirrors, a necklace and an oil lamp. The most impressive finding is a Babylonian stamp bearing the figure of a priest worshiping the moon god.

The archaeologists say this is an unequalled collection from the Shivat Zion era, and further evidence that the immigrants settled in the Ein Gedi area and were economically well off, enjoying the protection of the Persian empire. Similar findings of the same era were discovered in a nearby archaeological mound in excavations carried out 40 years ago.

[yonif]

Ping.

[Democratshavenobrains]

But what of Arafat's ancestors???!!! Oh yeah, the Arabs weren't even around then.

[Fitzcarraldo]

The most impressive finding is a Babylonian stamp bearing the figure of a priest worshiping the moon god.

Careful with those "foreign gods" LOL

[maxamillion]

Yeah, this could get dangerous!!!

[farmfriend]

Gods, Graves, Glyphs
List for articles regarding early civilizations , life of all forms, - dinosaurs - etc.

Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this ping list.

[Cronos]

Arafat's ancestor's at that time could have included Idumeans (Edomites) Moabites, Canaanites, Amorites, BAbylonians even Israelites...

[Chris Talk]

I suspect Sanballat was probably an ancestor of Arafat, always trying to get them to cease and desist from the Temple construction.

[Neanderthal]

Reading "BCE" instead of "BC" in extremely annoying to me.

[Sacajaweau]

btt

[Cronos]

ditto-it doesn't mean anything. BCE? What do they mean Common Era?????? What makes it so common?????

[Molly Pitcher]

Archeology ping

[woofer]

BCE? What do they mean Common Era??????

I've always interpreted BCE as Before the Christian Era.

But one thing I'm sure of is that the world will never see the bookends for any historical era the likes of "BME" or "BM", Before the Muslim Era, or Before Mohammad. Regardless of how many are spawned at the clerics urging and flood the non-muslim world.

[Hawkeye's Girl]

Nope, it's Before Common Era.

We live in CE which is Common Era. Terms like these are the PC way to forget about Jesus.

[Cronos]

But one thing I'm sure of is that the world will never see the bookends for any historical era the likes of "BME" or "BM", Before the Muslim Era, or Before Mohammad. Regardless of how many are spawned at the clerics urging and flood the non-muslim world.

The world HAS seen a Muslim world wide calender. It's called the HAjira calendar and dated from Mo's running away from the Meccan troops to Medinah

[Preachin']

The term BCE stands for before common era, as opposed to the Christian use of BC (before Christ).

The term CE (common, or current era) is used by the same unbelieving community as opposed to using AD (ammo domino). Term AD , is actually interpreted as the "year of our Lord". AD does not stand for "after death" as most think. In fact, the year 2004 is measured from Christ's birth, and not His death.

It's funny that the terms BCE and CE are used instead of the BC or AD terms, because they actually measure from the same points (Jesus the Christ's birth).

[Dave Elias]

The Arabs certainly were around back then.

[JZoback]

An obvious Jewish conspiracy to revise history to deny the Palestinians their homeland

< / sarcasm >

[Dave Elias]

Yes, but BC meaning "before christ" is not accurate. Jesus was born around 7-4 bc (Herod the great was long dead by 1bc-1-ad) and the census metioned in Luke took place in 6bc.

Therefore BCE/CE is technically more corrrect than BC/AD, as according to the latter, Jesus was around for several years before he was born.

Also the ommision of a year 0 is problematic in the before/after Jesus context.

Contrary to popular belief BCE/CE does not have any PC undertones, it merely makes for a more unified dating system.

[Preachin']

While it is true that Jeus was probably born in the year 4 BC by current dating records, it is more true that the terms BCE and CE are used to evade the knowlegde of Christ, by avoiding the use of His name.