Early makeup kit may confirm biblical story

The Baltimore Sun / AP ^ | February 23, 2004

[Walkin Man]

Early makeup kit may confirm biblical story

Excavation: Israeli archaeologists find 2,500- year-old accessories, which likely belonged to Jews who returned from exile in Babylon.

Associated Press

February 23, 2004

JERUSALEM -- Israeli archaeologists excavating caves near the Dead Sea discovered jewelry, a makeup kit and a small mirror -- 2,500-year-old fashion accessories for women.

The trove apparently belonged to Jews who returned from exile in Babylon in the 6th century B.C., said Tsvika Tsuk, chief archaeologist for the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.

"This find is very rare. Both for the richness of the find and for that period, it is almost unheard of," Tsuk said Friday.

Using metal detectors, archaeologists found the treasures under a stone-like accumulation of sediment thrown up by a nearby spring.

They included a necklace made of 130 beads of semiprecious stones and gold; a scarab; an agate medallion of Babylonian origin; and a silver pendant with an engraved crescent moon and pomegranates.

What appears to be a makeup kit contained an alabaster bowl for powders, a stick to apply the cosmetics and a bronze mirror. They also found a pagan stamp showing a Babylonian priest bowing to the moon.

"These finds confirm the [biblical] accounts of Jews returning from exile in Babylon," Tsuk said.

[tiamat]

Very cool!

Thanks for posting it!

[thoughtomator]

Actually, that story is not part of the Bible. (Not like I would expect a reporter to know that, but hey)

[Khurkris]

Early rest stop bump!

[Richard Kimball]

Bump for later.

[Buggman]

Read Ezra and Nehemiah.

[m1-lightning]

I don't understand. The crescent moon is a symbol of muslim faith and the scarab is a sacred symbol of Egyptians. How does these belongings prove to be property of a jew? It seems otherwise to me.

[thoughtomator]

Isn't this referring to Esther?

[m1-lightning]

Interesting I found this in the bible (Isaiah 3):

16 The LORD says, "The women of Zion are haughty, walking along with outstretched necks, flirting with their eyes, tripping along with mincing steps, with ornaments jingling on their ankles. 17 Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion; the LORD will make their scalps bald." 18 In that day the Lord will snatch away their finery: the bangles and headbands and crescent necklaces,

[Cronos]

The crescent moon was worshipped by earlier civilisations (e.g. Abraham's family in Ur in Irq were worshippers of the moon God Sin.

[Cronos]

A good reference = http://www.biblebelievers.org.au/moongod.htm

[EagleMamaMT]

Read later.

[NewRomeTacitus]

Helen Thomas was wondering where she left that thing.

[7.62 x 51mm]

Maxus Factorus?

[ccmay]

I know who dropped it.

[m1-lightning]

What's BCE?

[geopyg]

I believe it's "Before Current Era". (Before Christ isn't politically correct you know. Although I'm thinking that B.C. was latin anyway - but meant something like before Christ.)

[Lurking Libertarian]

What's BCE?

Before the Common Era. Originally used by Jews (later picked up by Moslems) instead of "B.C."; has been adopted by historians and archaeologists who study the Middle East (since they spend a lot of time dealing with Jewish and Moslem governments to get permission for their digs.)

[NewRomeTacitus]

That's good but I'm pretty sure Helen has at least 1500 years on Ms. Messner. If you haven't seen any episodes of "The Sureal Life" you missed the lady really sticking it to Ron Jeremy every time he kept hitting on her. She regained my respect by maintaining her values throughout a venue designed to bring her down. Yeah!

She also gets cool points for playing Mimi's mother in the Drew Carrey Show.