Ancient Israel: Highlights from the Collections of the Oriental Institute, University of Chicago (Oriental Institute Museum Publications)

144 Pages·2011·4.91 MB·english

by  Gabrielle V. Novacek

a n c i e n t i s r a e l
i
a n c i e n t
i s r a e l
H i g H l i g H t s f r o m t H e
C o l l e C t i o n s o f
t H e o r i e n ta l i n s t i t u t e
u n i v e r s i t y o f C H i C a g o
Gabrielle Vera Novacek
featuring objeCts from
tHe Haas and sCHwartz megiddo gallery
The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago
© 2011 by The University of Chicago
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever
without permission in writing from the University of Chicago.
Published by The Oriental Institute of The University of Chicago.
1155 East 58th Street, Chicago, IL 60637 USA
Oriental Institute Museum Publications no. 31
Series editors Leslie Schramer and Thomas G. Urban
The series editors thank Jack Green, chief curator, Oriental Institute Museum, Thomas R.
James, assistant curator, Oriental Institute Museum, and Rebecca Cain, assistant editor,
Oriental Institute Publications Office, for their assistance.
Photo credits: Objects nos. 1–34 and 36–54 photographed by Anna Ressman; object no. 35
photographed by Jean Grant. Modern aerial view of Megiddo (fig. 4, p. 4) courtesy of the
Megiddo Expedition, Tel Aviv University. Merneptah Stela (fig. 10, p. 67) photographed by
Jürgen Liepe. Archival photos from the Oriental Institute Archives. Maps by Leslie Schramer.
ISBN-10: 1-885923-65-1
ISBN-13: 978-1-885923-65-3
Library of Congress Control No. 2010929795
Cover: No. 29. Female sphinx plaque. OIM A22213
Title page: No. 43. Proto-Aeolic column capital. OIM A13394
End sheets: Design based on column capitals (no. 43)
Facing Contents: No. 34. Incised box. OIM A 22221
Facing Foreword: No. 54. Unguentarium. OIM A30463
Facing Acknowledgments: No. 19. Astarte pendant. OIM A20900
Back cover: No. 17. Biconical krater. OIM A16415
Printed by United Graphics Incorporated, Mattoon, Illinois, The United States of America
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American
National Standard for Information Services — Permanence of Paper for
Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1984.
iv
DeDICaTeD
TO The memOry Of alberT haas
by hIs famIly
vi
contents
Foreword ................................................................................................. xi
Acknowledgments ..................................................................................... xiii
Stratigraphy of Megiddo .............................................................. xv
The Southern Levant Collection of the Oriental Institute ............................ 1
Megiddo: Cultural Crossroads of the Ancient Near East .............................. 4
The Early Bronze Age (ca. 3500–2000 bC) .................................................. 7
1. Inscribed Paving Stone .............................................................. 9
2. Gray Burnished Ware Bowl ....................................................... 10
3. Twinned Vessels ......................................................................... 11
4. Khirbet Kerak Ware Pot Stand ................................................. 12
5. Zoomorphic Figurine ................................................................ 14
6. Spouted “Teapot” Jar ................................................................. 14
The Middle Bronze Age (ca. 2000–1550 bC) ................................................ 17
7. Red Burnished Jug ..................................................................... 19
8. Cypriot White-Painted VI Jug .................................................. 20
9. Dagger Blade and Pommel ........................................................ 22
10. Hyksos Scarab and Modern Impression ................................... 23
The Late Bronze Age (ca. 1550–1200 bC) .................................................... 25
11. Egyptian Statuette of Djehutyhotep......................................... 27
12. Chocolate-on-White Jug ........................................................... 28
13. Bichrome Jug ............................................................................. 29
14. Cypriot “Milk Bowl” .................................................................. 31
15. Bilbil Jug .................................................................................... 32
16. Mycenaean Bull Figurine ........................................................... 33
17. Biconical Krater ........................................................................ 34
18. Mitannian Cylinder Seals and Modern Impressions ................ 36
19. Astarte Pendant ......................................................................... 38
20. Headband ................................................................................... 39
21. Figurine of the Canaanite God Ēl ............................................. 41
22. Figurine of the Canaanite God Ba‘al ......................................... 42
23. Female Figurine ......................................................................... 44
24. Large Offering Stand ................................................................. 45
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contents
The Megiddo Ivories ................................................................... 46
25. Griffin Plaque ............................................................................ 48
26. Gaming Board ............................................................................ 49
27. Inscribed Plaque ........................................................................ 50
28. Chair Back Feast Scene ............................................................. 51
29. Female Sphinx Plaque ............................................................... 52
30. Plaque of the Egyptian God Anubis ......................................... 55
31. Hittite Plaque ............................................................................ 56
32. Robed Figure Plaque ................................................................. 58
33. Throne Model ............................................................................ 61
34. Incised Box ................................................................................ 62
The Iron I Period (ca. 1200–975 bC) .......................................................... 65
Where Did the Israelites Come From?........................................ 66
35. Kernos Ring ............................................................................... 68
36. Pilgrim Flask .............................................................................. 69
37. Cylindrical Bottle ...................................................................... 70
38. Jug and Bowl .............................................................................. 72
39. Strainer Jug ................................................................................ 74
40. Offering Stands .......................................................................... 76
41. Zoomorphic Vessel .................................................................... 78
The Iron II Period (ca. 975–586 bC) .......................................................... 81
Who Built Royal Megiddo? .......................................................... 83
42. Four-Horned Altar ..................................................................... 84
43. Proto-Aeolic Column Capital and Column Capital Fragment . 86
44. Black-on-Red Juglet and Bowl .................................................. 89
45. Shrine Model ............................................................................. 90
46. Female Figurine ......................................................................... 91
47. Samaria Ware Bowl .................................................................... 92
48. Assyrian Bottle .......................................................................... 94
49. Cosmetic Palette ....................................................................... 95
The Southern Levant from the Fall of Jerusalem to the
Roman Era (ca. 586 bC–Ad 324) ..................................................................... 97
50. Dead Sea Scroll Fragment and Jar ............................................. 99
51. Inscribed Ossuary and Lid ........................................................ 102
52. Stamp Seal .................................................................................. 104
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contents
The Southern Levant in the Byzantine Period (ca. Ad 324–638) .................. 107
53. Mosaic Floor .............................................................................. 108
54. Unguentarium ............................................................................ 110
bibliography of Works Consulted ................................................................ 111
appenDICes
1. Objects by Oriental Institute Museum Registration Number . 115
2. Prior Oriental Institute Publication of Catalog Objects ......... 116
InDICes ................................................................................ 120
General Index .......................................................................... 121
Index of Personal Names .......................................................... 124
Index of Geographical Names .................................................. 125
Index of Biblical References ..................................................... 127
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