From: owner-ane To: ane-digest@oi.uchicago.edu Subject: Ancient Near East Digest V2 #70 Reply-To: Errors-To: owner-ane Precedence: bulk Ancient Near East Digest Tuesday, 7 February 1995 Volume 02 : Number 070 Re: Dating Biblical Hebrew( by H. Cryer Re: Antiquities Re: Alex...ad nauseam! Mummies Re: Mummies Re: Antiquities Re: Two items (Bernal) Re: Mummies IAA East Mediterranean Pottery Project Re: IAA East Mediterranean Pottery Project Question on ancient prostitution pelusium/wine Museum position Alexander & the New arch. Re: Two items (Bernal) Re: pelusium/wine Mummies Budge Re: Budge Alex&Siwa Festschrift Hennessy (1/2) Festschrift Hennessy (2/2) The "Tomb" of Alexander Bernal - a South AFRICAN perspective Re: Dating Biblical Hebrew( by H. Cryer ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: e.d.wardini@easteur-orient.uio.no (Elie Wardini) Date: Fri, 3 Feb 1995 21:46:54 +0100 Subject: Re: Dating Biblical Hebrew( by H. Cryer Of course, I should have added in my comments an analogy with Literary Syriac (the subject of my thesis) where the state of diglossia must have existed from the outset compared to the vernaculars. Syriac grammar, or more correctly: the grammar of Literary Syriac, still in literary texts writtened today, has not changed as much as we would expect (according to Cryer). Moreover it is an an outright desire by the speakers of Aramaic to imitate the fathers in their "correct" language. Others more qualified than myself could comment on Diglossia in the case of Akkadian. We have many articles dealing the "Literary Aramaic" vs the dialectal variants. Elie Wardini Department for East-European and Oriental Studies Semitic languages Post Box 1030 Blindern 0315 Oslo Norway tel. off.: +47 - 22 85 71 21 home: +47 - 22 19 03 49 fax: +47 - 22 85 41 40 e-mail: e.d.wardini@easteur-orient.uio.no ------------------------------ From: UJ161@lampeter.ac.uk Date: Fri, 3 Feb 1995 22:50:35 GMT Subject: Re: Antiquities Regarding the plausibility of "legal" antiquities markets, perhaps the precedent is set by the scramble for the Dead Sea Scrolls. Once it was known that the fragments of scrolls would fetch more money than would their goats milk and cheese, the Bedouin set about acquiring a monopoly over both the finding of fragments, and the market in them. Neither was two difficult for them, since they were the only people who knew the Qumran area well, and had enough experience of life in the desert to identify caves from a distance. Illicit excavations proceeded: while many were halted by the authorities as soon as they knew what was going on (which once involved the kidnapping of a Bedouin tribesman, which did not aid communication at all), by that time the cave could be practically stripped. Once the fragments were in their power, the Bedouin - the Ta'amireh tribe, I think - had all the bargaining power, and used it. Soon the price of the fragments went up to £24 per square inch, I think it was. And of course, many fragments were lost, either going to memorabilia hunters via the black market - and on at least one occasion scrolls were buried in a back garden to keep them safe until the price went up, and in the meantime the fragments disintegrated totally due to bad conditions. So at least here, it didn't work. John Allego's "Dead Sea Scrolls - an Intro- duction" or something very similar, mine's a Penguin edition, goes into this in more detail. Amanda Lea ------------------------------ From: nbhansen@midway.uchicago.edu (Nicole B. Hansen) Date: Fri, 3 Feb 1995 20:06:04 -0600 Subject: Re: Alex...ad nauseam! >having read the small story in the NY Times I am now back to being a little >more cynical I suppose. the archaeologist states "of course we will find >the body"..mmmmm, not a very scientific statement unless she knows >something we do not.How about the notion that what we might have out there >is a cenotaph? This way they could satisfy Alex's wish and still have the >corpse for display in the capital. > >joe manning >assistant professor of classics & ancient history In Cassandra Vivian's 1990 book _Islands of the Blest: A Guide to the Oases and Western Desert of Egypt_, she describes the area where the tomb was found (Maraqi), thus: "Little remains of the Doric Temple described by travelers in the nineteenth century as a perfect Doric structure. The temple is presently being excavated by a Greek Mission that hopes to find information about Alexander the Great in the rubble. The hypothesis is that Alexander is buried in Siwa, and the temple, being the only existing Greek structure, will offer clues to support the theory. To date no inscriptions or artifacts have been found."-p.283 5 years ago, before finding anything, she believed they would find the tomb! We all know how Schliemann wanted to find Troy... - ----------------------- Nicole B. Hansen Oriental Institute University of Chicago nbhansen@midway.uchicago.edu - ----------------------- ------------------------------ From: "Smith, Stuart (G) ARCHAE" Date: Sat, 04 Feb 95 14:54:00 PST Subject: Mummies I agree with Nigel Strudwick - I found it quite awe inspiring to actually see Ramesses II and Sequenere Tao and the others. I found the new display in Cairo to be well designed and respectful to the remains of the great pharaohs of the New Kingdom - the lighting and the visitors were both subdued and respectful (perhaps I was lucky, in any case there was no film crew there, thank goodness!) and the surroundings of elegant simplicity. It is rare to feel that much of a connection to the folks we study from thousands of years distance. Stuart T. Smith Institute of Archaeology, UCLA smithst@others.sscnet.ucla.edu ------------------------------ From: antonij@asiaonline.net (antonij) Date: Sun, 05 Feb 1995 14:31:02 +0800 Subject: Re: Mummies At 02:54 PM 2/4/95 PST, Smith, Stuart (G) ARCHAE wrote: >I agree with Nigel Strudwick - I found it quite awe inspiring to actually see >Ramesses II and Sequenere Tao and the others. I found the new display in >Cairo to be well designed and respectful to the remains of the great pharaohs >of the New Kingdom - the lighting and the visitors were both subdued and >respectful (perhaps I was lucky, in any case there was no film crew there, >thank goodness!) and the surroundings of elegant simplicity. It is rare to >feel that much of a connection to the folks we study from thousands of years >distance. > >Stuart T. Smith >Institute of Archaeology, UCLA >smithst@others.sscnet.ucla.edu > > Attention all: Flame Bait follows... but as the "originator" of this thread I feel it has to be said: I suppose a few thousand years is ok then... We'll just wait a while and then transform the crypt of the Invalides into a tasteful setting and put Napoleon's corpse on display as well? (Apparently last time they looked it was in good condition... allowing of course for the ravages of decay and mishandling.) Forget whether he was a "hero" or a "dictator" - just remember he was famous and therefore ideal for display. And then while we're at it why not have a look in Westminster Abbey, St Paul's and..oh yes..how about St Peter's.. lots of interesting folk lying around there as well... just waiting to be displayed "tastefully" with enhanced lighting and subdued commentary so that we may "understand" them better. (And I am sure if the corpse is a bit too decayed we can always enhance it by artfully "reconstructing" the remains to look like what we would expect it to look like.) And here's another one for DisneyWorld.. how about Walt's corpse apparently lying frozen somewhere in the US. That is sure to make us understand his animation work a whole lot better. Oh please people!! How on earth does seeing a corpse in a glass box (as opposed to actually doing tests and analysing samples) make anyone learn more about the person that existed 1, 10, 100 or a 1,000 years ago? They do not look any different than anyone of us alive today would look if we were soaked in natron..stuffed with spices wrapped in linen and left in a cool dry place for a few thousand years. The same dried eyes, shrivelled skin and protruding broken bones. No matter what "Stargate" et al may be teaching the public these are not the remains of Aliens. Humans good, bad or indifferent who never suspected that their vision of immortality was rather different from what we had in store (excuse the pun) for them. It's a ghoulish pandering to the tourist trade and has no place in research of the past. And while others may have been fortunate to have seen the mummies on display in Cairo with respectful visitors, according to what I have heard about the new assemblage there is nothing awed about people pointing and giggling uneasily while the guides drone on endlessly. But for every "respectfully" displayed mummy there are 10 or more lying covered in dust in ramshackle surrounds in museums and "chambers of horror" around the world. Respect? Tasteful? It belongs to an era of "archaeologists" breaking open tombs to get at the goodies inside; "education" for frail Victorian gentlefolk in search of cheap thrills. I can hardly wait for the museum shops to make an entry into the field (if they have not yet done so). How about a Seti head for the lounge... or a "guaranteed accurate reproduction" dessicated arm for the mantelpiece? This is my own personal opinion and yes, I know we are supposed to be "unemotional" about these "objects" but for some it is difficult to accept. Cheers, and thanks for reading this far :) Antonij Koornhof Hong Kong ------------------------------ From: UJ161@lampeter.ac.uk Date: Sun, 5 Feb 1995 16:26:44 GMT Subject: Re: Antiquities Right, for those who are interested, the book on the Dead Sea Scrolls that I didn't refer to very well is by John Allegro rather than Allego (typing error) and is called "The Dead Sea Scrolls: A Reappraisal", Penguin edition 1990. Sorry about that. Amanda Lea ------------------------------ From: gdoudna@ednet1.osl.or.gov (Greg Doudna) Date: Fri, 3 Feb 1995 11:28:08 -0800 Subject: Re: Two items (Bernal) Martin Bernal wrote: >I am sure that members of the list will be happy to learn that >I do not intend to respond to all that has been said about my >work--and lack of it. However, there are just two points, I >feel I must correct . . . Oh come on, you're among friends here :-). Including probably even Joe Manning, in spite of his magnificent confidence that ideological constructions and disciplinary boundary-keeping derive from purely objective bases. Am I the only one to notice that the center of gravity in this discussion seems to have shifted? For the past week or so nearly every contributor has appeared to accept as a given that European culture drew significantly from Egypt--the debate has been over whether other African civilizations should be slighted because of this. The discussion seems not so much over your earlier shocking claim that the African civilization of Egypt contributed significantly to Greek civilization, but rather, now, over the details and mechanisms of how, exactly, this happened. I find this interesting. Greg Doudna Department of Religious Studies and Philosophy Marylhurst College West Linn, Oregon - -- ------------------------------ From: Frank Young Date: Sun, 5 Feb 1995 16:46:21 -0500 (EST) Subject: Re: Mummies On Sun, 5 Feb 1995, antonij wrote: > Oh please people!! How on earth does seeing a corpse in a glass box (as > opposed to actually doing tests and analysing samples) make anyone learn > more about the person that existed 1, 10, 100 or a 1,000 years ago? They do > not look any different than anyone of us alive today would look if we were > soaked in natron..stuffed with spices wrapped in linen and left in a cool > dry place for a few thousand years. The same dried eyes, shrivelled skin and > protruding broken bones. No matter what "Stargate" et al may be teaching the > public these are not the remains of Aliens. Humans good, bad or indifferent > who never suspected that their vision of immortality was rather different > from what we had in store (excuse the pun) for them. What you say may have some merit with regard to those corpses that are no longer suitabe for public view, because of advanced decay or other ravages. Nevertheless, it also may be true that one may be uplifted by gazing upon the actual features of a figure from the remote past, whether famous or not. In my childhood, I rarely came into any contact at all with death -- in which I was more fortunate than millions of others who lived in the '40's - -- but I was fascinated by the idea of history from an early dday in my life. I can remember, to this day, the first occasion on which I saw a photograph of the mummy of Men-ma'at-Ra Seti, the father of User-ma'at-Ra Ramses [II]. Never had I seen a face so possessed with an air of lofty nobility and repose. In seeing his face, I came to an almost instant realization of the inherent nobility and grandeur of man, and of the human condition, even though I could not have expressed this idea in these words at that young age. Later, I also saw a photograph of the face of Tollund Man and felt much the same emotion, but tinged, in this case, with some sadness for his fate. Seeing these faces was a part of my process of growing up and a part of the process by which I became an historian. Regards, Frank Young tipcat@wam.umd.edu 202-463-6361 Suite 820, 2000 F Street, Northwest Washington, D. C. 20006-4236 "Videmus nunc per speculum in aenigmate... Nunc cognosco ex parte" ------------------------------ From: Mikko LOUHIVUORI - 292632 Date: Mon, 6 Feb 1995 09:02:41 +0200 (IST) Subject: IAA East Mediterranean Pottery Project We at the Israel Antiquities Authority are currently developing an archaeological, client/server system under the name The East Mediterranean Pottery Project. This is an attempt to standardize and integrate pottery study within the Israel Antiquities Authority and we welcome your ideas and queries on theoretical and specific approaches and problems. Development is done with a view to eventually making this service available to the greater archaeological community. Please forward contributions directly to me by e-mail or to address Dr. Mikko Louhivuori Computer Department Israel Antiquities Authority Rockefeller Museum Jerusalem Israel ------------------------------ From: David Ilan Date: Mon, 6 Feb 1995 09:46:08 +0200 (IST) Subject: Re: IAA East Mediterranean Pottery Project Hello Mikko, This is the first time I've seen the israntique address. Are there now others connected as well? Ideally, the public relations dept. should be on-line and an FTP site should be available. The ANE list is one of the best forums for press releases. As to the pottery project... I have been thinking about this as a means of increasing efficiency, reducing costs and expressing the limitations of pottery drawings. My thinking was that one should proceed in the following manner: 1. Scan into a data base all available complete pottery vessel profile drawings. 2. Develop a master typology on the basis of this database, leaving room for new additions. One platter bowl type could be, say, B.p.1.a (similar to the system developed by Kenyon and adopted by Cole, A. Mazar and others). 3. Ideally, digitized color images should also be included as a linked database. 4. In addition, a standardized terminology should also be announced and made available, similar to the Thesaurus now in use at the IAA. 5. This master type list should include all periods. 6. It should have a menu that allows sorting, searches and include the inventory of sites where individual types have been found and more specific find contexts. 7. Theoretically, a fragment drawn and described according to convention can be identified, in all its possible complete forms. 8. Since it will be impossible to get everyone to agree to all such a program's facets, an oversight committee representing different institutions and different interests should be formed to guide the people actually building the database. How's this for a Pandora's box? David Ilan Tel Aviv University ------------------------------ From: Mikko LOUHIVUORI - 292632 Date: Mon, 6 Feb 1995 12:18:26 +0200 (IST) Subject: Question on ancient prostitution Rachel Bar-Natan, the director of Beth Shean Excavations, is interested in hearing about Hellenistic-Roman-Byzantine buildings relating to prostitution and is very grateful if you post some references to building plans and to publications. ------------------------------ From: Bente Holmen Date: Mon, 6 Feb 1995 13:29:07 +0100 (MET) Subject: pelusium/wine Hi out there. Does anybody know who was the first to claim Pelusium as a famous wine producing area? I would like to know as I am working on a thesis concerning the pruduction of wine in ancient Egypt. Cheers, Annette Lerstrup Annette Lerstrup,The Carsten Niebuhr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark ------------------------------ From: Lana.Troy@egyptologi.uu.se Date: Mon, 6 Feb 1995 15:14:50 +0100 Subject: Museum position MUSEUM POSITION IN EGYPTOLOGY A job announcement has just landed on my desk which might be of interest to a few people. It is in Swedish, but I'll take the liberty to summarize and translate. From=20 Riksantikvarie=E4mbetet och Statens Historiska Museer (National Antiquities Board and the State Historical Museums) F=F6rste Intendent/Expert (First Curator) till Medelhavsmuseet (Museum of Mediterranean Antiquities) Duties: Expert responsible for the Egyptian collection, including conservation, registration, documentation and scientific publication. Presentation of the collection in a permanent as well as temporary exhibitions. Responsible for all matters concerning Egyptology, and certain administrative duties.=20 Desired qualifications:Filosofie doktorsexamen (PhD) or equivalent in Egyptology. Documented scientific competence, as well as outstanding experience of practical museum work.=20 Information: Museum director Bengt Peterson or union representative Adina Ekbergh. Both are available at=20 (from Sweden) 08-783 94 00=20 (from abroad) 46-8-783 94 00 The application should be in the hands of Riksantikvarie=E4mbetet och statens historiska museer Box 5405 S-114 54 STOCKHOLM SWEDEN latest the 14th of February 1995 Mark your application with the registration number 114-5-1995 =A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4= =A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=20 * Docent Lana Troy (assoc. prof.) * * Department of Egyptology * * Uppsala University * * Gustavianum * * S-753 10 Uppsala /SWEDEN * * Lana.Troy@egyptologi.uu.se * * Voice 46-18-182079 * * Fax 46-18-127412 * =A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4= =A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4=A4 ------------------------------ From: jmanning@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Joe Manning) Date: Mon, 6 Feb 1995 09:20:40 -0500 Subject: Alexander & the New arch. The New York Times has anotehr article today, Monday, 6 Feb, p. 8, relating that a team of archaeologists had reached Siwa and were assessing thre work done so far. Apparently the investigative team have been using a new form of archaeological reconnaissance. Ms. Souvaltzi has used mystical guidance, the NYT reports, "in part from snakes." Very ssssssssssssuspicious. joe manning assistant professor of classics & ancient history ------------------------------ From: Gary M Beckman Date: Mon, 6 Feb 1995 10:10:12 -0500 (EST) Subject: Re: Two items (Bernal) Just to rain on Dr. Douda's parade, I'd like to state that neither Bernal's *Black Athena* nor the debate concerning the work on this list have convinced me that Greek civilization is in any significant way dependent upon Egyptian culture. Gary Beckman ------------------------------ From: "Roberta Shaw" Date: Mon, 06 Feb 95 10:36:40 Subject: Re: pelusium/wine I suggest you contact Jean-Yves Carrez-Maratray at Angers University in France - he is about to publish his dissertation on Pelusium in IFAO ------------------------------ From: RYAN_D@SALT.PLU.EDU Date: Mon, 06 Feb 1995 09:52:13 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Mummies As one who has excavated in the Valley of the Kings and having dealt with many human remains there, including more or less intact mummies, I must comment that I prefer that they stay where they were intentionally and thoughtfully interred and where we have left them: in the quiet solitude and dignity of their own tombs. - - Donald P. Ryan Division of Humanities Pacific Lutheran University RYANDP@PLU.EDU ------------------------------ From: BEM1523@UTARLG.BITNET Date: Mon, 06 Feb 1995 12:22:08 -0600 (CST) Subject: Budge I am an undergraduate anthropology student at UT-Arlington. I saw the movie "Stargate" and heard James Spader's negative remark about E.A. Budge. I have read in Fagan's "Rape of the Nile" about Budge's notorious reputation as an antiquities looter. My question is whether Budge's unsavory reputation is also a result of his scholarship. Does Budge have a bad reputation in general among profesional Egyptologists? It is interesting that so many of his book are still in print. I wonder whether his works on Egyptian language and culture are trustworthy; and if no, why not? Is his translation of the Book of the Dead accurate? Should one avoid Budge's works altogether? Which ones are best, and which are worst? Thanks very much for your advice. Brian Moffitt BEM1523@UTARLG.UTA.EDU ------------------------------ From: Sean W McMullin Date: Mon, 6 Feb 1995 13:30:58 -0700 (MST) Subject: Re: Budge On Mon, 6 Feb 1995 BEM1523%UTARLG.BITNET@uchimvs1.uchicago.edu wrote: > I have > read in Fagan's "Rape of the Nile" about Budge's notorious reputation as an > antiquities looter. My question is whether Budge's unsavory reputation is > also a result of his scholarship. Does Budge have a bad reputation in general > among profesional Egyptologists? In a few words, he has a very poor reputation precisely because of his scholarship. In the Egyptology entry in the Encyclopedia of Religion, Leonard Lesko states, very aptly, that many of Budge's ideas were outdated before they came off the press near the turn of the century. He tended to form ideas, then hang on to them regardless of the evidence to the contrary. I personally find his books interesting for the historiology of Egyptology. But as far as scholarly worth, he wrote little I would feel comfortable quoting. As a translator he did a respectable job in 1880. However following Gardnerian scholarship knowledge of the language has been refined markedly. I would advise you strongly to use Faulkner or Hornung in all possible cases. Sean McMullin University of Montana cicero@selway.umt.edu ------------------------------ From: "Richard Beal" Date: 6 Feb 1995 17:19:45 U Subject: Alex&Siwa Alex&Siwa The NY Times of today Feb. 6 that was printed in Chicago, had on page A4 an article entitled "Official Greek Archeological Team Doubts Egyptian Site Holds the Tomb of Alexander". Essentially, the General Secretary of the Greek Min.of Culture, Geo. Thomas, led a team to Siwa to look around. The excavator, Liana Souvaltzi, refused to show them around or to show them her reports, photos or plans. The Greek Min. of Culture team said that they could not tell if the remains were a tomb or a temple. They said that it appeared that while there was a bit of Hellenistic stuff around (not Macedonian), most of the complex was Roman in date. It also came out that "The inscriptions on the tablets, broken into pieces, were translated by Mrs. Souvaltzi's husband, who has no formal archaeological training. He also provides the financing for her research". She at least has a PhD in archaeology from Univ. of Athens. The Greek government team said that the fragments of the tablets they were shown did not support any of the translations she provided [previously] as proof of her discovery. The Egyptian authorities are now backtracking, saying "It is an important discovery, but we have to be a bit careful. We must wait for further study and a reconsideration of the text". Curious and curiouser. Rich Beal r-beal@uchicago.edu ------------------------------ From: Ted.Robinson@antiquity.su.edu.au (Ted Robinson) Date: Mon, 6 Feb 1995 19:51:47 -0500 Subject: Festschrift Hennessy (1/2) On February 10, Emeritus Professor J. Basil Hennessy of the University of Sydney will be celebrating his 70th birthday. On this occasion a Festschrift entitled "Trade, Contact and the Movement of Peoples in the Eastern Mediterranean" will be launched. The Table of Contents accompanies this message as an enclosed file. Further information from MEDITARCH, Box 243, Holme Building, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. (Fax: +612 351 4889 or +612 4984473). ------------------------------ From: Ted.Robinson@antiquity.su.edu.au (Ted Robinson) Date: Mon, 6 Feb 1995 19:51:47 -0500 Subject: Festschrift Hennessy (2/2) CONTENTS ix Editors' Note and Acknowledgements xi John Basil HennessyoA Biographical Sketch (by Kathryn O. Eriksson) xiii J. Basil Hennessy: Bibliography 1954o1994 xv Tabula Gratulatoria 1 P. C. Edwards and P. G. Macumber, The Last Half Million Years at Pella (Pl. 1) 15 G. R. H. Wright, The Houses of Death and of Birth 27 P. Seaton, A Note on Possible Chemical Industries at Teleilat Ghassul 31 E. Peltenburg, Kissonerga in Cyprus and the Appearance of Faience in the East Mediterranean (Pl. 2) 43 N. Lapp, Some Early Bronze Age Seal Impressions from the Dead Sea Plain and Their Implications for Contacts in the Eastern Mediterranean (Pls. 2o5) 53 R. S. Merrillees, Post-Mortem on a Corpus: A Review Article on Studies in Mediterranean Archaeology volumes III: 1 and LXXXII 61 E. G. D. Robinson, Basil Hennessy and the Nicholson Museum. Two Early Bronze Age IV Tomb Groups from Jericho (Pl. 6) 81 M. Ibrahim and N. Qadi, El-Musheirfeh iShnellari Tombs. An Intermediate Bronze Age Cemetery (Pls. 6o8) 103 K. Prag, The 'Built Tomb' of the Intermediate EarlyoMiddle Bronze Age at Beitrawi, Jordan (Pl. 9) 115 D. Frankel and J. Webb, Archaeological Research in the Marki Region, Cyprus (Pls. 9o10) 129 P. *str*m, Australia, Sweden, and the Cypriot Bronze Age 133 A. Hadidi, Hyksos Influence in Jordan and Palestine 137 F. J. Giles, The Relative Chronology of the Hittite Conquest of Syria and Aitakama of Qadesh 149 S. J. Bourke and R. T. Sparks, The DAJ Excavations at Pella in Jordan in 1963/64 169 V. Hankey, A Late Bronze Age Temple at Amman Airport: Small Finds and Pottery Discovered in 1955 (Pls. 10o14) 187 A. K. South, Urbanism and Trade in the Vasilikos Valley in the Late Bronze Age (Pls. 15o16) 199 K. O. Eriksson, Egyptian Amphorae from Late Cypriot Contexts in Cyprus (Pl. 17) 207 R. North, State of the Published Proof that Qant*r is Raamses 219 M. Ottosson, iSo It Was With All These Townsi (Jos. 21: 42) 233 H. J. Franken, Cave I at JerusalemoAn Interpretation 241 S. Hart, Area D at Buseirah and Edomite Chronology 264 D. HomIs-Fredericq, A Cosmetic Palette from Lehun, Jordan (Pl. 17) 271 J. R. Green, From Taranto to Alexandria (Pl. 18) 275 G. J. Wightman, Ben Sira 50: 2 and the Hellenistic Temple Enclosure in Jerusalem 285 M. C. A. MacDonald, Herodian Echoes in the Syrian Desert 291 S.-A. Wallace, The Pella Collection in the Australian National Gallery, Canberra ( Pls. 19o22) 303 P. M. Watson, Ceramic Evidence for Egyptian Links with Northern Jordan in the 6tho8th Centuries 321 A. G. Walmsley, Christians and Christianity at Early Islamic Pella (Fihl) 325 C. J. Lenzen, Continuity or Discontinuity: Urban Change or Demise? 333 R. H. Smith, Memento of a Venetian Merchantis Visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Late 14th Century (Pl. 22) 210 x 297 mm, hard cover Printed by Southwood Press on 100% recycled, archive-quality paper. ISBN 0 86758 944 2 ------------------------------ From: GOELET@ACFcluster.NYU.EDU Date: Mon, 06 Feb 1995 23:13:20 -0500 (EST) Subject: The "Tomb" of Alexander I thought I'd hiss a word of warning on the "Alexander Tomb" to you all, in case you haven't seen this item in the New York Times on Monday (p. 8A): "CAIRO, Feb. 5 - A high-level archaeological team from the Greek Government, investigating claims that the tomb of Alexander the Great had been discovered in Egypt's western desert, visited the site today and said that they saw no evidence that the tomb had been found. But Liana Souvaltzi, the archaeologist who announced last week that she had found the tomb outside the oasis of Siwa, said on Saturday: "I have no reservations. This is Alexander's tomb. There is no doubt." She said the tomb was built in Macedonian style and that three tablets uncovered at the site provided the archaeological proof. One of the tablets, she said, was written by Alexander's lieutenant. Ptolemy I, and affirmed a legend that Alexander had been poisoned. Another, she said, was left by the Roman emperor Trajan, who she said had paid his respects at the site. But the Greek team, headed by the General Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, George Thomas, said it was unclear if the structure she was excavating was even a tomb. He and members of the team said that the style of the complex was not, as Mrs. Souvaltzi said, Macedonian. And they said that the fragments of tablets they were shown did not support any of the translations she provided as proof of her discovery. The team members also said that the fragment they saw were from the Roman period, some 300 years after the death of Alexander the Great. "We are not sure if the complex is a tomb or temple," said Dr. Yanni Tzedakis, the Director of Antiquities for the Greek Government, "although there are elements of the Hellenistic period in the rubble. It appears, however, to be from a later period." Mrs. Souvaltzi has refused to allow the visiting team to read her report on the excavations. She has also refused to brief the team on her work. She gave no reason for her refusal to cooperate with the Greek officials. "The fact that the report on the excavations is not being shown to us is curious," Dr. Tzedakis said. "She should present photos and plans, along with details of the excavations to back up her claim. This is how it is done in Greece." Abdel-Halim Nureddin, chairman of the Egyptian Antiquities Organization, who said earlier in the week that he supported the claim by Mrs. Souvlatzi, now says he is less sure about the find. "It is an important discovery," Mr. Noureddin said, "but we have to be a bit careful. We must wait for further study and a reconsideration of the text." Mrs. Souvaltzi, who has an archaeological degree from the University of Athens, has been excavating in the area around Siwa, 50 miles east of the Libyan border, for the past four years. The inscriptions on the tablets, broken into pieces, were translated by Mrs. Souvaltzi's husband, who has no formal archaeological training. He also provides the financing for her research. Mrs. Souvaltzi, who says she has received mystical guidance in her research, in part from snakes, has claimed in the past that this structure was the tomb of Alexander. She wrote an article in an Egyptian magazine, published by Cairo University three years ago, saying that the same structure was the tomb of Alexander. The report was dismissed at the time by senior archaeologists in Egypt and Greece. The Greek team said that the fragments of tablets they were shown did not appear to support Mr. Souvaltzi's translations. They also said that they did not see the eight-pointed Macedonian star Mrs. Souvaltzi says she found on what she describes as the tomb. "These inscriptions have nothing to do with the period of Ptolemy I," Mr. Tzedakis said, "and they are very well dated. We did not see any of the words they say were inscribed on the tablets, not Alexander, not Ptolemy, not even the word poison." Alexander, King of Macedonia, led his armies out of Greece in 334 B.C. at the age of 22 and conquered an empire that covered much of Asia and the Middle East. Ancient texts indicate that, after his death in Babylon in 323 B.C. on a military campaign, his body was moved to Syria and then to Egypt. But his final burial place remains a mystery. About 570 B.C., the Pharaoh Amasis built a temple in Siwa to the god Amun. The temple oracle was one of the most famous in antiquity and was famed for being able to answer difficult question. Alexander went to Siwa in 332 B.C. to see the oracle. The oracle, according to legend, told Alexander he was divine and the son of Amun. Ogden Goelet goelet@acfcluster.nyu.edu ------------------------------ From: ic@maties.sun.ac.za Date: Tue, 7 Feb 95 07:57 GMT+200 Subject: Bernal - a South AFRICAN perspective Bernal - a South African perspective Having studied Bernal's volumes myself and having followed the discussion on the internet, I would like to add some remarks to the discussion from South AFRICA. Up to now I have not seen any response from the African continent itself. [How many ANE-listserver/internet members are there on the African continent?] As far as the "African continuities" are concerned, I may cite an example from my own experiences. When I once spoke (on invitation) at a Black South African University (I am from a White University - both the result of 350 years of segregation!) on the Egyptian and Nubian cultures, the response was overwhelming - scores of students wanted a copy of my paper and a bibliography for further study (esp. on the Nubians). I mentioned Bernal in my introduction, but it was interesting to me that none of the Black scholars present seemed to know his books. They all knew Asante and esp. Ante Diop. [I wonder if this is the case in other parts of Africa or the world and why?]. Bernal has not gone unnoticed in South Africa. I mention it in my classes (esp. vol. I and criticizes vol. II quite severely). Some classicists in this country have dealt with Bernal and at my University we once had an interesting Classics/Ancient Near Eastern Studies debate on Bernal. In the New South Africa (the last of the colonies to be democratized) everyone is trying his best to move away from euro-centrism (which was the base of the whole Apartheid ideology). Perhaps Bernal vol. I can help, keeping in mind that the political purpose of Black Athena is " to lessen European cultural arrogance" (Bernal 1987, 73). The history which had been taught in for the last 300 years of colonial rule and 50 years of Apartheid (which is nothing else than the South African version of colonialism) largely ignored the African past (e.g. Zulu culture), overemphasizing the achievements of White settlers. The historical curriculum is presently been re-written and the role of Black South Africans are included. Egypt also plays an important part. The point I would like to make is that the discussion should not be limited to the "Europeans", but perhaps the Africans should also be given the change to state their case in a world where the North still dominates! Best wishes from a hot Cape of Good Hope (38 degrees C)! Izak Cornelius Ancient Near Eastern Studies University of Stellenbosch Stellenbosch ZA-7600 ------------------------------ From: e.d.wardini@easteur-orient.uio.no (Elie Wardini) Date: Tue, 7 Feb 1995 12:10:49 +0100 Subject: Re: Dating Biblical Hebrew( by H. Cryer Dear Fred, and others (excuse me if I speak of you Fred in the third person!! ;-) ) Let us then recap: The issue: The relative homogeniety of the language of the OT. A: unless we have other reasons, linguistic or not, to date certain sections of the OT, statistical differences are *not* idicative of age of a certain text or part of it. I agree with Cryer. B: the relative homogeneity of the language of the OT can then be understood (according to Cryer) as: 1) "that the text of the OT has been systematically *updated* as to language, so that the end result is a Hebrew not far removed from the generation of tradents for whom the text became *Scripture*... or 2) that the OT was *written* more or less at one go, or at least over a latively short period of time... (p.192). C: I would add that we should sonsider the phenomena Diglossia/ Literary vs spoken language in order to come to more correct conclusions. THus a language *can* be written in a homogenous standard over a long period of time. D: Cryer's argument that certain works formed the basis of a literary standard (Quran, Peshitta etc.) is relavant yet: 1) even if the following statement is correct (from Cryer's response on ANE): "The issue of diglossia is a good one, although the methodological issues involved are formidable and are hardly so easily dealt with as, for example, Gary Rendsburg imagines." It does not mean that this phenomenon can be ignored. 2) Do we know enough to decide that diglossia/ Literary standards recquire, a priori, a Standard Work like the Bible, Quran etc.? In fact as for the Creol languages in a diglossic relationship with French, there is no one dokument which functions as THE STANDARD but rather a lingistic tradition. THis was also the case, as far as I understand it, in Akkadian and Aramaic. One tried as best one could to imitate a certain literary tradition. This should also be the background of the use of Phoenician in the Kilawuna and Karatepe inscriptions. They were hardly the reflection of spoken Phoenician in these regions. Here I would by no means imply that the different Phoenician inscritions are homogenous. What I am trying to point out is that we do not need to have a Single Text (or a set of texts) as a model in order to write in a homogenous language over a long period of time. It is hardly the case that one needs to read the Quran in order to write "good" Arabic. One needs to learn the grammar and have a good teacher, and eventually read a whole range of texts written in this standard. I admit though that a single model *seems* to impose a more strict homogeneity on a language that just a literary standard (if we are to draw fast conclusions based on Arabic/ Syriac vs Aramaic(non-Syriac)/ Akkadian). Yet this still needs to be shown. Moreover, we do not *know* that Hebrew lacks such a standard word. Most scholars do agree that later redactors have used earlier material in their compilation of the different books of the OT. Do we know what language these materials were written in? Were they representatives of the literary standard that is reflected in the Hebrew OT? By making these points I do not want to say that the Bible has been written over a long period of time and contradict Cryer's conclusions. I would like to introduce diglossia/ literary standards as additional alternatives to Cryer's suggestions. I am convinced that the issue is much more complex implying one or more of the alternatives presented above. Elie Wardini ------------------------------ End of Ancient Near East Digest V2 #70 ************************************** Back issues are available by two means: anonymous FTP at oi.uchicago.edu in pub/ane/ OR on the World Wide Web (WWW) at ftp://oi.uchicago.edu/pub/ane/