A New Money Economy at the Dawn of the Iron Age
June 2022 | Vol. 10.6 By Elon Heymans Money attracts not only people, but also stories. For example, among his many digressions, the Greek historian Herodotus recounts the story of
How Greek is Limestone Sculpture on Cyprus?
Iron Age sculpture from Cyprus is sometimes regarded as ‘debased Greek.’ But what does a closer look at sculpture from an island at the crossroads of empire tell us?
Writing and Rewriting the Story of Solomon in Ancient Israel
The Bible regards Solomon as the greatest and wisest of kings. But which Solomon are we talking about, that of Samuel-Kings or Chronicles? And which is closer to ‘history’?
Phoenician and Punic Masks: What Are They and What Were They Good For?
Many human societies created masks, but they were especially common in the Eastern Mediterranean. Phoenician masks spread from east to west, but what were they for and why did the
New Discoveries at Sela, the Mountain Stronghold of Edom
High atop a rocky plateau in southern Jordan is an Iron Age site whose survival depended on water management. It seems an unlikely location, but the Babylonian king Nabonidus had n
The Bearded Figure Who Might be King
Figurines appear in the Iron Age Levant but very few are made of the material called faience. Fewer still can be plausibly interpreted as representing an actual king.
Northern Exposure: Tel Abel Beth Maacah after Six Seasons of Excavation
The northernmost major site in Israel has been excavated for six seasons, bringing to light remains from the Bronze and Iron Ages. The project directors present a summary of some o