GALLERY OF BIBLICAL ARTIFACTS

ART Bronze Age Oil Lamp.jpg (166436 bytes)

ISRAEL

TERRACOTTA OIL LAMP

Late Bronze Age

c. 1500-1200 BC

Terracotta oil lamp from the time of Moses. This lamp was made in Canaan between 1500-1200 BC. Lamps of this type used a rope or fabric wick and burned olive oil as a fuel. These were commonly used in everyday life for lighting homes and provide a great deal of light. Ancient homes excavated in archeological digs often have small niches in the walls for lamps of this sort. They were also used in shops, temples and public buildings and at religious events. These lamps are also often found in tombs, where they were intended to illuminate the way of the dead into the next life.

This late Bronze Age lamp measures 15cm long, 15cm wide and is 6cm high. It is a pinched spout saucer type lamp with heavy carbon deposits around the spout area, the bowl has been broken and restored. These lamps are dated by the width of the spout. (see ADLER 8-9)

EXODUS 27:20 "And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always."

ART Iron Age blackware Jug.jpg (135139 bytes)

ISRAEL

BLACK WARE JUGLET

Early Iron Age

c. 1000-800 BC

Black ware juglet from the time of Saul, David and Solomon. These black jugs stand apart from the typical tan to reddish pottery used in ancient Israel. Items of this type would have been used to store rare oil or perfume. Small pottery vessels were common in everyday use in ancient Israel during all periods from Neolithic times. Because it was so widely used pottery is the tool most often used by archaeologists to date sites.

This early Iron Age juglet measures 9cm tall and is about 6cm wide. It was wheel-made with an applied handle. (MALLOY-666)

II KINGS 4:6 "And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed."

ROMAN EMPIRE

IRON NAIL

c. First Century AD

Roman iron nail from the time of Christ. Iron nails of this type were made over all parts of the Roman Empire, they were made by the millions and served various uses. Nails of this type would have been used in the Crucifixion to secure Christ's wrists to the cross.

JOHN 20:25 "The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe."

ART Herodian Oil Lamp.jpg (235569 bytes)

JUDAEA

TERRACOTTA OIL LAMP

Herodian Period

c. 50 BC - AD 50

Terracotta oil lamp from the time of Christ and the Apostles. This lamp was made in Judaea between 50 BC-AD 50. Lamps of this type used a rope or fabric wick and burned olive oil as a fuel. These were commonly used in everyday life for lighting homes and provide a great deal of light. Ancient homes excavated in archeological digs often have small niches in the walls for lamps of this sort. They were also used in shops, temples and public buildings and at religious events. These lamps are also often found in tombs, where they were intended to illuminate the way of the dead into the next life.

This Herodian Era lamp measures 9cm long, 6cm wide and is 3cm high. These lamps had a wheel made body and an applied nozzle. There are carbon deposits around the nozzle, it is decorated with a raised lines around the filling hole and an incuse line on the nozzle. Lamps of this era show the typical widening nozzle. (ADLER-91)

ACTS 16:29 "Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas"

JUDAEA

TERRACOTTA BOTTLE

Herodian Period

c. 50 BC - AD 50

Terracotta flask from the time of Christ and the Apostles. Items of this type would have been used to store rare oil or perfume. Small pottery vessels were common in everyday use in ancient Israel during all periods from Neolithic times. Because it was so widely used pottery is the tool most often used by archaeologists to date sites.

This Herodian Era measures 11.5cm tall and is about 5cm wide. It was wheel-made with a ribbed body. (MALLOY-695)

ROMANS 9:21 "Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?"

JUDAEA

AE Prutah

Alexander Jannaeus

103-76 BC

Bronze Prutah of Alexander Jannaeus. These small bronze coins were minted in large numbers from 103-76 BC and were the smallest denomination coin used in the Holy Land in the New Testament period. While production of these coins ceased in 76 BC, they continued in common use well into the Second Century.

These coins measures about 14mm in diameter and weigh 1g. The obverse shows an anchor and the reverse a star with eight rays. (HENDIN-469)

LUKE 21: 1-3 "And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had."

JUDAEA

AE Prutah

Herod Agrippa I

AD 41-42

Bronze Prutah of Herod Agrippa I. Herod Agrippa I ruled from AD 37-44 and has the distinction of being one of the first recorded persecutors of the Christians.

This coin measures 16mm in diameter and weighs 2.1g. The obverse shows a canopy and there are three ears of barley on the reverse. (HENDIN-553)

ACTS 12: 1-2 "Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword."

JUDAEA

AE Prutah

First Jewish War With Rome

AD 68-69

Bronze Prutah minted during the first revolt against Rome. In AD 66 several Jewish factions united in rebellion against Roman rule. The Roman General Vespasian was sent to crush the rebellion, but he was proclaimed Emperor by his troops in AD 69 and departed for Rome to secure his position. Vespasian's son Titus was left in charge of the war and in AD 70, having laid siege to Jerusalem, he defeated the Jews and destroyed the Temple.

This coin measures 18mm in diameter and weighs 2.5g. The obverse shows a amphora and the reverse a vine leaf. (HENDIN-664)

LUKE 19: 43-44 "For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another."

ROMAN EMPIRE

AE As

Nero

AD 65

Bronze As of the Roman Emperor Nero. Nero, who ruled Rome from AD 54-68, launched the first general persecution of Christians in AD 65. Saint Peter and Saint Paul were martyred in Rome during Nero's persecution.

This coin from the Rome mint measures 29mm in diameter and weighs 8.4g. The obverse shows a bust of Nero facing right and the reverse a winged Victory. (SEAR-1976)

ACTS 27: 23-24 "For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee."

ROMAN EMPIRE

AR Denarius

Domitian

AD 95

Silver Denarius of the Roman Emperor Domitian. Domitian ruled Rome from AD 81 until his assassination in AD 96. Domitian launched the second general persecution of Christians during the later years of his reign. Saint John was banished to the Isle of Patmos by Domitian and it was there that he wrote the Book of Revelation.

This coin from the Rome mint measures 19mm in diameter and weighs 3.2g. The obverse shows a bust of Domitian facing right and the reverse shows Minerva. (SEAR-2736v)