BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGYMacarena García Gª

The Roman City dig 2011, session no.7

Biblical Archaeology: Location

The Holy Land: Israel, Palestine, Jordan.

And also some places descrived in the biblical narratives:

- Tanakh/Old Testament: Egypt, Syria, Mesopotamia

- New Testament: Asia Minor, Macedonia, Greece, Rome

DATESDATES HISTORICAL PERIODHISTORICAL PERIOD BIBLICAL PERIODBIBLICAL PERIOD

3,200-1,200 B.C. BRONZE AGE

3,200-2,200 B.C. Early Bronze Age

2,200-2,000 B.C. Middle Bronze Age I

2,000-1,750 B.C. Middle Bronze Age II Patriarchal Age (?)

1,750-1,550 B.C. Middle Bronze Age III

1,550-1,400 B.C. Late Bronze I Patriarchal Age (?)

1,400-1,200 B.C. Late Bronze II Patriarchal Age (?) Egypt, Exodus

1,200-539 B.C. IRON AGE

1,200-1,000 B.C. Iron Age I Joshua’s conquest of the land (?) Judges Age

1,000-930 B.C. Iron Age IIA United Monarchy

930-721 B.C. Iron Age IIB Divided Monarchy: Israel (north, Samaria) and Judah (south, Jerusalem)

721-586 B.C. Iron Age IIC Divided Monarchy

586-539 B.C. Iron Age III Neo-Babylonian period (Exile)

539-332 B.C. PERSIAN PERIOD Return, Persian Period

332-63 B.C. HELLENISTIC PERIOD

332-198 B.C. Early Hellenistic Hellenistic Period to 165 B.C.

198-63 B.C. Late Hellenistic From 165 B.C.: Maccabees’ War, Hasmonean Period

63 B.C.-330 A.D. ROMAN PERIOD

63 B.C.-70 A.D. Early Roman Herod’s time, Christianity, New Testament. 70 A.D.: destruction of the II Temple

70-135 A.D. Middle Roman Yabne Age, 133-135 A.D.: Bar Kokhba revolt

135-330 A.D. Late Roman Mishnaic and Talmudic Ages

330-638 A.D. BYZANTINE PERIOD Consolidation of Christianism

CAPHARNAUMAlso known as Tell Hum, Khirbet Karazeh, Bethsaida,

Capernaum, Chorazin, Kefar Nahum, Kafarnaum, Kefar Tanhum, Talhum, Tanhum

The SynagogueJesus was confronted by a demoniac while teaching here (Mark 1:21-27).In Capernaum, Jesus healed the servant of the centurion.  This Roman official was credited with building the synagogue (Luke 7:3).In this synagogue, Jesus gave sermon on the bread of life (John 6:35-59).

The House of Peter1. House in Jesus’ time.2. Domus Ecclesia: 4th century A.D3. Byzantine church: 5th century A.D.

GERASAThe biblical city of Gerasa is known today as Jerash.

Gerasa was one of the cities of the Roman Decapolis and is one of the best preserved.

The high point of Gerasa was in the 2nd century, when it had a population of 20,000-25,000.

Most of the ruins are from the Greco-Roman and Byzantine periods.

ROMAN OCCUPATION

- Hadrian’s Triumphal Arch (about 130 A.D.)

- Temple of Artemis (2nd century A.D.)

- Hippodrome (2nd century A.D.)

SOUTH THEATER

- Its construction began in 90 A.D.

- It would fit 3,000 people on its 33 rowns.

- It has some inscribed seats in greek (the latin was not used in the Near East).