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| Life
is a game, and he who knows how to play it correctly, achieves a
great purpose. |
During
the late Bronze Age little jugs, known as "bil-bils"
were imported into Canaan. Analysis of substances found
inside has shown that they were used to hold the drug
opium. The shape of the jug is strikingly like that of an
upturned poppy head. |
In
the 12th century BC, Tell es-Sa'idiyeh, on the eastern side of
the river Jordan, was an Egyptian taxation and distribution
centre, collecting produce from Transjordan for shipment to
Egypt. Jars of Egyptian design were found in one of the
storerooms at the site and may have been used to store and
transport wine. |
Beautifully
made and elegantly decorated, Mycenean vessels known as
"stirrup jars" were imported into Canaan during the
late Bronze Age, perhaps containing perfumed oils. |
Dancing
and music were popular activities throughout the history of
Palestine, although few instruments have survived. Written
descriptions and pictures suggest that a wide variety of
instruments, such as harps, lyres, flutes, trumpets and a range
of percussion instruments, were used. |
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One
of the earliest attempts at alphabetic script found on this 17th
century BC bronze dagger from Lachish. |
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| Bronze
axe- head, decorated with a lion fighting a dog - probably for
ceremonial use. |
The
Canaanites and Phoenicians were renowned for their ivory
carving. |
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This
Phoenician glass vessel was probably used to hold incense |
A
popular subject for the Canaanites - the combat between a lion
and dog. |
The
finest pottery in palestine, both in terms of technical quality
and beauty, was made by the Canaanites. Their potters also
had a sense of humour, as shown by this face-vase from Jericho. |
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| This
ivory female head was found at Nimrud. It might have been
the work of a Syrian carver. |
Most
of the methods of the ancient potter are still used today.
Here a village potter in Egypt produces simple domestic wares. |
Pendant
from Tell el-'Ajjûl dating to the 16th century BC.
Decorated by granulation - gold wire is melted to make tiny
beads, which are then soldered to the surface. |
Vessels
carved from stones such as calcite and alabaster were extremely
popular in the late Bronze and Iron Ages, perhaps as containers
for perfumed oil. |
When
the Egyptians left Canaan they took the best artists and
craftsmen. So Solomon asked the king of Tyre for
Phoenician artisans when building his Temple in Jerusalem.
Phoenician metal- workers probably made the temple furnishings
shown in this old engraving. |
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| During
their first revolt against Rome in AD66, the Jews struck their
own coins |
The
standard Jewish silver coin was the shekel, which was also a
unit of weight. |
Coins
came into common use in the Holy Land at the time of the
conquest of Alexander. Roman imperial coins (top) bore a
portrait of the emperor, in this case, Vespasian. |
These
bronze coins are from the reign of Herod's son, Archelaus (4BC -
AD6). One shows a crested helmet, the other a bunch of
grapes. The Greek inscription reads "Herod, governor
of the people". |
Coins
had a propaganda value. These two coins from the second
Jewish revolt bear inscriptions, the first, "Year one of
the redemption of Israel" and the second bears the name of
the leader Shimeon. |
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| A
coin of the second Jewish revolt bears the name of its leader,
Shimeon. |
Before
coins were invented, commercial deals were done using a variety
of materials. Metal ingots or scraps were often used as a
currency of established value and these had to be weighed to
assess their worth. So accurate weights were needed, like
this lion-shaped one from Assyria. It is inscribed with
the name of King Shalmaneser III, for whom it was made. |
Precious
metals were frequently traded as ingots. This silver ingot
is from Zinjirli, ancient Sam'al. |
Coins
could be made to commemorate famous events. this coin
inscribed "Judaea Capta" records the Roman victory in
the first Jewish revolt. |
The
ancient Palestinian system of weights was based on the shekel
(equivalent to about 11.4g), the mina (60 shekels) and the
kikkar or "talent" (60 minas). These stone
weights are inscribed in Hebrew with their value. |
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