Eilat Mazar Explained

Eilat Mazar
Birth Date:10 September 1956
Citizenship:Israeli
Fields:Archaeology
Workplaces:Shalem Center, Institute of Archaeology at the Hebrew University
Alma Mater:Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Known For:Discovery of the Large Stone Structure

Eilat Mazar (Hebrew: אילת מזר; 10 September 195625 May 2021) was an Israeli archaeologist. She specialized in Jerusalem and Phoenician archaeology. She was also a key person in Biblical archaeology noted for her discovery of the Large Stone Structure, which she surmised to be the palace of King David.

Biography

Eilat Mazar was born on 10 September 1956.[1] She was the granddaughter of pioneering Israeli archaeologist Benjamin Mazar, who served as president of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and the second cousin of Amihai Mazar, a professor of Archaeology at the Hebrew University as well.[2] She obtained a Bachelor of Arts from that same institution, before joining the excavation team of Yigal Shiloh in 1981 and working there for four years.[3] She was granted a Doctor of Philosophy from Hebrew University in 1997.[4] Her thesis was written on the culture of Phoenicia, based on the excavations she undertook in Achziv.[2]

Mazar had one daughter from her first marriage, which ended in divorce.[2] [5] Her second marriage was to Yair Shoham, who was also an archaeologist. They remained married until his death from a heart attack in 1997, at the age of 44.[5] Together, they had three sons.[6]

Mazar died on 25 May 2021. She was 64, and suffered from an unspecified long illness prior to her death.[2] [3]

Archaeology career

Mazar served as a senior fellow at the Shalem Center. She worked on the Temple Mount excavations and excavations at Achzib. She was previously head of Shalem Center's Institute of Archaeology.[4]

The Large Stone Structure ("King David's palace")

On 4 August 2005, Mazar announced she had discovered in Jerusalem what may have been the palace of the biblical King David, according to the Bible the second king of a united Kingdom of Israel, who may have ruled in the late eleventh century/early tenth century BCE. Now referred to as the Large Stone structure, Mazar's discovery consists of a public building she dated from the 10th century BCE, a copper scroll, pottery from the same period, and a clay bulla, or inscribed seal, of Jehucal, son of Shelemiah, son of Shevi, an official mentioned at least twice in the Book of Jeremiah. In July 2008, she also found a second bulla, belonging to Gedaliah ben Pashhur, who is mentioned together with Jehucal in Jeremiah 38:1.[7] The dig was sponsored by the Shalem Center and financed by an American investment banker, Baron Corso de Palenzuela Ha Levi-Kahana Mayuha. The land is owned by the Ir David Foundation.[8]

Amihai Mazar, a professor of archeology at Hebrew University, and Mazar's cousin, called the find "something of a miracle". He has said that he believes that the building may be the Fortress of Zion that David is said to have captured. Other scholars are skeptical that the foundation walls are from David's palace. They suggest that the Large Stone Structure is a massive Jebusite building that was constructed at the end of Jebusite rule over Jerusalem. In her preliminary report published in 2009, Dr. Mazar recognized that this was possible, but she also explained why it is highly unlikely. The Jebusites would not have invested the time and resources necessary to build a massive palatial structure outside their fortress city, at a time when the Israelites were growing in power and preparing to conquer the Jebusite territory.[9]

Nehemiah's wall

In 2007 Mazar uncovered what she suggested was Nehemiah's wall.[10]

Solomonic gate and tower

In 2010 Mazar announced the discovery of part of the ancient city walls around the City of David which she believed date to the tenth century BCE. According to Mazar, "It's the most significant construction we have from First Temple days in Israel" and "It means that at that time, the 10th century, in Jerusalem there was a regime capable of carrying out such construction." The tenth century BCE is the period the Bible describes as the reign of King Solomon. Not all archaeologists believe that there was a strong state at that time, and the archaeologist Aren Maeir is dubious about such claims and about Mazar's dating.[11]

Ophel inscription

In 2012, Mazar announced the discovery of inscription at the Ophel excavation. The Ophel inscription was made on a large storage jar, and only a piece of 8 letters has been preserved. Several readings were suggested, as well as several attributions, possibly to Jebusites or to Hebrews. It dates to 11th–10th century BCE.[12] [13]

Ophel gold hoard

On 9 September 2013, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem announced that Eilat Mazar recently discovered a gold treasure at the foot of Temple Mount, dating back to the end of the Byzantine period (beginning of the 7th century). Dubbed as the Ophel Treasure, the 1,400-year-old cache contains a gold medallion on which a menorah, a shofar and a Torah scroll are etched.[14]

Bulla of Hezekiah

In 2015, Mazar made the discovery of the royal bulla of the biblical Hezekiah, which reads "Belonging to Hezekiah [son of] Ahaz king of Judah" and dates to between 727–698 BCE.[15] [16] This was, according to Mazar, "the first time that a seal impression of an Israelite or Judean king has ever come to light in a scientific archaeological excavation."[17] [18]

Bulla of Isaiah

In 2018 Mazar published a report discussing the discovery of another bulla which she said may have belonged to Isaiah, a prophet and contemporary of Hezekiah. She believed the fragment to have been part of a seal whose complete text might have read "Belonging to Isaiah the prophet."[19] Other experts, including George Washington University's Christopher Rollston, have pointed to the bulla being incomplete, and that the present inscription does not necessarily refer to the biblical figure.[20]

Scientific approach

Mazar was a biblical maximalist and, according to herself, "I work with the Bible in one hand and the tools of excavation in the other, and I try to consider everything."[21]

Israel Finkelstein and other archaeologists from Tel Aviv University have flagged concern that, with reference to her 2006 dating of the "Solomonic city wall" in the area to the south of the Temple Mount known as the "Ophel", "the biblical text dominates this field operation, not archaeology. Had it not been for Mazar's literal reading of the biblical text, she never would have dated the remains to the 10th century BCE with such confidence.[22] However, Amihai Mazar and other archaeologists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have defended Mazar's work and scholars now agree with Mazar's dating of this structure.[23] [24] [25]

Mazar was cautioned by epigrapher Ryan Byrne following the 2008 confusion over the inscription on the Shelomit seal, that "in the mad dash to report biblical artifacts to the public or connect discoveries with the most obscure persons or events reported in the Bible, there is sometimes a tendency to compromise the analytical caution that objects of such value so dearly deserve."[26]

Published works

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Eilat Mazar Is Born. Jackie. Headapohl. 10 September 2018. 26 May 2021. The Jewish News. Detroit. 25 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200925000621/https://thejewishnews.com/2018/09/10/eilat-mazar-is-born-israel-archaeology/. live.
  2. News: Hasson . Nir . 26 May 2021 . Dr. Eilat Mazar, Doyenne of Ancient Jerusalem Archaeology, Dies . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210526124720/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-dr-eilat-mazar-archaeologist-of-ancient-jerusalem-dies-1.9846283 . 26 May 2021 . .
  3. News: Borschel-Dan . Amanda . 26 May 2021 . Fearless pioneering biblical archaeologist Eilat Mazar dies at 64 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210526173454/https://www.timesofisrael.com/fearless-pioneering-biblical-archaeologist-eilat-mazar-dies-at-64/ . 26 May 2021 . .
  4. News: The once and future city. Rena. Rossner. The Jerusalem Post. 26 January 2006. 15 November 2009. Mazar, a senior fellow at the Shalem Center, a Jerusalem-based conservative think tank, is a graduate of the Hebrew University, and granddaughter of the famous archeologist Binyamin Mazar.. 4 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131004153609/http://www.jpost.com/Local-Israel/In-Jerusalem/The-once-and-future-city. live.
  5. News: Lefkovits . Etgar . 25 September 2008 . Archeology: Dr. Eilat Mazar – The Bible as blueprint . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210527224903/https://www.jpost.com/magazine/features/archeology-dr-eilat-mazar-the-bible-as-blueprint . 27 May 2021 . The Jerusalem Post.
  6. News: Dr. Eilat Mazar: Biblical Archaeologist. Livia. Bitton-Jackson. 3 July 2015. 26 May 2021. The Jewish Press. Brooklyn. 26 October 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151026003241/http://www.jewishpress.com/sections/jewess-press/impact-women-history/dr-eilat-mazar-biblical-archaeologist/2015/07/03/. live.
  7. Web site: Unique biblical discovery at City of David excavation site . 18 August 2008 . Israel Ministry of Foreign affairs. . 16 November 2009 . 3 November 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181103142720/http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/History/Early+History+-+Archaeology/Unique+biblical+discovery+at+City+of+David+excavation+site+18-Aug-2008.htm . live . The identifications of the four biblical figures in these two bullae, namely, Jehucal, Shelemiah, Gedaliah, and Pashhur, are affirmed to be strong identifications in Lawrence Mykytiuk, "Archaeology Confirms 50 Real People in the Bible," Biblical Archaeology Review, vol. 40, issue 2 (March/April 2014), p. 47 (persons 31–34) and p. 49, with endnotes on all 50 persons, including persons 31-34, freely available online at http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/people-in-the-bible/50-people-in-the-bible-confirmed-archaeologically/comment-page-1/#comments . Earlier, these four identifications had been found to be very reasonable in Lawrence J. Mykytiuk, "Corrections and Updates to 'Identifying Biblical Persons in Northwest Semitic Inscriptions of 1200–539 B.C.E.,'" Maarav 16/1 (2009), pp. 85–100, which is freely available online at https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/lib_research/129/ .
  8. Steven Erlanger, "King David's Palace Is Found, Archaeologist Says ", The New York Times, 5 August 2005.
  9. Web site: Nagtegall. Brent. August 1, 2020. Is It Really King David's Palace?. July 7, 2021. Watch Jerusalem.
  10. Etgar Lefkovits, "Nehemiah's wall uncovered ", The Jerusalem Post, 28 November 2007
  11. "Jerusalem city wall dates back to King Solomon," Jerusalem Post, 23 February 2009, http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=169388
  12. Web site: "Message decoded: 3,000-year-old text sheds light on biblical history", foxnews.com . . 11 September 2013 . 12 September 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130912034733/http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/07/31/3000-year-old-inscription-translated-biblical-history/ . live .
  13. Web site: Inscription from time of David & Solomon found near Temple Mount . Heritage Daily - Archaeology News . 27 May 2021 . 10 July 2013 . 27 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200927090438/https://www.heritagedaily.com/2013/07/inscription-from-time-of-david-solomon-found-near-temple-mount-in-hebrew-university-excavation/94550 . live .
  14. Web site: Ancient Golden Treasure Found at Foot of Temple Mount. Hebrew University of Jerusalem. 9 September 2013. 22 September 2013. 26 September 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130926124926/http://new.huji.ac.il/en/article/18251. live.
  15. Web site: FIRST EVER SEAL IMPRESSION OF AN ISRAELITE OR JUDEAN KING EXPOSED NEAR TEMPLE MOUNT. Eisenbud. Daniel. 2 December 2015. The Jerusalem Post. https://web.archive.org/web/20151203044047/http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Culture/First-ever-seal-impression-of-an-Israelite-or-Judean-king-exposed-near-Temple-Mount-436061. 3 December 2015. dead. 25 February 2018.
  16. Web site: Hezekiah Seal Proves Ancient Jerusalem Was a Major Judahite Capital. Fridman. Julia. 4 January 2016. Haaretz. 25 February 2018. 3 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180103073238/https://www.haaretz.com/jewish/archaeology/1.695308. live.
  17. Web site: First seal impression of an Israelite or Judean king ever exposed in situ in a scientific archaeological excavation. Smith. Dov. 2 December 2015. 25 February 2018. 24 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180124070651/https://phys.org/news/2015-12-israelite-judean-king-exposed-situ.html. live.
  18. [Biblical Archaeology Review]
  19. Mazar. Eliat. Is This the Prophet Isaiah's Signature?. Biblical Archaeology Review. March–June 2018. 44. 2. 64–69. 14 March 2018. This seal impression of Isaiah, therefore, is unique, and questions still remain about what it actually says. However, the close relationship between Isaiah and King Hezekiah, as described in the Bible, and the fact the bulla was found next to one bearing the name of Hezekiah seem to leave open the possibility that, despite the difficulties presented by the bulla’s damaged area, this may have been a seal impression of Isaiah the prophet, adviser to King Hezekiah.. 10 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190410085229/https://members.bib-arch.org/biblical-archaeology-review/44/2/7. live.
  20. Web site: 2018 February . rollstonepigraphy.com . en-US . 27 February 2018 . 27 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180227214201/http://www.rollstonepigraphy.com/?m=201802 . live .
  21. Web site: Eilat Mazar: Uncovering King David's Palace . 20 January 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070120125149/http://www.momentmag.com/olam/Apr06/MOM-2006-04_mazar.html . 20 January 2007 ., Moment Magazine, April 2006. Accessed 29 July 2008
  22. [Israel Finkelstein]
  23. Book: Mazar, Amihai . Amihai Mazar . One God – One Cult – One Nation: Archaeological and Biblical Perspectives . 2010-09-27 . . 978-3-11-022358-3 . 29–59 . en . Archaeology and the Biblical Narrative: The Case of the United Monarchy . 10.1515/9783110223583.29 . https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110223583.29/html.
  24. Faust . Avraham . Avraham Faust . 2010 . The Large Stone Structure in the City of David: A Reexamination . . 126 . 2 . 116–130 . 41304083 . 0012-1169.
  25. Book: Friedman, Richard Elliott . Richard Elliott Friedman . The Exodus . 2017-09-12 . . 978-0-06-256526-6 . 98 . en.
  26. Ryan Byrne, Hebrew Seals and the Rush to Biblical Judgment, Biblical Archaeology Review website, 6 February 2008. Accessed 29 July 2008.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Eilat Mazar".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.