2005 Volume 41
The move to LaTrobe University has started and will
be largely complete by the time this issue of Buried History is being
read. While it will be some time before the museum is re-established,
the library and the artefacts themselves are
available for research and study.
This edition of Buried History begins with a paper
that was partly delivered as the 2005 Petrie Oration. Emeritus Professor
Edwin Judge has kindly allowed us to publish his paper in full. While
it is longer than normal, the paper presents the basic arguments supporting
Professor Judge’s view about the context of early Christian development
in the light of current scholarship. As such it is an important work.
The relevance of the paper to the early twenty-first century will also
not escape many readers who are aware of the exploration of church and
societal models.
Professor Judge has a classical background and became
Australia’s first Professor of Ancient History at Macquarie University
in 1967. In the twenty-five years that he held the chair he changed
the teaching environment for ancient history in tertiary and secondary
education in Australia. His broad publishing record has advanced many
fields of knowledge, especially the understanding of the first century
world in which the early Christians lived. Professor Judge has many
honours and distinguished awards and we were delighted that he accepted
an Honorary Fellowship of the Institute.
The paper by Albrecht Gerber is a fascinating discussion
about a most important philologist and archaeologist, the German theologian
Gustav Adolf Deissmann. As Gerber explains, Deissmann was also important
outside these disciplines. It is interesting to realize that in spite
of his significant contribution to New Testament studies and international
diplomacy, Deissmann has been all but forgotten. We are indebted to
Albrecht for this scholarly resurrection. Albrecht himself is a doctoral
student at the University of New England.
The paper by Terence Mitchell was previously published
in Faith and Thought without illustrations and we are pleased to include
it in this edition of Buried History. Terence was for many years before
his retirement a Keeper of Western Asiatic Antiquities at the British
Museum.
We are again pleased to have another paper about Kellis
which is in the Dakhleh Oasis of the Western Desert of Egypt. Thomas
Chandler and Derrick Martin have applied their virtual reality skills
to the archaeological evidence. At this site the remaining wall heights
are comparatively high giving a much greater reliability to their reconstructions
than would often be the case.
A number of book reviews follow. In subsequent years
we hope to increase this section of the journal.
This edition of Buried History was delayed because of the near end of
year date for the Petrie Oration. That will not be the case this year
so we expect that Volume 42 will be ready before the end of 2006.
Buried History is being included in a number of electronic databases
so that its contents will have circulation well beyond our current subscription
base. This will also increase its international circulation which has
been growing in recent years.s
Christopher J Davey
January 2006
The research library of the Australian
Institute of Archaeology
Table
of Contents
Papers
Edwin Judge - On this rock I will build my ekklesia:
Counter-cultic springs of multiculturalism? Read
Abstract
Albrecht Gerber - Gustaf Adolf Deissmann (1866-1937): trailblazer
in biblical studies, in the archaeology of Ephesus, and in international
reconciliation. Read Abstract
T.C. Mitchell - New Light on the Siloam Tunnel Inscription.
Read Abstract
Gillian E. Bowen - Thomas Chandler and Derrick Martin, Reconstructing
Ancient Kellis. Read Abstract
Book Reviews
Kenneth A. Kitchen, On the Reliability of the Old
Testament, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans 2003; Reviewed by Lindsay
Wilson - Read Here
Gavin Betts, Teach yourself new testament greek,
London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2004; Alexander Hopkins - Read
Here
James K. Hoffmeier, Ancient Israel in Sinai, Oxford:
Oxford University Press, 2005; Christopher Davey - Read
Here
Shimon Gibson, The Cave of John the Baptist, New
York: Doubleday, 2004; Christopher Davey - Read
Here
Colin J. Humphreys, The Miracles of Exodus, San
Francisco: Harper Collins, 2003; Murray Gillin - Read
Here
Gerald O’Farrell, The Tutankhamun deception,
London: Sidgwick & Jackson, 2001; Ian McDowell - Read
Here
Abstracts
Edwin Judge
- On this rock I will build my ekklesia: Counter-cultic springs of multiculturalism?
What we now mean by 'religion' embraces both worship
('cult') and an alternative life-style ('community'). But the two pull
in opposite directions. Worship is typically conservative, securing
the established order, while an alternative life-style is potentially
innovative, challenging it. The ekklesia Jesus was to build expressed
this challenge by rejecting formal worship. They used it only as a metaphor
for the new life-style. But once that came to dominate the Roman empire,
the metaphor was taken literally, with worship ('cult') now securing
the newly established order. Was there any precedent for this? Only
very rarely, and never for long, did ancient cults threaten to produce
a new community life. Philosophical schools, like the ekklesiai, often
criticised cultic worship, but never produced an ongoing community.
The Christian innovation lies behind the cultural dynamism of the West.
Multiculturalism stretches this paradox by respecting any traditional
worship even though the implied life-style may seem to challenge public
values. Read More...
Order Buried History Vol 41 Today!
Albrecht Gerber - Albrecht
Gerber - Gustaf Adolf Deissmann (1866-1937): trailblazer in biblical
studies, in the archaeology of Ephesus, and in international reconciliation.
Whether in philology, lexicography, archaeology, or
international reconciliation, the German theologian Gustav Adolf Deissmann
was an intellectual force to be reckoned with. As New Testament Professor
at Heidelberg (1897-1908) – where he produced most of his Greek
linguistic works – he became the ‘Father of New Testament
Philology’ and was the first one to prove the Greek Bible’s
vernacular Koine, by comparing its language with that in the papyri
and inscriptions. He is best known for his most frequently quoted book
Light from the Ancient East. As New Testament Professor at Berlin (1908-35),
he produced the internationally influential semi-political communiqués
Protestant Weekly Letter (1914-17) and Evangelischer Wochenbrief (1914-21),
which indirectly led to his successful rescue operation for the then
rapidly vanishing ancient city of Ephesus, and also helped to establish
him as a leading member of the post WW1 ecumenical and international
reconciliation movement. Deissmann was the recipient of eight honorary
doctorates – Marburg, Aberdeen, St Andrews, Manchester, Wooster,
Oxford, Uppsala and Athens – and was twice nominated for the Nobel
Peace Price. Read More...
Order Buried History Vol 41 Today!
T.C.
Mitchell - New Light on the Siloam
Tunnel Inscription.
The literature relating to the discovery and recording
of the Siloam Tunnel is reviewed and the most recent scientific dating
analysis is described. A date of 700BC or before for the tunnel is now
almost certain. A discussion of the technical terminology in the
tunnel inscription leads to the conclusion that the workmen who excavated
the tunnel probably used picks, or axe like implements, rather than
chisels. Read More...
Order Buried History Vol 41 Today!
Gillian
E. Bowen - Thomas Chandler and Derrick Martin, Reconstructing
Ancient Kellis.
The possibilities offered by Virtual Archaeology generated
a great deal of enthusiasm during the 1990s despite limitations of the
technology. Today, with advances in computer graphics and processing
power, 3D applications are increasingly used in furthering the documentation,
conservation and preservation of ancient heritage. This paper examines
the digital reconstruction of Ismant el-Kharab, ancient Kellis, Egypt
based upon data from excavations carried out by Dr Colin Hope and Dr
Gillian Bowen, Centre for Archaeology & Ancient History, Monash
University. Presently ancient Kellis exists principally in data not
immediately interpretable to the general public. In line with the growing
emphasis on Virtual Heritage, comprehensive three-dimensional (3D) visualisations
can significantly advance the awareness of historical sites normally
inaccessible due to their location or fragile condition. Visualisations
stretching across time and space can provide the possibility of visiting
places that no longer exist or of viewing how places would have appeared
at different times in their history. In the case of ancient Kellis,
as in most archaeological excavations, a complete reconstruction is
not possible as only a fraction survives. Several theories may compete
to explain probable or possible reconstructions; a presentation of plural
visualisations is the only way to obtain reasonable results. Interactive
applications offer the ability to compare and contrast details of buildings
and suggested reconstructions and choose between visualisations where
temporal and spatial aspects can be explored. These techniques can significantly
advance the archaeological interpretation of the site. Read More... Order Buried History Vol 41 Today!
Book Reviews
Kenneth A. Kitchen, On the Reliability
of the Old Testament, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans 2003, Xxii + 662 pages,
notes, black and white plates and indexes. ISBN 0-8028-4960-1
Reviewed by Lindsay Wilson
This is a landmark book from a leading evangelical scholar. Kenneth
Kitchen is Emeritus Professor of Egyptology at the University of Liverpool,
but has written extensively not only in the area of Egyptology, but
also about the ANE background to the events of the Bible...Read
More
Gavin Betts, Teach yourself
new testament greek, London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2004, 278 pages,
paperback A$44:95, ISBN 0340870842.
Reviewed by Alexander Hopkins
Gavin Betts was Associate Professor of Classical Studies at Monash University.
He is author of the Latin volume of the Teach Yourself series, co-author
with Alan Henry of the Ancient Greek volume, and has also translated
modern Greek writings into English...Read
More
James K. Hoffmeier,
Ancient Israel in Sinai, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005, 384pp,
maps and plates, US$45, ISBN 0195155467.
Reviewed by Christopher Davey
Professor Hoffmeier’s earlier work, Israel in Egypt
(1996) established a methodological and evidential background which
he develops further in this latest study. As readers of Israel in Egypt
will know Hoffmeier is well qualified for his subject material as a
scholar in Egyptology and the Ancient Near East. James Hoffmeier is
Professor of Near Eastern History and Archaeology at Trinity International
University...Read More
Shimon Gibson, The Cave
of John the Baptist, New York: Doubleday, 2004, 400pp, maps, figures,
plates, US$ 17, ISBN 0385503474 (Hb); The Cave of John the Baptist:
The first archaeological evidence of the historical reality of the Gospel
story, Arrow Books: London, 2005, US $11, ISBN 009942648X (Pb)
Reviewed by Christopher Davey
When studying archaeology one of my lectures stated to
my surprise that archaeologists are really in the entertainment industry.
He meant that if public are not interested in what archaeologists do,
funding will evaporate and it will be necessary to get a job not so
dependent on people’s curiosity...Read
More
Colin J. Humphreys,
The Miracles of Exodus, San Francisco: Harper Collins, 2003, ; Paperback
2004, 362 pages, Illustrations: Pictures and maps, US$24.95, ISBN 0060514043
(Hb)
Reviewed by Murray Gillin
Professor Colin Humphreys uses his scientific approach
to unlock many of the mysteries associated with the ten plagues that
afflicted the Hebrew people, the exodus journey, and a suggested new
site for Mount Sinai. Importantly he starts his journey by considering
the story of the Exodus to be that of an eye witness and states “his
approach to the description of Moses and the Exodus in the Bible is
going to be as a scientist who tests and weighs the evidence”...Read
More
Gerald O’Farrell,
The Tutankhamun deception, London: Sidgwick & Jackson, 2001, 233
pages US$18 ISBN 0283072938
Reviewed by Ian McDowell
The thesis of this book is that Lord Carnarvon and Howard
Carter gained access to the tomb of Tutankhamum in the Valley of the
Kings (KV62) across the Nile from Luxor in Egypt, some years before
the accepted entry year of 1922. They did this using postulated passages
connecting KV62 to adjoining tombs, notably that of Ramsses V &
VI (KV9), which were shown to them by the infamous tomb robber family
El-Rassul. Carter supposedly constructed the passage by which the tomb
is entered today, as part of a detailed recent misdirection...Read
More
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