Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Toto · 10-24-2007, 02:54 PM

BAR will be featuring an article on this:

Dutch researcher claims to confirm Queen Jezebel's seal By Cnaan Liphshiz

Quote:

Israeli archaeologists had suspected Jezebel was the owner ever since the seal was first documented in 1964. "Did it belong to Ahab's Phoenician wife?" wrote the late pioneering archaeologist Nahman Avigad of the seal, which he obtained through the antiquities market. "Though fit for a queen, coming from the right period and bearing a rare name documented nowhere other than in the Hebrew Bible, we can never know for sure."

Avigad's cautious approach stemmed from the fact that the seal did not come from an officially-approved excavation. It was thought to come from Samaria in the ninth century B.C.E., but there was no way of knowing for certain where it had been found. And that has been the scientific hurdle that Korpel - a theologian and Ugaritologist from Utrecht University and a Protestant minister - set out to conquer.

. . . .

"As a minister, I never speak of coincidence, but my research happened by chance," Korpel told Haaretz last week. "I was asked to deliver a paper on female embodiment. I'm not much of a feminist, but I'd written on the imagery of the seal."

One of the comments reads:

Quote:

Dr. Chris Rollston
City: Johnson City State: TN

Korpel`s Proposal contains a number of problematic assumptions. Note, for example, the fact that there is no patronymic, no title, etc. Note also that the script of this seal is not a good Old Hebrew 9th Century BCE script, nor is it a good Phoenician script. In addition, Korpel`s restoration is speculative (as would be any proposed restoration). For a fuller analysis, see the web site of the American Schools of Oriental Research (link below)

Precarious Scholarship: Problems with Proposing that the Seal of Yzbl was Queen Jezebel's

Another comment reads:

Quote:

JEZEBEL(KING AHAB`S GENTILE WIFE):INTERMARRIAGE LEADS TO APOSTASY PROPHET ELIJAH ORDERED HER TO BE KILLED

Vorkosigan · 10-29-2007, 08:40 PM

Science Daily is reporting on the Jezebel Seal, first found in 1964 getting a new life:

The seal not only bears symbols that indicate a woman but also symbols that designate a royal female owner. Furthermore, the seal is exceptionally large compared to the seals commonly possessed by ordinary citizens. With regard to the name, Korpel demonstrates through comparison with similar seals that the upper edge of the seal must have carried two broken-off letters that point to Jezebel as owner and lead to a correct spelling of Jezebel’s name (in mirror image).

Another seal -- a commonly faked object, Oded Golan hardly invented that industry -- linked to a Biblical figure of antiquity -- and what a coincidence! -- a break right across the name, so its meaning is in doubt.

I suspect that someday someone will prove this seal a fake, perhaps salted into the dig.

Michael

kiwimac · 10-29-2007, 09:05 PM

Perhaps we should wait and see?

spin · 10-29-2007, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiwimac

Perhaps we should wait and see?

As long as it is left on the shelf and not trotted out for the duffers to get distracted with. However, this stuff tends to be paraded as the latest wonder. We've been through it all a number of times before, so the usual process nowadays is label it fake until proven otherwise, not vice versa.

spin

Vorkosigan · 10-29-2007, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiwimac

Perhaps we should wait and see?

What? And spoil the fun?

Toto · 10-30-2007, 12:40 AM

It may not be fake, but it may not be related to the famous Jezebel.

But the fact that BAR is involved does tend to raise a red flag of sorts.

spin · 10-30-2007, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

the fact that BAR is involved does tend to raise a red flag of sorts.

BAR's gotta make money somehow. Gull the dumb public. When there's nothing new, tart up something old...

spin

10-29-2007, 08:40 PM	#2
Vorkosigan Contributor Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Barrayar Posts: 11,866	Jezebel Seal Science Daily is reporting on the Jezebel Seal, first found in 1964 getting a new life: The seal not only bears symbols that indicate a woman but also symbols that designate a royal female owner. Furthermore, the seal is exceptionally large compared to the seals commonly possessed by ordinary citizens. With regard to the name, Korpel demonstrates through comparison with similar seals that the upper edge of the seal must have carried two broken-off letters that point to Jezebel as owner and lead to a correct spelling of Jezebel’s name (in mirror image). Another seal -- a commonly faked object, Oded Golan hardly invented that industry -- linked to a Biblical figure of antiquity -- and what a coincidence! -- a break right across the name, so its meaning is in doubt. I suspect that someday someone will prove this seal a fake, perhaps salted into the dig. Michael

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10-29-2007, 09:05 PM	#3
kiwimac Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Mayfield, NZ Posts: 1,407	Perhaps we should wait and see?

10-30-2007, 12:40 AM	#6
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	It may not be fake, but it may not be related to the famous Jezebel. But the fact that BAR is involved does tend to raise a red flag of sorts.

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