This bust was discovered by archaeologists at Meroe (Modern Sudan) and is currently in the British Museum. It depicts the face of the Roman Emperor Augustus who ordered the census just before the birth of Jesus. This brought the parents of Jesus (Joseph and Mary) to Bethlehem, their ancestral cities to be registered in the census.
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In ancient Rome the “centurion” meant “captain of 100”, and the Roman centurion was captain over 100 foot soldiers in a legion. The centurion was loyal and courageous, beginning as a soldier in the army and working their way up the ranks. The...
Only the Jewish historian Josephus provides us with what little information is known about Pilate’s life before 26 A.D. when Tiberius Caesar appointed him procurator of Judea. The sketchy information suggests that Pilate was probably an Italian bor...
The Passover Papyrus is a letter from among the elephantine papyri that dates back to the time of Darius II, in 419 BC. In 1907 archaeologists discovered in Aswan papyrus fragments of a letter that bears the royal authority of the Persian Empire (not...
There are five primary sources for the study of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, the Temple of Herod. They are: The BibleThe Books of MaccabeesJosephus*The Dead Sea ScrollsThe Mishna** *War book 5, chapter 5; Antiquities book 15 chapter 11**tractates ...
Hadrian's Arch, also known as the Arch of Hadrian or the Triumphal Arch, is an ancient Roman monument located in Jerash, Jordan. It was erected during the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century CE. While the Bible does not specifically...
In the Bible, a watchtower, also known as a lookout or watchman's tower, was a raised structure used for surveillance and observation. It served as a strategic vantage point from which watchmen could keep watch over the surrounding area, looking out ...
Ancient Egyptians had a complex and elaborate process of mummification to preserve the bodies of the deceased for the afterlife. The process involved several steps: Removal of organs: The embalmers would first remove the internal organs, except for t...
Geographically, the Old Testament “world” extended from the Nile river in the south west, to eastern Greece in the north west, to the Caspian Sea on the north east to the mountains just east of the Persian Gulf on the south east. The entire area ...
The classes of citizenship (civitus) and legal status in ancient Rome varied over the centuries. When Rome conquered a city the defeated people would fall into one of four classes. Citizens, Municipia, Latin Allies, and Italian Allies. Other areas m...
Trade played a vital role in connecting civilizations and fostering cultural exchange in the ancient world. From the bustling markets of Rome to the Silk Road that stretched across Asia, ancient trade routes facilitated the exchange of goods, ideas, ...
In the Bible, an alabaster jar refers to a type of container made from alabaster stone. Alabaster is a soft, white or translucent mineral often used in ancient times for crafting vessels or containers for various purposes. One notable mention of an a...
The Caspian Sea was not mentioned in the Bible. In Old Testament times the Caspian Sea was mainly just a large body of water marking the northeast corner of what we recognize as the world of the Old Testament. One interesting fact is that the Caspian...
The people of ancient Greece developed unique characteristics because of the topography of their country. The coastline curved inward very peculiarly, causing the bays to become very prominent, and stretching far out into the Mediterranean Sea. This ...
Among the Dead Sea Scrolls discovered in 1947 was found the “Scroll of Isaiah” inside of a clay jar and well preserved, dating to the 2nd century BC. The entire Hebrew text of the prophet Isaiah was found in “perfect” condition. When compared...
Matthew 17:1 – After six days, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain by themselves. In the 4th century AD a tradition was established that Mount Tabor was the scene of the transfiguration a...
The Gupta Empire, which thrived from the 4th to the 6th century CE, witnessed a golden age of cultural and artistic achievements in ancient India. Known for its patronage of the arts, literature, science, and philosophy, the Gupta Empire left an inde...
The weapons of a Roman solder included: the gladius (the short, straight, two-edged sword with which he would thrust rather than slash), and this he carried on a belt either from the shoulder or round the waist. He also carried the javelin “pilum...
The ancient Persian Empire, known for its grandeur and administrative prowess, stands as a testament to the organizational genius of its rulers. From the Achaemenid to the Sassanian dynasties, the Persians created and administered a vast empire that ...
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