Arch. Possible Final Essay Questions

Compare and contrast the archaeological remains of Israel and Judah during the Divided Monarchy.

Israel
1) List at Karnak-Sheshonq writes names of all the cities he conquered on wall of temple-emulates T3.
-Samaria-capital of Israel during 8th and 9th centuries. Has buildings that look like Megiddo’s Proto-Aeolic capital- denote Divided Monarchy. Columns that look Greek.
-Ivories-inlaid furniture. A lot of it burnt.
Mesha Stele- Mesha King of Moab, mentions King of Israel and Omri & Moab, and possibly House of David.
Shalmaneser III-Monolith Inscription-853 BCE
Black Obelisk of Shal. III- contains Jehu on it (calls him son of Omri, even though not true)
-Megiddo Water Tunnel
-Cuneiform Inscriptions of Tiglath-Pileser III (744-727BCE)
-Megiddo III-looks like exact Mesopotamian Palace (Assyrian City)

Judah -wine and olive presses in 9th and 8th centuries -Ekron Inscription (604BCE) names Philistine kings and talks of Sennacherib’s campaigns. -Assyrian Stele from Ashdod-captured by Sargon II in 711 BCE -Prism of Sennachrenib -Hezekiah’s Water Tunnel (701BCE) and the Siloam Inscription, how we know it is Hezekiah’s Tunnel.

Compare and contrast the Neo-Assyrian destruction of Israel and its aftermath with the Neo-Babylonian destruction of Judah and its aftermath. Is either of them similar to the Roman destruction of Jerusalem?

2) Assyrians were in control of the ANE with TP3 annexing Israel to his lands. In 712, Sargon II captures Ekron and a cuneiform tablet talks about his conquests in Samaria. Sennachrenib comes from 711-701BCE via the Routes of Sennachrenib and attacks Lachish, Jerusalem, etc. The Prism of Sennachrenib says he locked up Hezekiah (King of Judah) in Jerusaelm and gave his land to Padi, king of Ekron. Hezekiah builds his water tunnels in 701 to try and defend his water source from Sennachrenib. -2 conflicting sources for aftermath: Hezekiah says he bribed Sennachrenib to leave, and Isaiah said that Sennachreib’s men killed by G-d’s plague.
-Assyrians completely wipe out Israel and especially Lachish.

Neo-Babylonian destruction of Judah - Josiah (639-609 B.C.E.) King of Judah tries to reinstate United Monarchy
- Huge three way battle between Babylonians, Egyptians, and Assyrians— Josiah is killed - Nebuchadnezzar’s campaign routes (609-586 B.C.E) on the Babylonian’s side - 605 B.C.E. was the first battle—draw - Nebuchadnezzar captures Jehoikim’s Jerusalem in 598 B.C.E leading away 3000 citizens - Nebuchadnezzar captures Jehoichin’s Jerusalem in 597 B.C.E leading away 10,000 citizens - Nebuchadnezzar captures Zedekiah’s Jerusalem in 586 B.C.E leading away 800 citizens - Nebuchadnezzar captures Gedaliah’s Jerusalem in 582 B.C.E leading away 745 citizens Aftermath: Babylonian Exile leading away 14,600 Judeans over 16/17 years, Babylonian Gap in archaeology (586-539 B.C.E). Judeans don’t return until Cyrus the Great comes to power and writes the Cyrus Cylinder in 538 B.C.E, which allows them all to return and to rebuild the Temple.
3) Masada- - Zealots lived on the fortress and had their own community and way of life - Under siege by Romans, they built a siege ramp and siege camps around the fortress - In order to defend themselves they built a reinforcement wall on the fortress but it wasn’t going to keep the Romans out - According to Josephus’s account Eleazar ben Yair, their leader gave a passionate speech and after all the people decided to commit suicide rather then to become Roman slaves - Josephus’s account is most likely not a first hand account so it is really unknown what actually happened on Masada -Roman General Silva led the siege on Masada. -Josephus writes account of what happened at Masada, but he may not be a primary source. Got info from 7 survivors of Masada siege. -Nachman Ben-Yehuda believes that something has been omitted from Josephus’ writings, and that Josephus does actually talk about 2 palaces at Masada, not one that scholars originally deciphered from his writings. He used different wordings for the palace that he describes, therefore leading Ben-Yehuda to believe that something was omitted. -no one really knows what happened to the bodies of people who either committed suicide or were killed by Romans -Josephus’ account supports belief that suicide occurred. -they surrounded the fortress and built camps and a siege ramp. 4) Discuss First Jewish Revolt and Siege of Jerusalem -66 CE Vespasian is the Roman General who led his army against the first Jewish revolt-ends in disaster 70 CE. Legio XII Fulminata marched away from Jerusalem and was attacked in the valley-they were annihilated and lost their “Eagle” -Year 69CE there were 4 emperors and Vespasian now emperor in Rome. Titus goes to Jerusalem in 70 CE & destroys it. Coins were found about the revolt and Titus burns and destroys temple and takes gold and booty. Supposedly used to build the Coliseum.

5) Discuss 5 empires? Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Roman, Assyrian. 1) Neo-Babylonian- Nebuchadnezzar entered and attacked Jerusalem 4 times, each time placing a new figurehead king into power and started a war against them. Deported up to 20,000 people. Started Babylonian Gap and possibly empty land period. The most prominent Jews were brought back to Babylon, where they either assimilated or tried to maintain their own culture. Some Jews escaped to Egypt in fear of the figurehead King Gedaliah. Others stayed in Judah, but were extremely poor, farmers, etc. Persian- from 538-332 BCE. Name for Jews was the Jehudim. 332 BCE Alexander the Great (Greek) comes through and dies in 323. Greek empire split up after Alexander’s death. -minimalists say that only E. Ridge of Jerusalem occupied and maximalists say that both E. and W. are occupied after return from exile. -Cyrus the Great let Jews go back to Israel as long as they paid taxes. Greek- Hellenistic Period (332-30BCE). Ptolemies in Egypt and Seleucid Kingdoms in Mesopotamia and they fight for Israel for 300 years. -Ptolemy I- Alex’s General
Hellenistic Period is from Alex to Cleopatra
Antiocus IV- sacrificed pigs on altar in Jerusalem, sparks Macabeean rebellion

Roman- 66 BCE Pompi the Great comes in and takes over. The Cyrus Cylinder is the first human rights document. -Galilee Boat- Late Greek/Early Roman. Buried in mud and a few years ago a drought caused the waters to recede. Boat found with pottery from 1st century BCE to 2nd century CE. Found in Sea of Galilee. -Rhoadian Amphora- held imported wine from Rhodes-meant trade was allowed by Persians???

Neo-Assyrian- destroy Israel. Hezekiah’s water tunnel built 701. Sennachrenib either bribed to leave or his army killed by plague, conflicting sources. Total destruction and

6) Discuss the history of ancient Israel from Solomon to Roman times with respect to the Temple in Jerusalem and the archaeological finds in and around the city. Include in your answer the following points: Solomon, Nebuchadnezzar, Herod, and the Jehoash Tablet.

Solomon built the Temple Mount located on Dome of the Rock and other building projects.

David’s city, debates between Cahill, Steiner, and Na’aman.

Nebuchadnezzar attacks and destroys Jerusalem 4 times. Archaeological findings include Tablet of Nebuchadnezzar… “Rations for Jehoiachin, King of Judah…” and it took him 18 months before Solomon’s temple destroyed. Tapeworm and whipworm found in public toilets in Jerusalem, means no firewood and no water. Tower destroyed by Nebu. found in Jerusalem and arrowheads found- probably 586BCE because this is when city was burned. Sends up to 20,000 people into exile. Babylonian Gap.

Herod builds Temple Mount and comes to power in 40 BCE. His building projects rival those of Solomon’s. Herod trains priests as carpenters so they can build temple AND continue sacrifices. Temple becomes 8th Wonder of the World-called 2nd Temple because sacrifices did not stop. Herodian Southern Wall-100 ton blocks.

Jehoash Tablet-found in dump and describes renovations Jehoash did to Solomon’s Temple-gold found in letters b/c temple burned-it’s probably a forgery and the whole ordeal revolved around Oded Golan.