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Aerial view of the remains of a Byzantine-era monastery complex on a low hill at Al-Maghtas, Jordan. Photo: Jordan Tourism Board

Nov 29 Blog

Baptismal Site “Bethany Beyond the Jordan” Added to UNESCO World Heritage List

In 2015, UNESCO added the archaeological complex at Al-Maghtas, Jordan—called the Biblical “Bethany beyond the Jordan”—to its World Heritage List. Another tradition places the baptismal site on the west bank of the Jordan River—in Israel.

Nov 25 Blog

Ancient Jerusalem: The Village, the Town, the City

By: Hershel Shanks

Archaeologist Hillel Geva says that population estimates for ancient Jerusalem are too high. His new estimates begin with people living on no more than a dozen acres.

Jul 1 Blog

Jewish Worship, Pagan Symbols

By: Walter Zanger

What are zodiac mosaics doing in ancient synagogues in Israel?

Tomb of Herod’s Family. Photo: Hershel Shanks.

Mar 25 Blog

How Was Jesus’ Tomb Sealed?

By: Megan Sauter

What kind of stone sealed the tomb of Jesus? Was it a round (disk-shaped) stone or a square (cork-shaped) stone? While both kinds of blocking stones are attested in Jerusalem tombs from the time of Jesus, square (cork-shaped) stones are much, much more common than round (disk-shaped) ones.

Dec 3 Blog

Ancient Synagogues in Israel and the Diaspora

By: Megan Sauter

Were there synagogues before the Romans destroyed the Temple, or did they develop only afterward? Communal structures from the Second Temple period have been discovered, but should they be considered synagogues even though they don’t share the major architectural feature common to post-destruction synagogues?

Jul 18 Blog

First Person: The Sun God in the Synagogue

By: Hershel Shanks

The 92nd Street Y in New York City called me a few months ago, asking me to speak. We discussed possible topics, and I finally chose “What’s a Greek God Doing in an Ancient Synagogue?” They also agreed to my asking two real experts to join me on the platform: Jodi Magness of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Steve Fine of Yeshiva University. We had a good time—and so did the enthusiastic audience—but we didn’t solve the problem, at least to my mind.

Jul 11 Blog

Tour Showcases Remains of Herod’s Jerusalem Palace—Possible Site of the Trial of Jesus

By: Robin Ngo

Visitors to Jerusalem’s Old City can explore remains of King Herod’s palace, which may be where Roman governor Pontius Pilate tried and condemned Jesus of Nazareth to death.

Mar 21 Blog

Ancient Wonders—The Huqoq Mosaics

By: Nathan Steinmeyer

The Huqoq mosaics have long been a favorite of Biblical Archaeology Review’s readers and now they have earned the title of one of National Geographic’s […]

Sep 1 Blog

Biblical Archaeology for the People

By: BAS Staff

BAR Editor Glenn J. Corbett interviewed three leading scholars Eric H. Cline, Melissa Cradic, and Jodi Magness of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In their conversation, they discuss the importance of public scholarship, new efforts to reach broader audiences, and the critical role BAR plays in bridging the gap between scholars and a public eager to know more.

Sep 8 Blog

A Samson Mosaic from Huqoq

By: Biblical Archaeology Society Staff

Jodi Magness's excavations at Huqoq have exposed an elaborate Samson mosaic as well as new insights into the development of ancient synagogues.

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