Baksei Chamkrong is a towering temple located near the ancient city of Angkor in Cambodia. It stands as a testament to the architectural prowess of the Khmer Empire. Built in the 10th century, it is one of the earliest temples to use the temple-mountain architecture, which symbolizes Mount Meru, the home of the gods in Hindu mythology. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it was constructed by King Harshavarman I and later completed by Rajendravarman II. The name Baksei Chamkrong means “The Bird Who Shelters Under Its Wings” and comes from a legend involving a large bird providing shelter to the king during a battle.
The Pilate Stone
The Pilate Stone is a significant archaeological find that provides tangible evidence of Pontius Pilate’s historical existence. Discovered in 1961, this stone inscription is the only known occurrence of Pilate’s name outside the biblical texts. It serves as a critical artifact for historians and archaeologists, confirming the New Testament accounts of the man who governed Judea and ordered the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The stone’s discovery has had a profound impact on biblical and historical scholarship, bridging the gap between historical records and religious texts.
The Merneptah Stele
The Merneptah Stele, also known as the Israel Stele or the Victory Stele of Merneptah, is an ancient Egyptian artifact of significant historical importance. It is a granite slab inscribed with hieroglyphs that commemorate the military victories of Pharaoh Merneptah, who ruled Egypt from 1213 to 1203 BC. The stele is particularly notable for containing the earliest known mention of Israel in a non-biblical source. This mention has made the stele a valuable artifact in the study of ancient Near Eastern history, especially the history of ancient Israel and its neighboring cultures.
The Ossuary of James
The Ossuary of James is a limestone box historically associated with the burial practices of the Jewish people. It gained notoriety for an Aramaic inscription that reads “James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus.” The artifact’s authenticity and implications have been subjects of intense debate. If genuine, it could be linked to James the Just, a figure of early Christianity. The ossuary’s discovery and subsequent controversies have made it a focal point for discussions on archaeology and biblical history.
The Ebla Tablets
The Ebla Tablets are a collection of around 20,000 clay tablets discovered in the ancient city of Ebla, Syria. Unearthed in the 1970s, these artifacts date back to around 2500 BC. They provide a wealth of information on the language, culture, economy, and political life of the period. The tablets are especially significant because they contain one of the earliest known scripts, known as Eblaite, and offer insights into Semitic languages. They also mention cities and places, some of which appear in the Bible, thus providing a historical context to ancient Near Eastern civilizations.
The Amarna Letters
The Amarna Letters are a collection of clay tablets inscribed with diplomatic correspondence. They provide a window into the political landscape of the ancient Near East during the 14th century BCE. Discovered in Amarna, Egypt, these tablets contain messages between the Egyptian administration and its counterparts. They include letters from various rulers of the Near East and are written in Akkadian, the diplomatic language of the time. The Amarna Letters are invaluable for understanding the history, politics, and diplomacy of the Late Bronze Age.