Early Judaism- A Comprehensive Overview

an expedition in 1993 yielded nine additional documents in Aramaic, six in

Greek, and four in Hebrew. Five as yet unpublished Greek and Semitic

documents on parchment and papyrus are listed in the PAM archives (Pal-

estinian Archaeological Museum, now the Rockefeller Museum) as com-

ing from Wadi en-Nar (Kidron Valley).

Masada

The last site in the Dead Sea area that has yielded written documents is

Masada, excavated by Yigael Yadin between 1963 and 1965. The character

and composition of the Masada finds reflect the turbulent history of this

stronghold from its construction in the second centuryb.c.e.to the depo-

sition of Archelaus in 6c.e.Masada was the location of a Roman garrison

until the outbreak of the First Revolt (4b.c.e./6c.e.to 66). It offered the

last refuge for Zealots during the First Revolt (66-73/74c.e.) and again

housed a Roman garrison guarding the eastern flank ofProvincia Iudaea

from 73/74 to around 112/113c.e.Centuries later, it was used as the site for a

small Byzantine monastery.

All the Latintituli picti(labels on amphorae written in ink, nos. 795-

850) and Latin amphora stamps (nos. 946-51) belong to the Herodian pe-

riod. The dated ones come from the period between 27 and 14b.c.e.

Stamps and labels represent large shipments of imported wine and luxury

goods, mostly from Italy, such as apples and garum (a Roman fish sauce),

for the court of Herod, who appears with his official title REX IVDAICVS

(King of Judea).

It is unlikely that any of the Latin, Greek, and Semitic documents can

be associated with the first Roman garrison, given the widespread nature

of the destruction and cleaning up in 73/74 and the lack of supporting

dates on any of the documents. It can be assumed, however, that during

the first half of the first century a peaceful coexistence between Roman

soldiers (all of them auxiliaries) and local Jews developed; some Greek

ostraca written by Jews and mentioning deliveries (nos. 772-77) and Greek

tituli picti(nos. 854-914) may indicate as much, if the latter are not to be

dated to the Herodian phase of the site. The only Latin document to be

dated to before or during the siege is P. Masada 722, a legionary pay record

brought by its owner to the site.

Several biblical scrolls, including fragments of Genesis, Leviticus,

Deuteronomy, Ezekiel, and Psalms, were discovered at Masada, as were

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Archaeology, Papyri, and Inscriptions

EERDMANS -- Early Judaism (Collins and Harlow) final text
Tuesday, October 09, 2012 12:04:14 PM