3,000-year-old temple found

3,000-year-old temple found

www.msnbc.msn.com

Archaeologists in Jordan have unearthed a 3,000-year-old Iron Age temple with a trove of figurines of ancient deities and circular clay vessels used for religious rituals, officials said Wednesday.
He said the complex boasts a main room that measures 388 square feet (36 square meters), as well as two antechambers and an open courtyard.

The sanctuary and its artifacts - hewn from limestone and basalt or molded
from clay and bronze - show the complex religious rituals of Jordan's ancient biblical Moabite kingdom, according to al-Saad.

(visit the link for the full news article)


Related News Links:
www.haaretz.com

edit: Mods please move this thread.

[edit on 2-9-2010 by Serizawa]

The temple is the largest and most complete in the region, which dates back to between 1200 BC and 539 BC, in Khirbat 'Ataruz, near the town of Mabada southwest of Amman.

The Moabites, whose kingdom ran along present-day Jordan's mountainous eastern shore of the Dead Sea, were closely related to the Israelites, although the two were in frequent conflict. The Babylonians eventually conquered the Moabites in 582 B.C.

The temple included a pillar with Egyptian and Assyrian artistry. A statue of a four legged G_d hadad as well as circular clay vessels used in holy rights.

We just keep discovering new things every day.

www.msnbc.msn.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

[edit on 3-9-2010 by Serizawa]