Excavations taking place at Tel Tzafit. (Shmuel Bar-Am)
Posted on 05/03/2021 11:37:40 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
In an article from 2008, the New York Times reported an unusually interesting archeological discovery: The burial of 10 donkeys at a 3,000-year-old funerary complex south of Cairo.
"When you consider the fact that donkeys were revered in the ancient world, it isn’t really that surprising," notes Dr. Aren Maeir, director of excavations at Tel Tzafit, which many hold to be the Philistine city of Gath from the Bible.
In fact, Maeir adds, the remains of donkeys brought to the land of Israel from Egypt were also found at the Tel Tzafit excavations. The beasts of burden can be as lovable as dogs, and the donkey bones at Tel Tzafit were discovered reverently buried under houses dating back thousands of years...
Along with their own specific type of pottery, the Philistines had eating habits that differed from those of the locals with whom they shared their settlements. For instance, the Philistines apparently enjoyed ham and pork, for they imported pigs into the Land of Israel. They also cooked with plants whose nutritional merits had not yet been discovered by the country’s other inhabitants.
Five cities inhabited mainly by Philistines are mentioned in the Bible: Ashkelon, Gaza, and Ashdod on the coast; Ekron and Gath in the inlands. Of them all, Gath is the most famous, as it was home to Goliath — the giant who was felled by the slingshot of a young David in the Valley of Elah. Also, of course, because David moved to Gath when fleeing the wrath of King Saul.
However, while the name Gath appears in dozens of biblical passages, it suddenly disappears from the book’s pages. That’s because Gath was wiped out by King Hazael of Damascus...
(Excerpt) Read more at timesofisrael.com ...
Excavations taking place at Tel Tzafit. (Shmuel Bar-Am)
It was of Giant importance!..........................
He wasn't a Giants fan.......Probably Eagles.............
It really isn't as they end up in the highest level of our government all the time.
The views really are stunning. Gives one an idea of the strategic importance of the site.
Donkeys revered you say? Shukcks, we got one for Presidentt, ‘nother for VP, ‘nother for Speaker of the House, ‘nother one leading the Senate.
Donkeys have gone from being revered to being in charge.
I'm sure they, like 99% of the rest of humanity, would have hated "We Built This City". And Journey.
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