Lecture Summaries: 25 January, 2007

Prof. Eliezer D. Oren
Canada Chair in Near Eastern Archaeology
Ben-Gurion University, Beer Sheva, Israel

The archaeological record of temple sites in Middle Bronze Age in the southern Levant (Syria and Palestine) exhibits an unprecedented high degree of uniformity both as regards temple architecture and ritual behavior. The Syrian orientation and origin of Canaanite religious ideology is well attested by the evidence from urban centers such as Ebla and Mari as well as textual testimony, notably the Mari archives. The lecture will discuss aspects of temple architecture and diagnostic ritual practices against the background of northwest Semitic "Amorite" religious ideology in Middle Bronze Age Syria.

The nucleus of my presentation is the Middle Bronze Age sacred precinct at Tel Haror, Israel, which has been excavated since 1991 by the Ben-Gurion University. The well preserved temple complex provides detailed and unique information on temple architecture as well as certain ritual practices such as dog sacrifices and ceremonial equid burials. The rich collection of cult objects and ex votos includes many miniature vessels, Cypriote imports, a Minoan Linear A graffito etc. The temple site of Tel Haror exhibits the diffusion of this type of sacred instition from the Euphrates to the border of Egypt.