Guy Stiebel | Tel Aviv University (original) (raw)

Books by Guy Stiebel

In Centro II, 2022

The second annual "In Centro" conference was held by the Central Region of Israel Antiquities Aut... more The second annual "In Centro" conference was held by the Central Region of Israel Antiquities Authority, the Department of Archaeology and Near Eastern Cultures and the Sonia and Marco Nadler Institute of Archaeology of Tel Aviv University on May 29, 2019 at Tel Aviv University. It was dedicated to the theme of "Memory" and its archaeological expression, as may be found in matter, space and location in early periods, in the intentional choice of past artifacts, and in the memory of sites in the landscape that persisted for centuries and millennia. This proceedings volume consists of nine papers: six in English and three in Hebrew.

In Centro I, 2022

The first annual "In Centro" conference was held by the Central Region of Israel Antiquities Auth... more The first annual "In Centro" conference was held by the Central Region of Israel Antiquities Authority, the Department of Archaeology and Near Eastern Cultures and the Sonia and Marco Nadler Institute of Archaeology of Tel Aviv University on April 26, 2018 at Tel Aviv University. It was dedicated to the theme of the "Triple M - Motion, Movement and Mobility," with contribution discussing aspects of movement of humans and animals, as well as of artifacts, in space and time, against the backdrop of a fundamental comprehension of change as movement in time. This volume consists of eleven papers in English and five in Hebrew

Vol. 10 of New Studies in the Archaeology of Jerusalem and its Region is out.

Papers by Guy Stiebel

Journal of Roman Archaeology, 2024

The 1st-c. CE Roman siege system of Masada exhibits a high degree of preservation due to its remo... more The 1st-c. CE Roman siege system of Masada exhibits a high degree of preservation due to its remote location and the arid climate. However, unlike the thoroughly excavated Masada fortress, the siege system has not received due attention. This article is part of a research project aimed at advancing our understanding of the conflict landscape around Masada using contemporary archaeological methods. Following a comprehensive surface survey and photogrammetric 3D modelling, we show that the circumvallation wall stood to a height of 2–2.5 m and served several functions – as an obstacle, a means of psychological warfare, and a platform from which to mount counterattacks. Based on our measurements and workload estimations, we argue that the construction of the siege wall and the camps around Masada occurred fairly quickly.

New Studies on the Archaeology of the Judean Desert - Collected Papers, 2023

New Research on the Archaeology of Jerusalem and its Surroundings (Hebrew- חידושים בארכיאולוגיה של ירושלים וסביבתה). , 2018

In Centro II, 2022

The second annual "In Centro" conference was held by the Central Region of Israel Antiquities Aut... more The second annual "In Centro" conference was held by the Central Region of Israel Antiquities Authority, the Department of Archaeology and Near Eastern Cultures and the Sonia and Marco Nadler Institute of Archaeology of Tel Aviv University on May 29, 2019 at Tel Aviv University. It was dedicated to the theme of "Memory" and its archaeological expression, as may be found in matter, space and location in early periods, in the intentional choice of past artifacts, and in the memory of sites in the landscape that persisted for centuries and millennia. This proceedings volume consists of nine papers: six in English and three in Hebrew.

In Centro I, 2022

The first annual "In Centro" conference was held by the Central Region of Israel Antiquities Auth... more The first annual "In Centro" conference was held by the Central Region of Israel Antiquities Authority, the Department of Archaeology and Near Eastern Cultures and the Sonia and Marco Nadler Institute of Archaeology of Tel Aviv University on April 26, 2018 at Tel Aviv University. It was dedicated to the theme of the "Triple M - Motion, Movement and Mobility," with contribution discussing aspects of movement of humans and animals, as well as of artifacts, in space and time, against the backdrop of a fundamental comprehension of change as movement in time. This volume consists of eleven papers in English and five in Hebrew

Vol. 10 of New Studies in the Archaeology of Jerusalem and its Region is out.

Journal of Roman Archaeology, 2024

The 1st-c. CE Roman siege system of Masada exhibits a high degree of preservation due to its remo... more The 1st-c. CE Roman siege system of Masada exhibits a high degree of preservation due to its remote location and the arid climate. However, unlike the thoroughly excavated Masada fortress, the siege system has not received due attention. This article is part of a research project aimed at advancing our understanding of the conflict landscape around Masada using contemporary archaeological methods. Following a comprehensive surface survey and photogrammetric 3D modelling, we show that the circumvallation wall stood to a height of 2–2.5 m and served several functions – as an obstacle, a means of psychological warfare, and a platform from which to mount counterattacks. Based on our measurements and workload estimations, we argue that the construction of the siege wall and the camps around Masada occurred fairly quickly.

New Studies on the Archaeology of the Judean Desert - Collected Papers, 2023

New Research on the Archaeology of Jerusalem and its Surroundings (Hebrew- חידושים בארכיאולוגיה של ירושלים וסביבתה). , 2018

Western Wall Plaza Excavations III: The Roman and Byzantine Periods, 2021

To date, no systematic study o f the military equipment from the celebrated conflict sites of the... more To date, no systematic study o f the military equipment from the celebrated conflict sites of the Bella Jiudaica has been offered. Based on a large assemblage of military equipment that originated from over 70 sites throughout Palestine a typological database of the equipment was formed, the majority of which is hitherto unpublished. The arid conditions of the eastern sectors of Palestine have contributed to an excellent preservation of equipment made of perishable materials. Additionally, rare discoveries like the panoply of a Roman legionary enabled us to illustrate the images o f the Roman soldiers and their opponents in the Early Roman east. But this study draws beyond the narrow typological approach. The militaria of Roman Palestine is examined against its contextual background. This corpus enriches the archaeology of conflict, as the analysis of the material yielded indications for the tactics and types of weapons employ ed, among which are remnants of unique siege tools. The ...

Halakhah in Light of Epigraphy, 2010

International Journal of Nautical Archaeology, 2010

Underwater surveys at Ashkelon during 1998 exposed a Hellenistic/Roman shipwreck. The ship, c.15–... more Underwater surveys at Ashkelon during 1998 exposed a Hellenistic/Roman shipwreck. The ship, c.15–25 m long, sank in the 1st or 2nd century BC, and its remains include iron anchors, lead sheathing, copper nails, assorted metal artefacts, and shipwright's unused ...

TEʿUDA 32-33. "A WORK OF WISDOM: (EXOD. 35:33). Studies in Honor of Professor Bar-Kochva. Stéphanie E. Binder, Eshbal Ratzon, Yinon Shivtiel (eds.), 2021

The paper is devoted to one ostracon from Masada. It offers a new interpretation of the name that... more The paper is devoted to one ostracon from Masada. It offers a new interpretation of the name that was part of the so-called “Lots” and suggests that it derives from Greek. This reading positions the ostracon as part of a large group of names that comprised the onomasticon of Judaea during the Hellenistic and Early Roman periods: the nicknames and, more notably, the masqueraded nicknames. Moreover, the paper further reflects on the physiognomic aspect of the nickname under discussion in the context of the “physiognomic consciousness” of the period. Such nicknames formed statutory markers, both in Judaea and Rome, most notably amongst the elite circles. In addition, they were most popular in military institutions and even more so among close militia groups, in particular during periods of crisis such as the days leading up to and during the revolt. The paper suggests that these extreme conditions served as a catalyst and were conducive to the large number of nicknames uncovered at Masada.
Finally, archeological data, revised and updated through advanced testing and dating methods, has not provided a clear-cut answer. Although most scholars believe that the Bar Kokhba Revolt did not spread to the Galilee, there are others who consider this to be a realistic scenario. In this article, I focus on the latter point of view, and seek to present a comprehensive review of the data, accumulated from a wide range of studies, in support of this theory. I also provide possible interpretations of references to places in the Galilee linked to the revolt, as echoed in the literature of the Talmudic sages. In addition, I review archeological findings from the Galilee, albeit scarce, that relate to this period. Above all, I focus on new evidence emerging from studies undertaken of the Galilee hiding complexes that provides a valuable, comparative perspective in relation to the Judean hiding complexes that have been dated to the time of the revolt. With respect to these hiding complexes, there is value in further examination of their geographical distribution across the Galilee, as well as an analysis of archeological findings unearthed there. For example, recent excavations undertaken in two ancient settlements in the Galilee have uncovered evidence pointing to the period of the revolt. This further research may shed significant light on the Galilee’s part; even if the Galilee may not have taken part in this event, hiding complexes were prepared for the possibility it would, like in the Judea region.

SCRIPTA CLASSICA ISRAELICA YEARBOOK OF THE ISRAEL SOCIETY FOR THE PROMOTION OF CLASSICAL STUDIES, VOLUME XXXIX, 2020

Review Paper of: Jodi Magness, Masada: From Jewish Revolt to Modern Myth, Princeton University Press

Israel Exploration Journal, 2020

Cathedra קתדרה, 2019

Review of the book: H. Eshel and B. Zissu, Bar Kokhba Revolt: The Archaeological Evidence, Jerus... more Review of the book: H. Eshel and B. Zissu, Bar Kokhba Revolt: The Archaeological Evidence, Jerusalem 2015

Tarbiz, 2019

The paper discusses the mustard plant and its place in the material culture of the Land of Israel... more The paper discusses the mustard plant and its place in the material culture of the Land of Israel during the Hellenistic and, most notably, the Roman period. The unique characteristics of the plant, its pungency and the minute size of its seeds, made it a common motif in the genre of parable in the ancient East and the Mediterranean basin, as well as in the rabbinical literature. The beginning of the paper illustrates the mustard and its uses, with an emphasis on Mishnah, Shabbat 20.2. The focus of the discussion is the clarification of the term מסננת של חרדל and its association with Roman viniculture. Accordingly, the terms יין חרדלי and יין גורדלי are discussed. On the basis of this analysis the final part of the paper is devoted to the origin of the Hebrew word חרדל. Consequently the name Ardala/ חרדלא, which occurs in the accounts of Flavius Josephus and in a recently discovered Aramaic inscription in Jerusalem,
is elucidated and set in its historical and social context of the late Second Temple period.

New Studies in the Archaeology of Jerusalem and its Region 12 , 2018

R. Porat, Y. Kalman, R. Chachi, Sh. Terem, N. Achipaz and G.D. Stiebel, The earliest settlement a... more R. Porat, Y. Kalman, R. Chachi, Sh. Terem, N. Achipaz and G.D. Stiebel, The earliest settlement at Herodium in the Hellenistic Period, and the geo-historical implication, New Studies in the Archaeology of Jerusalem and its Region 12 (2018), pp. 214–239 (Hebrew)

Biblical Archaeology Review , 2018

seasons 2017-2018

Stiebel, G.D., Weigmann, A., Rosenthal, Y., Isaac, B. (2017). "One Day the Daughter of the Caesar... more Stiebel, G.D., Weigmann, A., Rosenthal, Y., Isaac, B. (2017). "One Day the Daughter of the Caesar Passed-by" – A Newly Discovered Milestone Inscription in the IX Mile of the Jerusalem – Bet Guvrin Roman Road, New Studies in the Archaeology of Jerusalem and its Region 11: 65-73 (Hebrew).

E. Galili, D. Syon, G. Finkielsztejn, Varda Sussman and G.D. Stiebel, Late Ptolemaic Assemblages ... more E. Galili, D. Syon, G. Finkielsztejn, Varda Sussman and G.D. Stiebel, Late Ptolemaic Assemblages of Metal Artifacts and Bronze Coins Recovered off the Coast of ‘Atlit, Israel, 'Atiqot 87, 2016, pp. 1-35

In Yizhar Hirschfeld Festschrift

in: SCRIPTA CLASSICA ISRAELICA YEARBOOK OF THE ISRAEL SOCIETY FOR THE PROMOTION OF CLASSICAL STUDIES

"חומה ומגדל" - ההיבטים הצבאים של התגלית של החקרא בחניון גבעתי

GREEK AND ROMAN ARMOUR DAY. Monday 20 July 2015. The Beveridge Hall. Senate House. University of ... more GREEK AND ROMAN ARMOUR DAY. Monday 20 July 2015. The Beveridge Hall. Senate House. University of London

Romani Ite Domum: Identity and Expressions of Resistance in Judaea Watching Life of Brian, any... more Romani Ite Domum: Identity and Expressions of Resistance in Judaea

Watching Life of Brian, anyone who ever studied Latin cannot avoid the overwhelming wave of sympathy towards Brian Cohen being interrogated and exercised by a Roman centurion ably using his gladius. But it is the punishment that followed that cries out the writing on the wall: the Romans were from Mars and the Jews were from Venus. Nevertheless, they did communicate. This episode encapsulates much of the tense between the two parties, one that intensified towards the second half of the 1st century AD and erupted in the image the First Jewish revolt. It takes indeed two to tango, nonetheless the military societies were the ones who played the major role in the clash between the two parties.
In recent years, military equipment has become a significant source of information in the study of the identity of institutionalized martial bodies such as the Roman army and local militias. Today we have in our possession a large corpus of data, culled from a wealth of well-dated military equipment from strata in Judaea representing the historical conflict. This data will be instrumental for my present discussion of a variety of soldierly identity of both local and Roman forces, as well as the nature of Jewish opposition to Roman military occupation so finely expressed in the words of the Pythons: 'Romani Ite Domum'.

ראיון רדיו עם יצחק נוי - שעה עולמית 1.10.2018; שעה על המחקר שלי, הורדוס, יוספוס, ארכאולוגיה, מצדה... more ראיון רדיו עם יצחק נוי - שעה עולמית 1.10.2018; שעה על המחקר שלי, הורדוס, יוספוס, ארכאולוגיה, מצדה, מה בין טקסט לתרבות חומרית

The province of Iudaea, becoming Syria Palaestina after 135 C.E., was the home for various ethnic... more The province of Iudaea, becoming Syria Palaestina after 135 C.E., was the home for various ethnicities and religions: Jews, Samaritans, Christians, local pagans of different origins, and Roman officials and soldiers. The land was occupied by pagan poleis, Roman colonies, Jewish towns and villages and Samaritan settlements. Worship was conducted in temples, shrines, synagogues and Christian prayer halls and it left a record in Greek, Aramaic, Hebrew, Samaritan and Latin inscriptions. Some of the people, from diverse backgrounds, lived side by side in the cities, others in separate communities, but they all traded and negotiated with each other. Normally the relations between the groups were peaceful and based on coexistence, though sometimes they turned into hostility and struggle. But even during peaceful times of coexistence the boundaries between the communities remained clear and religious conversions and mixed marriages were uncommon. The diversity of communities in Roman Palestine is further emphasized by their strong and distinct self-identity. The diversity and strong identity is echoed in both historical sources and the archaeological data. In our session we would like to present new studies on the archaeology of Roman Iudaea/Syria Palaestina, rendering the province as multi-ethnic and multi-religious, and presenting its inhabitants as preoccupied with their identity that is mirrored in others.

The origin and dissemination of socketed copper-alloy ‘Scythian’ arrowheads throughout the ancien... more The origin and dissemination of socketed copper-alloy ‘Scythian’ arrowheads throughout the ancient Near East has been a matter of much scholarly interest and debate. Here we present the first comprehensive study of the temporal and geographic distribution of such arrowheads from the Southern Levant. Several previously unnoticed patterns with historical implications for the late Iron Age and the Persian and Hellenistic periods are discussed. The accompanying typology developed for the purpose of this research should further facilitate excavators’ ability to cross-reference new finds against
parallels in the existing corpus to date.

IEJ, 2020

The origin and dissemination of socketed copper-alloy ‘Scythian’ arrowheads throughout the ancien... more The origin and dissemination of socketed copper-alloy ‘Scythian’ arrowheads throughout the ancient Near East has been a matter of much scholarly interest and debate. Here we present the first comprehensive study of the temporal and geographic distribution of such arrowheads from the Southern Levant. Several previously unnoticed patterns with historical implications for the late Iron Age and the Persian and Hellenistic periods are discussed. The accompanying typology developed for the purpose of this research should further facilitate excavators’ ability to cross-reference new finds against parallels in the existing corpus to date.