LIGHT FROM THE ANCIENT PAST This page intentionally left blank LIGHT FROM THE ANCIENT PAST The Archeological Background of the Hebrew-Christian Religion BY J A C K F I N E G A N Copyright, 1946, by Princeton University Press London: Geoffrey Cumberlege, Oxford University Press Second printing, 1946 Third printing, 1947 Fourth printing, 1949 Fifth printing, 1951 Sixth printing, 1954 Printed in the United States of America T O T H E M E M O R Y O F J E S S E C O B B C A L D W E L L A N D H A N S L I E T Z M A N N Preface HE purpose of this book is to give a connected account of the archeological background of the Hebrew-Christian religion. TWithin die last century and one-half and largely within the past few decades, oriental archeology has pioneered a new past, in which are revealed more extensive vistas and higher cultures than hitherto were imagined. The account that now can be given of the rise of civilization in the Middle East, of the development of art and of the dawn of conscience, is of fascinating interest in itself. It also is of great significance for an understanding of the Hebrew faith and the Christian movement, both of which in their origin and earlier history were integral parts of the ancient world. To see that world come vividly and startlingly alive is to find Hebrew-Christian history invested with a fresh sense of reality and interest. There are, moreover, many points at which biblical records and archeological discoveries are in direct contact, and increasingly in the later cen- turies there are many archeological remains which are primary historical monuments of the Hebrew-Christian religion. A knowl- edge of these facts is now indispensable to all serious study of the history of that religion, and the proper utilization of the abundant new archeological materials may even be said to constitute the next urgent task in that study. The presentation of this archeological background in the present book is in the form of a continuous account extending, in round numbers, from 5000 B.C. to A.D. 500. After an introduction dealing with the nature of archeological work in general, the narrative begins with the rise of civilization in the valley of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers where the origins of the Hebrew people tradi- tionally are located and where antecedents of Hebrew mythology and law are found. Then the development of culture in the valley [ viii i] PREFACE of the Nile is sketched, and the Exodus of the Israelites and their use of Egyptian materials in the Psalms and Proverbs are considered. Moving to Palestine, the "bridge" between these two ancient homes of empire, archeological findings are summarized, illuminating both Canaanitish and Israelitish times. Then the later Assyrian, Neo- Babylonian and Persian empires are described, upon whose imperial policies the fate and future of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah depended. With the world at last under Roman domination, the cities of Palestine are pictured as they were in the time of Jesus, and afterward a glimpse is obtained of the chief places in which the work of the apostle Paul was done. In view of the great importance of Paul's letters and other early Christian documents, a study is made of ancient writing materials and practices and of the transmission of the text to the present time. Then the Roman catacombs are in- vestigated, together with their art and inscriptions, and a brief ac- count is given of characteristic early Christian sarcophagi. Finally, the development of distinctive places of Christian assembly is indi- cated and the basilicas of Constantinian times are described—basil- icas whose successors were the Byzantine churches of the East and the Romanesque and Gothic cathedrals of the West. With the clear emergence of the Christian community, centered in the place where the gospel of Jesus Christ is proclaimed, our story comes to an end. In the earlier part of the narrative it is the broader background of the general history and civilization which is most illuminated by archeology and to which the major part of the portrayal is devoted. In the later part not only is the general history relatively simpler and more generally known, but there are also many more monuments of the Hebrew-Christian tradition itself. Therefore in the course of the book a steadily diminishing amount of space is apportioned to the general history and a steadily increasing amount given to the specifically biblical and early Christian materials. In order to give a more vivid sense of direct contact with the living past, frequent quotations are made from the ancient sources, and numerous photographs are presented of actual places and objects. Many of the sites are ones which I have visited and many of the objects are ones which I have studied in the museums of Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Cairo and Jerusalem. An extensive literature has been consulted and all ref- erences cited, both ancient and modern, have been taken from per- [ viii ] PREFACE sonally used sources. The full title and date of each book are given upon its first appearance, with the exception of those works for which abbreviations are employed and which appear on page 2. The maps and plans have been prepared in detail by myself, and executed and lettered by Mr. William Lane Jones. In the writing I have thought often of Dean Jesse Cobb Caldwell of the College of the Bible, Drake University, who taught me the importance of history, and of Professor D. Hans Lietzmann of Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universitat, Berlin, who instructed me in early Christian archeology. I should like to dedicate this book to their memory. Also I wish to express appreciation to those who have given encouragement and counsel relative to bringing the work to publication, including Professor William F. Albright of The Johns Hopkins University, Dr. George A. Buttrick of The Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, New York City; Professor John T. McNeill of Union Theological Seminary, Dr. Charles Clayton Morrison, Editor, The Christian Century, and President Charles E. Friley, President Emeritus Raymond M. Hughes, and Dean Harold V. Gaskill of the Iowa State College. Likewise I am very grateful to Mr. Datus C. Smith, Jr., Director of the Princeton University Press, for his deep understanding, constant interest and many courtesies. JACK FINEGAN Iowa State College Ames, Iowa I ix ]