Biblical models have always fascinated me. It gives such incredible visual perspective and insight into the subject at hand. With a bit of imagination you can transport yourself into the setting and context of the Biblical narrative.

    The construction of the model of ancient Bethsaida was based on the archaeological work of the Bethsaida Consortium, directed by Israeli archaeologist Dr. Rami Arav. This program is housed at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.  

    This ancient 8th century BCE City Gate, the largest four chambered gate found in the region to date, is located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, near the Jordan River. The gate was ultimately destroyed in 732 BCE by the Assyrian general, Tiglett Pelizer III.

    Centuries later, in the New Testament era, the foundations of this Geshurite  city became the fishing village of Bethsaida, "house of the fisherman".   It was the home to a number of Jesus' beloved apostles. The site was the location and context for several miracles including the multiplication of the 'loaves and fishes'.

About the Images

    The 2011 model construction was governed by the archaeologist's 'top plan', the surveyor's topographic site map, and the accompanying volumes of reports and research based on 25 years of excavation.

    After determining the appropriate scale, the typographic landscape was fabricated. Maintaining scale was key to the historical authenticity of the project. The project generated questions and discussions and ultimately helped give additional clarity to the architectural connections.

    I initiated the construction of the site by establishing the location of the north and south towers and using them as the hub for subsequent walls and structures. The height of these towers and walls were based on historical Iron Age research.

    The final frame in this Gallery is an encaustic painting of the Bethsaida excavation site. This encaustic painting captures in various layers of wax the archaeological top plan, excavation finds, and my reconstructed 3-dimensional City Gate.

    The netting in the foreground of the encaustic picture reflects both an early 1st Century fishermen's net and also an excavator's goat hair sun-shade with a sherd bucket & trowel. There are so many connections in the continuum of history at this one site. And there is so much more to explore and be found!

More Information

    One of the final frames in this Gallery is an image of the model on display in the booth of the University of the Holy Land at the Society of Biblical Literature Conference. It was a fitting setting because the University of the Holy Land, located in Jerusalem, is where my archaeological studies and pursuits began.

    During this same week I also displayed the model at the ASOR, American Schools of Oriental Research, archaeology conference. It was there that I came across Nelson Glueck, albeit a cardboard cutout, a famous early 20th century American  archaeologist.

    The personal connection and significance is in that while living and studying in Jerusalem I utilized the Hebrew Union College library, near our home, for some of my  archaeological research.

    This is where Dr. Glueck had earlier presided as president and founded his prestigious School of Biblical Archaeology.

    Therefore, during this weekend in Atlanta in late November in 2010, there was a convergence. Things came together in a special way for a moment and place in time.

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