Ancient ‘Yahweh And His Asherah’ Inscriptions At Kuntillet ‘Ajrud Remain An Unsolved Biblical Mystery
Ellen Lloyd - AncientPages.com - An ancient drawing and curious inscriptions discovered at Kuntillet ‘Ajrud in the Sinai Desert are intriguing Biblical mysteries that still remain unsolved.
Biblical scholars, historians, and archaeologists have long debated whether the figures found on an ancient drawing storage jar depict Yahweh and his Asherah or someone else.
In 1975, while excavating at Kuntillet ‘Ajrud archaeologists unearthed unique artifacts. Among them were two large pithois, or storage jars, that weighed about 30 pounds each.
“Yahweh and his Asherah” is written across the top of this eighth-century B.C. drawing on a ceramic pithos, or storage jar, from Kuntillet ‘Ajrud in the eastern Sinai. Image credit: Dr. Ze’ev Meshel and Avraham Hai/Tel Aviv University Institute of Archaeology.
Reconstruction of the ancient jars revealed they were painted with animals, symbols, humans, deities, and several inscriptions. It is believed the drawing were made over a considerable period and by several different artists. The iconography is entirely Syrian/Phoenician and lacks any connection to the Egyptian models.
The inscriptions are mostly in early Hebrew with some in the Phoenician script. Many of the inscriptions are religious in nature, invoking Yahweh, El, and Baal.
What created an intense debate are the inscriptions that include the phrases "Yahweh of Samaria and his Asherah" and "Yahweh of Teman and his Asherah.
Who or what was Asherah? The answer to this question depends on scholars’ interpretation of Asherah in relation to Yahweh.
Painted on a jar found in Kuntilat Ajrud in the Sinai Peninsula. Image credit: Unknown Jewish merchant - Public Domain
Some scholars make a distinction between Asherah the goddess and Asherah as a cultic object (sacred pole).
Asherah was a pagan goddess. Was she God’s wife? The term “asherah” is mentioned 40 times in the Bible. It means in Hebrew “happy” or “upright” and some suggest “(sacred) place.”
This four-tiered cult stand found at Tanaach is thought to represent Yahweh and Asherah, with each deity being depicted on alternating tiers. Photo: © The Israel Museum, Jerusalem/Israel Antiquities Authority (photograph by Avraham Hay).
This means that the text on the inscription found at Kuntillet ‘Ajrud can be a reference to a particular goddess, a class of goddess, or a cult symbol used to represent the goddess.
The problem with the inscription on the pithoi becomes even greater because of the drawing depicting two figures that scholars have identified as the Egyptian god Bes, which is in fact a collective name for a group of dwarf deities.
The two figures appear to be depictions of two males and not a drawing of God and his goddess wife.
It is believed that the image was drawn after the inscription was written, so the two may be completely unrelated.
The ancient inscription and the drawing are still subject of a lengthy scholarly discussion as to whether and how the inscription should be interpreted; that is, together with the drawings or independently.
Written by Ellen Lloyd – AncientPages.com
Copyright © AncientPages.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission of AncientPages.com
Expand for referencesMore From Ancient Pages
-
Has A 12,000-Year-Old Underwater City Been Discovered Off The Coast Of Louisiana?
Archaeology | Mar 9, 2022 -
Scipio Africanus – Rome’s Greatest General Who Defeated Unbeatable Hannibal
Featured Stories | Aug 5, 2021 -
Mysterious Books With Dangerous Secret Knowledge Deliberately Hidden From Public View
Featured Stories | Jan 8, 2024 -
Tomoe Gozen’s Bravery And Strength, Embodiment Of A True Female Samurai
Featured Stories | Oct 16, 2018 -
Nihansan And Bricriu: Unpredictable Tricksters Who Fool Others And Are Fooled Themselves
Featured Stories | May 11, 2024 -
17 Mysterious Miniature Coffins In Scotland Remain An Unsolved Enigma
Artifacts | Feb 24, 2018 -
‘Spectacular’ New Find: Roman Military Camps In Desert Found By Archaeologists Using Google Earth
Archaeology | Apr 27, 2023 -
Breakthrough – First Sentence Ever Written In Canaanite Language Discovered – What Does It Say?
Archaeology | Nov 9, 2022 -
Nasca Lines: Researchers Identify 16 Bird Geoglyphs Drawn On Desert Plains Of Peru
Archaeology | Jun 23, 2019 -
Anglo-Saxon Previously Unknown Monastic Or Trading Center – Discovered
Archaeology | Mar 7, 2016 -
On This Day In History: Last Inca Emperor Atahualpa Captured By Francisco Pizarro – On Nov 16, 1532
News | Nov 16, 2016 -
Dwarf Ninja Ukifune Jinnai’s Toilet Assassination Of Uesugi Kenshin
Featured Stories | Dec 15, 2019 -
Oldest Lunar Calendar Engraved On A Pebble Dated To 10,000 Years Ago
Archaeology | Aug 5, 2019 -
Who Is Buried In The Giant Etruscan Tomb At San Giuliano Necropolis?
Archaeology | Mar 13, 2024 -
Trees Are Deeply Rooted In Beliefs And Cultural Traditions Of Ancient People Around The World
Featured Stories | Feb 18, 2018 -
Researchers Sequenced 137 Human Genomes From The Middle East
Archaeology | Aug 6, 2021 -
Ancient Maya Stela Carved On Both Sides Unearthed ‘In Situ’ In Uxmal, Yucatan Peninsula
Archaeology | Oct 31, 2022 -
Climate Played A Crucial Role In Human Migration From Africa – New Study
Archaeology | Dec 8, 2023 -
Ancient Stepwells Of India: Symbol Of Sacred Water And Boundary Between Heaven And Earth
Civilizations | Jan 11, 2019 -
European Medieval Burial Practices Were Different Than Previously Thought
Archaeology | Sep 13, 2021