Artefacts with Biblical references at the British Museum: an introduction
Includes a visit to the British Museum. Discover objects related to the Bible and the questions they evoke about the world in which the ancient Israelites lived and wrote their stories. Spend the afternoon having a close look at the British Museum collection.
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- Start Date: 31 May 2025End Date: 31 May 2025Sat (Daytime): 10:30 - 16:30In PersonFull fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00
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What is the course about?
This course looks at artefacts which are related to the history of the biblical peoples living in the Ancient Near East. We will cover a wide period of time, broadly from the Bronze Age to Iron Age II.
The morning session provides an introduction which is designed to support the visit to the British Museum after lunch, where we will take a close look at some of the artefacts on display.
What will we cover?
We will discuss a wide range of archaeological artefacts in relation to the biblical texts
Some of the questions we will explore are:
- How important was the object to the people who made it and what role did it play in the cultural understanding of the people of the Bible;
- What does the object tell us about the people who owned it?
- How is the object culturally and historically valuable?
- Do the artefacts confirm or contradict the biblical narratives?
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- approach critically artefacts related to the Bible.
- be familiar with diverse objects and their significance in throwing light onto events mentioned in the Bible.
- evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of archaeology in reconstructing the history of the ancient Israelites.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This is an ‘introductory’ course and does not assume previous knowledge or reading although it would be good if you had some exposure to the Bible, especially the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Teaching will be through a PowerPoint presentation, a handout, exploratory questioning and a visit to the British Museum.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
No. You may want to bring writing material to take notes. Be aware that the afternoon visit requires walking around the museum and standing for some time in the galleries.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Dr Ann Jeffers taught Biblical Studies (Hebrew Bible and Second Temple Judaism) at Trinity College Dublin and Heythrop College, University of London for 30 years. She is now Research Fellow at Roehampton University. Her research interests, and publications are in the field of magic and divination in the Bible and the ancient world, feminism and reception history of the Bible mostly in literature and the visual arts. She also belongs to an interdisciplinary research group, ‘Media and Religion’.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.