Biblically Compatible Archaeology and Geography

by Damien F. Mackey DEIOCES (Gk. Dēïókēs), name of a Median king; this Greek form, like Assyrian Da-a-a-uk-ku (i.e., Daiukku) and Elamite Da-a-(hi-)(ú-)uk-ka, Da-a-ya-u(k)-ka, and so on, reflects Iranian *Dahyu-ka-, a hypocoristic based on dahyu – “land” (cf. Schmitt). DEIOCES - Encyclopaedia Iranica Awarikus [Arioch] became a vassal of the Neo-Assyrian Empire during the rule of its king Tiglath-pileser III … who listed Awarikus as one of his tributaries in 738 BCE [sic]. …. Awarikus remained loyal to the Neo-Assyrian Empire during conflicts opposing it to Arpad, Gurgum, Kummuh, Samʾal and Urartu, in exchange of which Tiglath-pileser III rewarded him with lands belonging to Arpad, Samʾal and Gurgum. …. Wikipedia Introduction Much of this introductory part will be taken from my article: Ahikar was, like his uncle Tobit, already prominent during the reign of Assyria’s Shalmaneser (3) Ahikar was, like his uncle Tobit, already prominent during the reign of Assyria...

Marine biologist, Dr. Robert Carter has pointed out numerous problems identifying the coral-encrusted structures Ron Wyatt found as chariot wheels, including the fact that “many species of coral will grow a large, flat plate on a stalk-like projection, giving the appearance of an axle and wheel to those not accustomed to coral growth forms”. Bryan Windle wrote on this controversial matter in 2018: Fake News In Biblical Archaeology – Bible Archaeology Report Fake News In Biblical Archaeology In a world of fake news and internet hoaxes it’s important to carefully check your sources before you inadvertently spread misinformation. The world of archaeology is no exception to sensationalistic stories and purported “discoveries” that turn out to be flat-out false. This is especially true in the world of biblical archaeology, which has seen its fair share of fake finds. Unfortunately, this sometimes takes in undiscerning Christians and occasionally even “experts” who are overly in...

by Damien F. Mackey It remains to be determined if we can reconcile the geography – the fact that we have Joseph of Arimathea, on the one hand, while, on the other hand, Joseph Barnabas was from Cyprus. Here I take some of the key points that were picked up about the ‘rich young man’ of the Gospels in the article: Was Apostle Barnabas the Gospels’ ‘rich young man’? (2) Was Apostle Barnabas the Gospels' 'rich young man'? and now apply them also to Joseph of Arimathea. 1. His name was Joseph. Acts 4:36: “Joseph … whom the apostles called Barnabas …”. John 19:38: “After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus”. 2. He was rich. Mark 10:22: “When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions”. Matthew 27:57: “There came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus.” 3. He was a good man. ...

by Damien F. Mackey “… the problem of proving that the highly advanced civilization of Old Kingdom Egypt did not have wheeled military vehicles a full 580 years after the invention and spread of the tripartite wheel seems to be a very much greater one than that of proving that she did”. My grappling with the very serious problem of an apparent lack of archaeology, of literature, and of architectural reliefs, for the horse and for chariots in ancient Egypt prior to the New Kingdom, can be read in articles of mine such as: Exodus Pharaoh could still gather sufficient horses after the Plagues (3) Exodus Pharaoh could still gather sufficient horses after the Plagues Is the biblical Exodus, pitched in Egypt’s Old (or Middle) Kingdom, one chariot army short of reality? (3) Is the biblical Exodus, pitched in Egypt's Old (or Middle) Kingdom, one chariot army short of reality? Expert Stuart Piggott, as referred to in Renata-Gabriela Tatomir’s 2014 article, “The presence of ho...

“Meanwhile, in the West a scribal insert began Joseph’s new career, which ultimately transported him to “Britain”—really Britio Edessenorum, place of the shroud icon—with an object known as the Holy Grail”. Daniel Scavone In his perceptive article, “Joseph of Arimathea, the Holy Grail and the Edessa Icon” (http://www.shroud.it/SCAVONE1.PDF’), author Daniel Scavone will arrive at the following reasonable conclusion: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION The links of my hypothesis are in place. Edessa possessed from the fourth century a cloth icon of Jesus' face (attested by artists' copies), later verified as a life-sized icon of his body. It had been folded and encased so as to reveal only his face, in essence disguised, and later hidden away. Lucius Abgar VIII (177-212), first Christian king of Edessa and in touch with Rome, may have received it (I won't insist on this), along with the missionaries he himself requested (letter of King Lucius to Pope Eleutherus). In the four...

“Considering recent research and that yam suph means “Reed Sea,” the Exodus crossing’s most likely location is in the Isthmus of Suez, at Ballah Lake”. Associates for Biblical Research What follows could be read in conjunction with my (Damien Mackey’s) article: Exodus East Wind driving back the waters is a phenomenon observed in modern times (4) Exodus East Wind driving back the waters is a phenomenon observed in modern times The following article appears to be a most reasonable attempt to locate the place of crossing of the Israelites when fleeing from the pursuing Egyptians: Winter 2006 issue of Bible and Spade New Evidence from Egypt on the Location of the Exodus Sea Crossing: Part I Sea of Reeds There is general agreement among scholars today, both liberal and conservative, that yam suph means “Reed Sea.” The Hebrew suph definitely referred to a water plant of some sort (Kitchen 2003: 262), as indicated in Exodus 2:3–5 and Isaiah 19:6–7, where reeds in the Nile Riv...

by Damien F. Mackey “My investigation thus allows us to reclaim Hadrian’s planning and agency for at least part of this iconic building, and to discern more clearly his prominence, and perhaps even his personality, in the imperial capital city”. Mary T. Boatwright Introduction Conventionally considered, I believe that it is quite impossible for historians to arrive at a fully accurate answer to this question regarding the celebrated Pantheon. The received text book history and chronology just will not allow it. The conventional scholarship, as typified here by Mary T. Boatwright, would have Marcus Agrippa, whose inscription appears boldly inscribed on the Pantheon, dying around 12 BC, whilst the emperor Hadrian is thought to have come to power more than a century later, in around 117 AD. The best that could be said, from a commonsense point of view, is that Marcus Agrippa clearly built the Pantheon, while the emperor Hadrian may later have embellished and/or refurbished,...

“Stratigraphy confirms that Hadrian did not visit a destroyed Jerusalem, but one that had long since been restored”. Gunnar Heinsohn This article can be a companion piece to articles of mine (Damien Mackey) such as: Henry VIII’s palaces missing (3) Henry VIII's palaces missing Professor Gunnar Heinsohn wrote: Jerusalems_First_Millennium_AD_1000_year.pdf …. Jerusalem is obsessed with Hadrianic temples that are said to have been demolished to make way for other structures. On the Cardo Maximus this act is said to have been carried out in favor of Christianity, while on the Temple Mount it was done in favor of Islam. However, under the Jesus Compound on the Cardo, the foundations of an imperial temple of Venus have not been found. On Temple Mount, a Jupiter sanctuary is said to have been built over the ruins of the Herodian temple. The Umayyads supposedly demolished it to build the Dome of the Rock over it. Traces of this temple of Hadrian are missing as well. Neverth...

by Damien F. Mackey “In 1967 a hoard of coins that was said to have been illegally excavated in the northern part of the Judean desert surfaced on the antiquities market. The hoard included Bar-Kokhba coins and an Aelia Capitolina coin. This seemed to indicate that Aelia was founded before the revolt, since the refugees who supposedly hid the coins during the revolt also had an Aelia coin”. Hanan Eshel The very suggestion that there could have been a massive Jewish revolt against Rome (c. 132-135 AD) a mere 60 years or so after the complete and utter destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple by Titus and his legionaries, in 70 AD, I find quite ridiculous. According to typical accounts, some half a million Jews may have died in this second revolt. From whence did they all come? Judah, Jerusalem, the Temple, and Judaïsm, were all finished in 70 AD. ‘Not a stone was left upon a stone!’ (Luke 21:6). This is the sad tale of it as foretold by the Lord of History (vv. 20-33): ...