RLBcB041 Biblical Archaeology

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Dalibor Papoušek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Dalibor Papoušek, Ph.D.
Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Kristýna Čižmářová
Supplier department: Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Prerequisites (in Czech)
RLA05 Judaism && RLBcA005 Judaism && RLKA05 Judaism && RLBcKA005 Judaism && RLB23 Ancient Near Eastern Religions && RLBcB023 Ancient Near Eastern Religions && ! RLB41 Biblical Archaeology
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 50 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/50, only registered: 0/50, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/50
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course outlines the archaeology of regions connected with Biblical texts. It is focused on ancient Syria-Palestine (Canaan) as a cradle of the ancient Izraelite religion, post-exilic Judaism and Christianity. It provides a survey of archaeological development from the Paleolithic period up to the end of ancient times, i.e. to the period of early Christianity and early Judaism.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, students will be able to:
  • demonstrate the basic factual knowledge of archaeology of ancient Syria-Palestine;
  • apply the basic terminology used in Biblical Archaeology;
  • interpret main archaeological sources connected with the topic;
  • use archaeological sources in the interpretation of biblical texts;
  • distinguish between Biblical Archaeology as an auxiliary theological discipline and an autonomous field of academic study.
    • Syllabus
    • Introduction to the course.
    • Geography and periodization of Syria-Palestine.
    • History of Biblical Archaeology.
    • Paleolithic. Neolithic. Chalcolithic.
    • The Early and the Middle Bronze Age.
    • The Late Bronze Age.
    • Class discussion I: David and Solomon in the confrontation of Biblical tradition and archaeology.
    • The Iron age I-II. Babylonian a Persian Period
    • Class discussion II: Hezekiah and Sennnacherib in Judahite and Assyrian sources.
    • The Hellenistic Period.
    • The Roman Period.
    • Class discussion III: Jesus' crucifiction and burial in the light of archaeology.
    • Final test.
    Literature
      required literature
    • FINKELSTEIN, Israel and Neil Asher SILBERMAN. Objevování Bible : svatá Písma Izraele ve světle moderní archeologie. Vyd. 1. Praha: Vyšehrad, 2007, 329 s. ISBN 9788070218693. info
      recommended literature
    • JEPSEN, Alfred. Královská tažení ve starém Orientu : od Sinuheta k Nabukadnezarovi. Praha: Vyšehrad, 1997, 239 s. ISBN 8070212136. info
    • BARDTKE, Hans. Příběhy ze starověké Palestiny : tradice, archeologie, dějiny. Edited by Miloš Bič, Translated by Jindřich Slabý. Vydání druhé. Praha: Vyšehrad, 1990, 300 stran. ISBN 8070210265. info
    • KROLL, Gerhard. Po stopách Ježíšových. Translated by Vladimír Petkevič. 2. vyd. Praha: Zvon, 1996, 486 s. ISBN 80-7113-179-2. info
    • The archaeology of ancient Israel. Edited by Amnon Ben-Tor, Translated by R. Greenberg. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1992, xxi, 398. ISBN 0300059191. info
    Teaching methods
    Lectures; home readings examined electronically in three semestral minitests; panel discussions; final written test; colloquial written commentary on a chosen textual source.
    Assessment methods
    Requirements for the colloquium:
  • final written test in the basic knowledge of archaeology of Syria-Palestine;
  • colloquial written commentary on chosen sources, including its defense.

    The final assessment includes: final test (100 points = 50%, limit 60 points); colloquial commentary (100 points = 50%, limit 60 points); participation in the classes, participation in class discussions, three semestral minitests in home readings (extra points added to the final test).
    • Language of instruction
    Czech
    Follow-Up Courses
    Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
    The course is taught once in two years.
    The course is taught: every week.
    Information on course enrolment limitations: Zápis mimo religionistiku je podmíněn souhlasem vyučujícího.
    The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2024.
    • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2025/RLBcB041