Eilat Mazar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eilat Mazar
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| Born | 10 September 1956 |
| Died | 25 May 2021 (aged 64) |
| Nationality | Israeli |
| Citizenship | Israeli |
| Alma mater | Hebrew University of Jerusalem |
| Known for | Discovery of the Large Stone Structure |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Archaeology |
| Institutions | Shalem Center, Institute of Archaeology at the Hebrew University |
| Influences | Benjamin Mazar |
Eilat Mazar (born September 10, 1956 – died May 25, 2021) was a famous archaeologist from Israel. She was an expert in finding ancient things in Jerusalem and the land of Phoenicia. Eilat Mazar was also very important in Biblical archaeology. She was known for discovering the Large Stone Structure. She believed this structure might have been the palace of King David.
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About Eilat Mazar
Eilat Mazar was born on September 10, 1956. Her grandfather, Benjamin Mazar, was a pioneering Israeli archaeologist. He even served as president of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Eilat Mazar studied at the same university. She earned her first degree there.
In 1981, she joined an excavation team. She worked on digs for four years. Later, in 1997, she earned her PhD from Hebrew University. Her special project was about the culture of Phoenicia. This was based on her own digs in a place called Achziv.
Eilat Mazar had one daughter from her first marriage. She later married Yair Shoham, who was also an archaeologist. They had three sons together. Sadly, Yair Shoham passed away in 1997.
Eilat Mazar died on May 25, 2021. She was 64 years old. She had been ill for some time before her death.
Archaeology Discoveries
Eilat Mazar worked as a senior researcher at the Shalem Center. She led important digs at the Temple Mount and in Achzib. She was also the head of the Shalem Center's Institute of Archaeology.
King David's Palace Discovery
On August 4, 2005, Eilat Mazar announced an exciting find. She believed she had found what might be the palace of King David in Jerusalem. The Bible says King David was the second king of a united Kingdom of Israel. He may have ruled around 1000 BCE.
This discovery is now called the Large Stone Structure. It is a big building that Mazar dated to the 10th century BCE. Inside, they found old pottery and a special clay seal. This seal, called a bulla, had the name of an official from the Book of Jeremiah. In 2008, she found another bulla. This one belonged to Gedaliah ben Pashhur, also mentioned in the Bible.
The dig was supported by the Shalem Center. It was funded by an American investment banker. The land where they dug belongs to the Ir David Foundation.
Some experts, like Amihai Mazar, called the find "a miracle." He thought it might be the Fortress of Zion. This is the fortress David is said to have captured. However, other scholars were not so sure. They wondered if the structure was from an earlier time. Mazar explained why she believed it was from King David's time.
Nehemiah's Wall
In 2007, Mazar found what she thought was Nehemiah's wall. Nehemiah was a leader who rebuilt Jerusalem's walls.
Solomon's Gate and Tower
In 2010, Mazar announced another big find. She discovered parts of ancient city walls around the City of David. She believed these walls were from the tenth century BCE. This is the time the Bible describes as the reign of King Solomon. Mazar said it was "the most significant construction we have from First Temple days in Israel." She believed it showed that a strong kingdom existed in Jerusalem at that time. Not all archaeologists agree on the exact dating of these walls.
Ophel Inscription
In 2012, Mazar announced the discovery of an ancient inscription. It was found at the Ophel excavation site. The Ophel inscription was on a large storage jar. Only eight letters were preserved. Experts suggested different meanings for the letters. They also debated who might have made it. It dates to the 11th–10th century BCE.
Ophel Gold Treasure
On September 9, 2013, a major gold treasure was found. Eilat Mazar discovered it at the foot of the Temple Mount. This treasure dates back to the early 7th century. It is called the Ophel Treasure. It included a gold medallion. This medallion had a menorah, a shofar, and a Torah scroll etched on it.
Hezekiah's Seal
In 2015, Mazar made another important discovery. She found a royal seal belonging to the biblical Hezekiah. Hezekiah was a king of Judah. The seal reads: "Belonging to Hezekiah [son of] Ahaz king of Judah." It dates to between 727–698 BCE. Mazar said this was the first time a seal of an Israelite or Judean king was found in a scientific dig.
Isaiah's Seal
In 2018, Mazar reported finding another seal. She thought it might have belonged to Isaiah. Isaiah was a prophet and lived at the same time as King Hezekiah. She believed the seal fragment might have said "Belonging to Isaiah the prophet." Other experts noted that the seal was incomplete. They said the writing does not definitely refer to the biblical prophet.
See also
In Spanish: Eilat Mazar para niños
