Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Museum Acquisition

What has Ken been doing lately?  Besides being an awesome husband and father, keeping up with the ever-present yard work, teaching his classes, being on a search committee for a new Old Testament professor, planning a trip to Israel, trying to finish up his commentary on the biblical book of Judges, and teaching Sky and Brad to play the piano, he also is the head of a committee that is in charge of moving The Museum of Biblical and Sacred Writings (sacredwritings.org) to BIOLA's campus.  No wonder he drinks so much coffee! 

The Museum of Biblical and Sacred Writings was established several years ago in Irvine, CA by Dr. George Giacumakis, and has recently moved to the Biola University campus. A partnership is being developed at this time wherein the Museum and the University will exhibit ancient inscriptions and archaeological artifacts related to the world of the Bible.
Biola is providing office space for two Museum staff members in the Biola Professional Building, storage space for its non-exhibited collections, and display space in the lower level of the Library for exhibits that bring the ancient world to light.
 The following items are on display:
  • The Habakkuk Commentary Scroll (1QpHab) of the Dead Sea Scrolls in facsimile. The original scroll was copied in the second century BC.
  • The Testimonia Fragment (4Q175/4QTest) of the Dead Sea Scrolls in facsimile.
  • The Copper Scroll (3Q15) of the Dead Sea Scrolls in facsimile: three framed mountings on the wall, each featuring four columns of the text.
  • Archaeological charts and equipment (e.g., camera, theodolite, etc.) from the Dead Sea Qumran excavations directed by Roland de Vaux in the early 1950’s.
  • Terracotta artifacts (lamps, vessels, diagnostic sherds, etc) from various Near Eastern sites/periods.
  • A Hebrew Torah Scroll from the late nineteenth century AD (105.5 ft. wide, with 172 columns on 54 panels) that survived the Holocaust.
  • Near Eastern Grinding Mill from Lebanon, probably from the Middle Ages.
  • Copies of archaeological artifacts that can be handled by students in classes which focus on these items. 
 Here are some pictures from the displays that he has set up on BIOLA's campus.

2 comments:

Cup of Joe with three sugars said...

Very cool! What a interesting life you lead, Ken! ;o) Thanks for sharing, Lor. BTW, Kels is coming home in mid-June until end of June. Is that close to when you guys will be visiting? That would be great for us all to get together. She hasnt gotten to see you in recent years like I have.

Pepere and Memere said...

How exciting Ken! (and so educational for the kids to see). Growing up in NYC I spent countless hours in the Museum of Natural History, Metropolitan Museum of Art and others - There's nothing like actually seeing and experiencing something to spark interest. Love you all, can't wait til June!