Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Nabatean bowl, Celtic Brooch

The following paragraph is from Dr. Asher Eder’s book The Star of David, which was published in 1987 in English in Jerusalem by Rubin Mass Ltd. The publication here is courtesy of Oren Mass
This version includes corrections and new materials that do not appear on the printed version
It [the hexagram] played a role in the art of the Nabateans, whose kingdom bordered Israel in ancient times. A painted ceramic bowl [probably of the first century B.C.E.] shows it together
with palm branches:

Dr. Asher Eder’s note:
Stewart Macalister, The Excavations of Gezer, vol.III, Plate 159, no.12. Macalister does not claim the drawing is part of a hexagram, but I mention it since it is sometimes presented as an early example thereof.
It was known also to distant cultures such as the Celts. We find it there on ornamental buttons, or brooches.

Zeevveez's note:
I couldn’t obtain permission to publish the photos of the ceramic bowl and the brooche, which appear in the book.

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