PALESTINE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19687, 14 January 1926, Page 10

PALESTINE.

recent discoveries there. Writing from Baisan, Palestine, to the director of the Australian Museum, Mr Alan Rowe, Director of the Palestine Expedition promoted by the University Museum, Philadelphia, forwards some interesting details of recent discoveries. It will be remembered that Mr Rowe is the discoverer of Snefru’s tomb, states W. T. Wells.' secretary of the Australian Museum, in the Sydney Morning Herald. Mr Rowe writes as follows: —“We have just had some very intersting discoveries, including the temple of the goddess Ashtaroth, mentioned in 1 Samuel xxxi, 10: “ And they put his armour in the House of Ashtaroth, and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan.” And also her cult objects, comprising peculiar pottery stands, with flgu.es of serpents and birds on them. I have also discovered a stele with the figure of Ashtaroth herself; two foundation deposits containing pots filled with gold and electrum objects; stone door jamb containing the name of the commandant of the Bethsham fortress in the time of Rameses II; private Egyptian stelae; statue of a prince of king; valuable serpentine cylinder seal showing King Ramese II; the warrior god Reshpu, the standard of the fort, and two Semitic captives; a temple of King Thothmes 111 (this was under the Ashtaroth temple which was built by Rameses II), etc. The Ashtaroth temple comprises, a rectangular building with a central hall with six columns, three being on each side of the hall. The foundation deposits came from below the floor of this temple. The Thothmes temple is a most remarkable structure. It has an altar at its north end, with a flight of six steps leading up to the room from the main floor of the temple. In front of the steps is another altar, as well as two columns, one on either side of the altar. The altar room floor was originally painted a bright blue. From this temple came over 1000 beads of carnelian, gold, crystal, etc., as well as scarabs. A lifesize stone hawk, vividly painted, was found near the altar. A peculiar-shaped stone found on the altar seems to have come from some old Canaanlte high place. Mr Rowe expects to- pay a short visit to Australia next year in between the times when they are excavating.