New Bible Image Library

I received an email recently from Dr Leen Ritmeyer announcing the launch of his new image library which also contains many of Leen's own drawings. Here's some more information from the email:

"The Image Library of Ritmeyer Archaeological Design contains authoritative reconstruction drawings and models which you will not find on any other website. The photos of ancient sites in the lands of the Bible have also been taken through the informed lens of an archaeological architect. A treasure-trove for teachers, pastors, lecturers and picture editors, it is the result of years of experience digging and researching in Israel and traveling in the surrounding countries."
There are already hundreds of images in the library, but we plan to add many more in the near future.

This looks like it's going to be a very helpful resource site for Bible artists - take a look and let me know what you think.
Image © Leen Ritmeyer 2010

What did Calvary look like?

The 'Between Two Worlds' blog is carrying a two part interview with Dr Leen Ritmeyer which is of interest to Bible illustrators.
The first interview asks the question "What Did Calvary Look Like?"
The second asks "What Did Jesus' Tomb Look Like?"
Both interviews are well worth the read and provide lots of interesting information. The superb illustration above is from the soon coming ESV Study Bible, which looks like it will be a great help to Bible artists!
Illustration © Crossway books 2008

Other 'Question' posts:
What did Herod's Temple look like?
What did the Passover Cup look like?
What do Angels look like?
What do Cherubs look like?

'The Quest'

I've just finished reading Dr Leen Ritmeyers excellent book 'The Quest' which is a study of the archaeology of the Temple Mount. This is a terrific book and I would highly recommend it to Bible artists. It's packed with visual information. Diagrams, photos, illustrations, etchings, maps and some superb artwork done by Jewish artists for the Temple Institute which show many of the Temple rituals in detail.

There's too much in the book to cover here, so I'll just touch on a couple of subjects to 'whet your appetite!'
The positioning of the Ark
Dr Ritmeyer has uncovered what appears to be very strong evidence pointing to the actual positioning of the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies (Debir).
This is a fascinating section of the book which indicates that the Ark would have been seen 'end on' when entering the Holy of Holies via the veil. Not 'side on' as most artists, (including myself), have drawn up until now. It you want to know more, you'll have to get the book!


Golden Spikes!
The Quest also deals with the Temple itself and is packed with information regarding it's construction and the many activities that took place there.
Did you know, for instance, what the golden spikes that edged the temple roof were for? To answer this Ritmeyer quotes the Jewish historian Josephus who saw Herod's Temple with his own eyes:
"from its (the Temple's) summit protruded sharp golden spikes to prevent birds from settling and polluting the roof,"

The Quest also touches on some of the interesting topics that we've discussed on this blog such as "What might the Cherubim have looked like?" Josephus said, "As for the cherubim themselves, no one can say or imagine what they looked like."
Despite this, 'The Quest' has some nice photos of a small scale model showing the giant cherubim that overshadowed the Ark in Solomon's Temple. (Not to be confused with the cherubim on the Ark itself).

My conclusion? Some might find the archeological details heavy going in parts, but I enjoyed it and would recommend it as a very useful tool for Bible artists.

Copies of The Quest are obtainable either directly from the author or from the publisher. There are other interesting titles by the same author, (and his wife), available from the Carta bookstore.

Related posts:

Guest Bible Artist #4

What did Herod's Temple look like?

Houses in Bible times

Guest Bible Artist interview #4

Dr Leen Ritmeyer
The Forth of our 'Bible Artist' interviews is with Archaeological Architect Dr Leen Ritmeyer. Many Bible artists, including myself, struggle when it comes to illustrating truly authentic Biblical buildings. This has not been a problem to Leen Ritmeyer whose research is guaranteed to inspire Bible artists worldwide!  

Leen, you're job title is 'Archaeological Architect  specializing in Biblical Archaeology'. In layman's terms, what exactly does an archaeological architect do?
The work I have done for a long time now, is reconstructing ancient sites. I have done this with pen and ink on paper or as a painting, by designing and building models and also by actually building up ancient sites to show some of their former glory. Before making any reconstruction, one first has to make plans, elevations and sections of the site. One also needs to do a survey of all the fallen or destroyed remains which are no longer 'in situ', i.e. in their original location. It is also important to study any available ancient sources and study comparative architectural styles.

As an archaeological architect you've managed to combine two of your interests in a career, Archaeology and Art. What made you choose such an interesting career? 
I have always been interested in ancient architecture, but never knew that I could make a career out of it. When I first looked at multi-period archaeological sites in Israel I didn't understand what I was looking at. After having worked for a while on an excavation, I realized that I was not alone having this problem. I found this out when I had to give tours of the dig to visitors. I used to explain particular details with words and sometimes hands and feet, but not everybody understood what I was trying to make them see. This changed when I started using black and white reconstruction drawings with the extant remains coloured in. After that I had no more trouble explaining ancient sites to visitors.

Are there many Archaeological architects that specialize in Biblical Archaeology?  
When I worked in Israel  till 1989, I was practically the only one who specialized in making reconstruction drawings of ancient sites. Some digs had capable artists or architects working as volunteers who could make reconstruction drawings, but I was the only one, as far as I know, who did it full-time. The result was that I was asked to make reconstruction drawings of over one hundred sites. The most well-known drawing is my reconstruction of the Herodian Temple Mount:
How long have you been an archaeological architect, and where was your first site?
The first site I worked on was the Temple Mount excavations in Jerusalem. I was taken on as surveyor in 1973, making plans and sections of the site. An Irish architect showed me how to do this. After I gave my survey plans and sections to him, he completed missing lines and suddenly I saw what I was working on. His work fascinated me and he gave me a reconstruction project to do under his supervision. That apparently went well, for when he left four months later, the professor asked me to take over his job. I never looked back since.

Out of all the archaeological sites that you've worked on, which Biblical site has excited you the most?
Undoubtedly the Temple Mount. It was, as it were, love at first sight. I knew the Bible well, since I began reading it carefully in Israel in 1967 and the sacred buildings, such as the Tabernacle and the Temples built by Solomon and Herod, always intrigued me.  It was a privilege to have worked there for so many years and to get to know the building details intimately. But it took me over twenty years before I was satisfied that I had found out as much as there is to find out about that huge site. That doesn't mean to say that I concentrate on Jerusalem and the Temple Mount only. Here is an example of another site that I have reconstructed, namely the harbour and village of Capernaum in the time of Christ:
What advice would you give to anyone reading this interview, who wanted to become an archaeological architect?
I don't know of any course that teaches how to become an archaeological architect. I did an MA course at the Institute of Advanced Architectural Studies at the University of York, but to be accepted on the course, one needs to have worked for several years in reconstruction work. To become an archaeological architect, one needs to study, or have at least a good knowledge of, archaeology, ancient architecture and ancient history. It is something which you develop in the field. I began as a surveyor and then studied these three disciplines under private tuition of the leading professor, who wanted me to become an archaeological architect. He must have noticed that I had a flair for reconstruction work and he encouraged me to develop these skills.
      
You mentioned to me that part of your work in Israel was to reconstruct actual Biblical buildings. Can you tell us something about the buildings that you've worked on?
Yes, I have (partially) reconstructed a Crusader church, a Byzantine colonnaded street, namely the Cardo in Jerusalem, Herodian villas, one of which may have been the palace of Annas the High Priest, who, with his son-in-law Caiphas, condemned Jesus to death, and other buildings, such as monasteries and agricultural installations. The most complete reconstruction was a section of the Cardo, where we assembled complete columns with their capitals and a wooden roof construction on top. Usually, however, the work involved building up walls and doorways a few feet to help visitors with spatial orientation and the repair of floors and approach roads. Special care needs to be taken not to reconstruct anything one is not hundred percent certain of. Here is a picture of myself checking the position of a Byzantine capital in the Cardo of Jerusalem.
I mentioned in a previous post on Herod's Temple that, based on archaeological finds, it would appear that the Herodian craftsmen were careful not to use imagery of animals or men in the ornamentation of the Temple.
It was suggested that the reason for this was that it would contravene the second commandment. If this is the case, why do we see 12 bronze oxen supporting the huge metal water basin in Solomon's Temple? (1Kings 7:23-26)    
This idea is based on an incomplete reading of the Biblical text. Exodus 20.4 indeed forbids the making of graven images and the like, but the next verse explain why. They are not to make them to bow themselves down to them, in other words, to turn images to objects of idol worship. The twelve bronze oxen and other objects, such as the cherubim on the Ark of the Covenant, were never meant to be worshipped. 

Going a little off topic, there's a question that I wanted to ask in regard to the Temple Mount. I recently read about some concerns relating to the possible unauthorized excavations taking place on the Temple Mount. As the Temple Mount is under Muslim control, what is stopping the Muslim authorities from cordoning off part of the Temple Mount and excavating themselves without the knowledge of the Jewish authorities.
The Temple Mount is not under complete Muslim control. The site is under the legal jurisdiction of the Government of Israel, who  allow the Muslims to have control over the way they use the site for religious purposes. The whole of the Old City, including the Temple Mount, is an archaeological zone. Only archaeologists are allowed to excavate there. That is how so many sites were excavated in the Jewish Quarter. Many houses there were destroyed during the Jordanian rule from 1948 till 1967. Before any new building could be constructed, the foundations had to be excavated by archaeologists.

Bible illustrators are always on the look out for good reference, particularly of authentic Biblical buildings. Can you suggest some good books or websites that would be useful?  
If one is interested in Jerusalem and the Temple Mount, I suggest visiting our blog: blog.ritmeyer.com and website: www.ritmeyer.com
We have produced books, posters and CD, which can be purchased from our site. I recommend subscribing to the Biblical Archaeology Review magazine:http://www.bib-arch.org  They also sell interesting books. Other Israeli archaeological websites, which sell good archaeological books are:http://www.antiquities.org.il/home_eng.asp and http://israelexplorationsociety.huji.ac.il/
The Jerusalem publisher, Carta, who also publishes our books, the latest one of which is called "The Quest - Revealing the Temple Mount in Jerusalem", prints interesting books on Israel. Their website is:
http://holyland-jerusalem.com/ 
  
You have provided illustrations for many Bible related publications over the years, and your most recent work has been for the new ESV Study Bible. Can you tell us more about that?
I was asked to be the archaeological and architectural reconstruction editor for the new ESV Study Bible, which is going to be a very useful tool for Bible Students. It will have over 200 new maps and forty new reconstruction drawings. In recent years, many new archaeological discoveries have been made in Jerusalem, so it was necessary to make completely new reconstructions of the Holy City showing its development from David to the time of Christ. My reconstruction drawings have been turned into magnificent paintings by a UK graphics firm. You can see samples and other information about the ESV Study Bible, which hopefully will be published in October this year, on this website:
http://www.esvstudybible.org/#features

When did your interest in the Bible begin?
I was brought up in the Dutch Reformed Church, but started to read the Bible seriously in 1967. In September that year, just after the Six Day War, I went to Israel to work on a kibbutz. The very fact of living in and traveling through the country, meeting people with a thorough knowledge of the Bible and seeing so many Biblical sites roused my interest. I learned Hebrew, so that I can consult the original text, as I didn't want to rely on translations, however good some are. Whenever our family travelled in the Land, we always did it with the Bible in hand, so that it became a wonderful traveling companion, illuminating the physical background of the Bible.

You spent 20 years in Israel, and you've recently moved from Australia to the U.K. What are your plans now?
The last six years we spent in Adelaide, Australia, where I was teaching Hebrew, the History of Modern Israel and a bit of Biblical Archaeology as well. We are now living near Cardiff in Wales and continue our archaeological illustration work. As mentioned before, I am still working on the ESV Study Bible and have other projects in the pipeline. We also hope to have some time to further develop our own line of products, which we advertise on our website:  www.ritmeyer.com

In closing, I'd like to ask you another 'off topic' question. Having worked so long in Israel, and especially on the Temple Mount, do you have any thoughts on where the 'Ark of the Covenant' might be? 
You can't imagine how many emails I received asking this question after the publication of my discovery of where the Ark stood in Solomon's Temple. You can still see the indentation in the Rock, inside the Dome of the Rock, that was specially made as an emplacement for the Ark. There are claims that the Ark is buried under the Temple Mount or in Mount Nebo, near the Dead Sea, in Ethiopia, France or Ireland. We do have our own ideas, but they need further investigation, before we are ready to publish anything.

Thanks so much to Dr Leen Ritmeyer for taking part in this extremely interesting interview. If anyone would like to attend one of Dr Ritmeyer's lectures on the subject of the Temple Mount, you can find details of all his up-coming lectures here.

Related posts:
Interview with Jeff Anderson
Interview with Keith Neely
Interview with Diana Shimon
No more Domes!
Being Roofless!
What did Herod's Temple look like?
Houses in Bible times
The Day of Atonement
The contents of the Ark
Covering the Ark


  

Herod's Temple Mount model update

I had a long telephone conversation last week with author and model maker Alec Garrard, (pictured above). As I mentioned in a previous post Mr Garrard is the builder of the world famous 'Herod's Temple' model in the U.K.. People travel from all over the world to see this amazing model which is reputed to be the most authentic of its kind.

I asked Mr Garrard if the model is finished. He laughed and replied "It will never be finished!" He went on to tell me that although there are many tiny detailed figures already populating the Temple model, they only represented a fraction of the number that would have populated the vast Temple complex in its day!
As well as making more tiny biblical figures, Mr Garrard is in personal contact with the leading archeologists in Israel, and is always ready to add any new details to the model based on any new archeological finds at the Temple Mount site.

Sadly, there's no website to visit that documents this model, and Mr Garrard, (who is not on the internet), has no plans to launch one, although he does have teaching DVD'S and videos available from his home. The model can be visited any Sunday at Mr Garrard's farm in Suffolk. Moat Farm, Fressingfield, Eye, Suffolk, IP21 5TB. England. You can also order DVD's by phone. Tel: 01379 855361.

For copyright reasons no photography of the model is allowed. However, If any Bible artist would like any photos taken from a particular angle of the model (for reference only), Mr Garrard is happy to oblige for a very reasonable fee.

I also asked about the differences, from model to model, in the design of the giant lamp stands that stood in the 'Women's court'. This is down to the varying sources of information regarding Herod's Temple. The sources used by Alec Garrard in connection with the lamp stands predate the Mishnah, but were not included in it.

Alec Garrard's book 'The Splendor of the Temple' is available from Amazon.com.
I've also ordered a copy of 'The Quest' by Dr Leen Ritmeyer which I'm looking forward to receiving. I will write more about that soon! Alec Garrard's model is based on the historical research up to 1993 of Dr Ritmeyer.

Photo © Alec Garrard / Kregel publications 2008.

Related posts:
'What did Herod's Temple look like?'

What did Herod's Temple look like?

I've just been working on illustrations for the Bible story of 12 year old Jesus' visit to the Temple with Mary & Joseph for the feast of the Passover, (Luke 2:42). This is one of a number of New Testament stories that takes place in Herod's Temple complex. Because the Temple appears in so many stories, it's important that Bible artists have some idea of what it looked like. The Temple took a staggering 43-46 years to build, although it was never fully completed in accordance with the original design. The Temple was built in the classical Roman style. The reason it's called Herod's Temple is because it was 'Herod the Great' who, in an attempt to gain the favor of his Jewish subjects, ordered the rebuilding of the Temple on a much grander scale. The Temple was almost completely destroyed in A.D. 70, (which Jesus prophesied in Matthew 24:1-2).

We see little evidence in Bible pictures of construction work taking place on the Temple despite the fact that during the whole life of Jesus the Temple was under construction! Bible artist William Hole didn't miss this fact, as in at least two of his paintings you can see construction workers in the background working on the Temple! Hole is one of the few artists who showed the Temple in great detail. His picture (left) shows the 15 semicircular steps that led from the 'Court of the Women', through the 'Nicanor Gate' to the 'Court of the Priests' in which stood the 'Alter of Sacrifice'. My only criticism of this picture is the use of Byzantine paneling on the walls. (similar to that seen on the exterior of the Dome of the Rock). Hole was heavily influenced by Byzantine & Arab architecture during his visit to the Holy land, as can be seen from his use of dome topped buildings in his Bible pictures. The other point was that the Court of the Women was actually outside, not inside as this picture clearly shows. Hole would have easily realised this, had he had access to one of the many scale models of Herod's Temple. Sadly, they were all built after his lifetime.


Alec Garrards Temple Model
In my quest to find out more about the Temple I purchased a copy of Alec Garrard's book 'The Splendor of the Temple', (available from Amazon). Suffolk farmer Alec Garrard devoted 18 years to creating a scale model of Herod's Temple which is reputed to be the best in the world! The model measures 20 feet by 12 feet in size. The book contains detailed photos of the model from all angles so it's a great reference guide for Bible artists. This model really has to be seen to be believed. Every single clay brick used in the construction of this model was hand baked in Mr Garrard's oven! The book describes in detail every area of the Temple both above and below ground and suggests the areas of the Temple where the various Bible stories took place.

How do we know what Herod's Temple looked like?
After all, as I've already mentioned, it was almost completely destroyed by the Roman army in A.D. 70! Although there is very little detailed information recorded in the Bible about Herod's Temple, there are several reliable sources that describe in detail what the Temple looked like. The following sources were used by those involved in reconstructing scale models of Herod's Temple:
Firstly, they had the writings of Jewish historian Flavius Josephus who lived during the time of Herod's Temple and witnessed it's destruction. To give you some idea of the exorbitant sums Herod spent on the Temple, Josephus speaks of marble being "overlaid with gold!"
The Mishnah, which is a codification of the oral Jewish law, was also a rich source of information for researchers regarding the Temple.
In addition to this, they had of course all the archaeological evidence, and the writings of expert archaeologists like Dan Bahat and Dr Leen Ritmeyer who I believe have written much about the Temple complex. Alfred Edersheim's book 'The Temple: It's Ministry and Services' also proved helpful to researchers and model makers alike.

Architectural details
I've been reading about ancient Jewish Art to try and get an idea of what type of images would be found decorating the interior walls of the Temple. I mentioned in an earlier post that the 'Star of David' was not used till much later but images of seven stick menorahs have been found carved in stone from this period and earlier.
There is some surviving stonework from the Temple that shows that the Herodian craftsmen were careful to use decorative styles that conformed to Jewish law, (no figurative representation). Any figurative representation would contravene the second commandment. Instead elaborate floral motifs were used which included Vine and Acanthus leaves. Later, in the 3rd and 4th cent A.D, when Jewish art became more Hellenised, figures in a Hellenistic-Persian style were found in synagogues, both on floor mosaics and wall frescos.
in I Kings 7:25. The walls of Solomon's Temple had embroidered tapestries of cherubim hanging on them, and of course we read in Exodus 26 of the artistic designs of cherubim being woven into the curtain of the tabernacle. (See the 'Drawing Cherubs' post). I would like to find out more about the internal furnishings of the Temple, so if you know of any good books or links, please let me know.

There are a number of scale models of Herod's Temple around the globe. As well as Alec Garrards 1/100 scale model in the U.K, there was also one in the grounds of the 'Holyland Hotel' in Jerusalem, (which has since moved to the Israel Museum). Another can be found in the 'Holy Land Experience' in Orlando, Florida, and there is a 1/300 scale model made by 'York model makers' which is available from Dr Leen Ritmeyer.
There's only one difference that I've noticed between these models, and that is the design of the four giant 'Lamp stands' that stood in the 'Women's Court'. I can only assume that the descriptions given of them in the sources mentioned above were unclear.

Related posts:
Interview with Dr Leen Ritmeyer
Herod's Temple Mount model update