Ephraim Stern
Encyclopedia
Ephraim Stern (born January 15, 1934) is a leading Israel
i archeologist and a recognized expert, specializing in the research of the Late First Temple period (Assyria
n Age), the Babylon
ian period and the Persian period Persian Empire, http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/forgottenempire/persia/index.html. In addition, he has extensively studied and written about the Phoenicia
ns. Prof. Stern is closely associated with the excavations of Tel Dor. A professor Emeritus of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
, he is a prolific author and has been engaged in scientific and popular writing and editing in the field of archeology. In 2005, he received the Israeli Prime Minister's award - the EMET Prize
which is awarded for "...excellence in academic and professional achievements that have far reaching influence and significant contribution to society."
, Israel in 1934. He graduated from the city's the Hebrew Reali School
in 1952 and joined the newly-established Israeli army (Israel Defense Forces
) the same year. Participating in Israel's wars of 1956, 1967 and 1973, he had later risen to the rank of Major. In 1953, while still a young adult, he lost both of his parents within six month period and subsequently helped support his younger brother. He married Tamar (ne'e Brutzkus) in 1960 and raised two sons. Prof. Stern lives with his wife in Jerusalem, Israel.
http://www.tau.ac.il/humanities/archaeology/. In 1971, after eight years there, Prof. Stern returned to the Hebrew University following Professor Yigael Yadin
's invitation.
Prof. Stern is widely recognized as expert in the study of three historical periods: the Late First Temple period (Assyria
n Age), the Babylon
ian period and the Persian period http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/forgottenempire/persia/index.html. In addition, he has studied and written about the culture of the Phoenicia
ns.
Prof. Stern served as a visiting professor in numerus universities, teaching in most of them. These include: London University, Harvard University
, Boston University
, New York University
, Annenberg Institute Philadelphia and other leading universities in South Korea
.
and Hazor, Tel Be'er Sheva
, Tel Mor and En Gedi
. In addition, he led numerous excavations, including those at Gilam, Tel Kadesh
and Tel Mevorakh http://www.archaeowiki.org/Tel_Mevorakh.
In addition to the abovementioned excavations, Prof. Stern is closely associated with Tel Dor, as he directed the excavations of the site for twenty years, while leading large groups of archeologists and layman volunteers from the U.S.http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/archaeology/sites/middle_east/tel_dor_site.html, Europe and Asia. Tel Dor is one of the major sites in Israel preserving important relics from the Israelites-Phoenicians and Northern Sea Peoples http://ahwat.haifa.ac.il/' cultures. The documented history of the site begins in the Late Bronze Age and ends in the Crusader period
. The port dominated the fortunes of the town throughout its 3000-odd year history and It served as the main port of the region up to the time of Herod the Great
.
Prof. Stern initiated the Tel Dor Project in 1980 and directed it until 2000 http://dor.huji.ac.il/ES.html. He continues to be involved with the publication of areas excavated under his directorship.
.
's Percia Schiemmel Award for his contributions to the archaeology of Israel. He was also awarded prizes for his various publications from Yad Ben Zvi Institute, The American Society of Biblical Archaeology
and Levi Sala prize on behalf of the Ben-Gurion University in the Negev
.
In 2005, Prof. Ephraim Stern was awarded with the EMET Prize for his research and professional work, which have placed him in the forefront of Israeli archaeology; for "disseminating archaeological knowledge through scientific editing and publishing; for the extensive excavations in which he has been involved as team member and director; and for his broad and in-depth knowledge of the Land of Israel and its material culture between the First Temple Period Solomon's Temple
and Second Temple period
s". http://www.emetprize.org/english/Product.aspx?Product=42&Category=3&SubCategory=3&Year=2005
, published by the Yad Ben-Zvi Institute. His most significant written contributions are as follows:
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i archeologist and a recognized expert, specializing in the research of the Late First Temple period (Assyria
Assyria
Assyria was a Semitic Akkadian kingdom, extant as a nation state from the mid–23rd century BC to 608 BC centred on the Upper Tigris river, in northern Mesopotamia , that came to rule regional empires a number of times through history. It was named for its original capital, the ancient city of Assur...
n Age), the Babylon
Babylon
Babylon was an Akkadian city-state of ancient Mesopotamia, the remains of which are found in present-day Al Hillah, Babil Province, Iraq, about 85 kilometers south of Baghdad...
ian period and the Persian period Persian Empire, http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/forgottenempire/persia/index.html. In addition, he has extensively studied and written about the Phoenicia
Phoenicia
Phoenicia , was an ancient civilization in Canaan which covered most of the western, coastal part of the Fertile Crescent. Several major Phoenician cities were built on the coastline of the Mediterranean. It was an enterprising maritime trading culture that spread across the Mediterranean from 1550...
ns. Prof. Stern is closely associated with the excavations of Tel Dor. A professor Emeritus of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; ; abbreviated HUJI) is Israel's second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Hebrew University has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world's largest Jewish studies library is located on its Edmond J...
, he is a prolific author and has been engaged in scientific and popular writing and editing in the field of archeology. In 2005, he received the Israeli Prime Minister's award - the EMET Prize
EMET Prize
The Emet Prize for Art, Science and Culture is an annual Israeli prize given for excellence in academic and professional achievements that have far reaching influence and significant contribution to society....
which is awarded for "...excellence in academic and professional achievements that have far reaching influence and significant contribution to society."
Biography
Prof. Ephraim Stern was born in HaifaHaifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
, Israel in 1934. He graduated from the city's the Hebrew Reali School
Hebrew Reali School
The Hebrew Reali School of Haifa , located in Haifa, Israel, is one of the country's oldest private schools.-History:...
in 1952 and joined the newly-established Israeli army (Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
) the same year. Participating in Israel's wars of 1956, 1967 and 1973, he had later risen to the rank of Major. In 1953, while still a young adult, he lost both of his parents within six month period and subsequently helped support his younger brother. He married Tamar (ne'e Brutzkus) in 1960 and raised two sons. Prof. Stern lives with his wife in Jerusalem, Israel.
Academic career
Prof. Stern started his academic career at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem where he studied in the Departments of Archaeology and History of the Jewish People http://archaeology.huji.ac.il/index.asp. Prof. Stern completed his Ph.D. (with distinction) in 1968. After receiving his M.A. he began teaching in the Department of Archaeology at Tel Aviv UniversityTel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University is a public university located in Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel. With nearly 30,000 students, TAU is Israel's largest university.-History:...
http://www.tau.ac.il/humanities/archaeology/. In 1971, after eight years there, Prof. Stern returned to the Hebrew University following Professor Yigael Yadin
Yigael Yadin
Yigael Yadin on 21 March 1917, died 28 June 1984) was an Israeli archeologist, politician, and the second Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces.-Early life and military career:...
's invitation.
Prof. Stern is widely recognized as expert in the study of three historical periods: the Late First Temple period (Assyria
Assyria
Assyria was a Semitic Akkadian kingdom, extant as a nation state from the mid–23rd century BC to 608 BC centred on the Upper Tigris river, in northern Mesopotamia , that came to rule regional empires a number of times through history. It was named for its original capital, the ancient city of Assur...
n Age), the Babylon
Babylon
Babylon was an Akkadian city-state of ancient Mesopotamia, the remains of which are found in present-day Al Hillah, Babil Province, Iraq, about 85 kilometers south of Baghdad...
ian period and the Persian period http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/forgottenempire/persia/index.html. In addition, he has studied and written about the culture of the Phoenicia
Phoenicia
Phoenicia , was an ancient civilization in Canaan which covered most of the western, coastal part of the Fertile Crescent. Several major Phoenician cities were built on the coastline of the Mediterranean. It was an enterprising maritime trading culture that spread across the Mediterranean from 1550...
ns.
Prof. Stern served as a visiting professor in numerus universities, teaching in most of them. These include: London University, Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
, New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, Annenberg Institute Philadelphia and other leading universities in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
.
Notable Excavations
Prof. Stern participated in numerous archaeological excavations in various sites in israel including the initial excavations at MassadahMasada
Masada is the name for a site of ancient palaces and fortifications in the South District of Israel, on top of an isolated rock plateau, or horst, on the eastern edge of the Judean Desert, overlooking the Dead Sea. Masada is best known for the violence that occurred there in the first century CE...
and Hazor, Tel Be'er Sheva
Tel Be'er Sheva
Tel Be'er Sheva is an archeological site in southern Israel believed to be the remains of the biblical town of Beersheba. It lies to the east of the modern city of Beersheba and to the east of the Bedouin town of Tel Sheva.-Biblical Beersheba:...
, Tel Mor and En Gedi
Ein Gedi
Ein Gedi is an oasis in Israel, located west of the Dead Sea, near Masada and the caves of Qumran.-Etymology:The name En-gedi is composed of two Hebrew words: ein means spring and gdi means goat-kid. En Gedi thus means "Kid spring."...
. In addition, he led numerous excavations, including those at Gilam, Tel Kadesh
Kedesh
The ruins of the ancient Canaanite village of Kedesh are located within the modern Kibbutz Malkiya in Israel on the Israeli-Lebanese border....
and Tel Mevorakh http://www.archaeowiki.org/Tel_Mevorakh.
- Tel Dor Excavations
In addition to the abovementioned excavations, Prof. Stern is closely associated with Tel Dor, as he directed the excavations of the site for twenty years, while leading large groups of archeologists and layman volunteers from the U.S.http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/archaeology/sites/middle_east/tel_dor_site.html, Europe and Asia. Tel Dor is one of the major sites in Israel preserving important relics from the Israelites-Phoenicians and Northern Sea Peoples http://ahwat.haifa.ac.il/' cultures. The documented history of the site begins in the Late Bronze Age and ends in the Crusader period
Crusades
The Crusades were a series of religious wars, blessed by the Pope and the Catholic Church with the main goal of restoring Christian access to the holy places in and near Jerusalem...
. The port dominated the fortunes of the town throughout its 3000-odd year history and It served as the main port of the region up to the time of Herod the Great
Herod the Great
Herod , also known as Herod the Great , was a Roman client king of Judea. His epithet of "the Great" is widely disputed as he is described as "a madman who murdered his own family and a great many rabbis." He is also known for his colossal building projects in Jerusalem and elsewhere, including his...
.
Prof. Stern initiated the Tel Dor Project in 1980 and directed it until 2000 http://dor.huji.ac.il/ES.html. He continues to be involved with the publication of areas excavated under his directorship.
Public Roles and Recognition
In addition to his active role as a scholar, Prof. Stern has served as chairman of the Hebrew University's Institute of Archaeology http://archaeology.huji.ac.il/people/people.asp and as director of the Yad Ben Zvi Institute for the Research of the Land of Israel http://www.ybz.org.il/?CategoryID=278, as well as chairman of the Archaeological Committee of the State of Israel and the chairman of the board of directors of the Israel Exploration SocietyIsrael Exploration Society
The Israel Exploration Society was founded in 1914 as the Society for the Reclamation of Antiquities, then renamed the Jewish Palestine Exploration Society...
.
Awards
Prof. Stern received the Israel MuseumIsrael Museum
The Israel Museum, Jerusalem was founded in 1965 as Israel's national museum. It is situated on a hill in the Givat Ram neighborhood of Jerusalem, near the Bible Lands Museum, the Knesset, the Israeli Supreme Court, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem....
's Percia Schiemmel Award for his contributions to the archaeology of Israel. He was also awarded prizes for his various publications from Yad Ben Zvi Institute, The American Society of Biblical Archaeology
Society of Biblical Archaeology
The Society of Biblical Archaeology was founded in London in 1870 to further Biblical archaeology. It published a series of Proceedings in which some important papers read before the Society were preserved....
and Levi Sala prize on behalf of the Ben-Gurion University in the Negev
Negev
The Negev is a desert and semidesert region of southern Israel. The Arabs, including the native Bedouin population of the region, refer to the desert as al-Naqab. The origin of the word Neghebh is from the Hebrew root denoting 'dry'...
.
- The EMET Prize
In 2005, Prof. Ephraim Stern was awarded with the EMET Prize for his research and professional work, which have placed him in the forefront of Israeli archaeology; for "disseminating archaeological knowledge through scientific editing and publishing; for the extensive excavations in which he has been involved as team member and director; and for his broad and in-depth knowledge of the Land of Israel and its material culture between the First Temple Period Solomon's Temple
Solomon's Temple
Solomon's Temple, also known as the First Temple, was the main temple in ancient Jerusalem, on the Temple Mount , before its destruction by Nebuchadnezzar II after the Siege of Jerusalem of 587 BCE....
and Second Temple period
Second Temple period
The Second Temple period , in Jewish history, is the period between 530 BCE and 70 CE, when the Second Temple of Jerusalem existed. It ended with the First Jewish–Roman War and the Temple's destruction....
s". http://www.emetprize.org/english/Product.aspx?Product=42&Category=3&SubCategory=3&Year=2005
Books and Other Publications
Prof. Stern has published numerous books based on his research and field work. Further, he served as editor of the journal Qadmoniot, published by the Israel Exploration Society, and was co-editor of CathedraCathedra
A cathedra or bishop's throne is the chair or throne of a bishop. It is a symbol of the bishop's teaching authority in the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, and has in some sense remained such in the Anglican Communion and in Lutheran churches...
, published by the Yad Ben-Zvi Institute. His most significant written contributions are as follows:
- Prof. Stern was elected editor-in-chief of the four-volume New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land and is currently editing the fifth volume of this work. This set of books summarizes the findings of virtually all excavations conducted in Israel for over 150 years. Prof. Stern has served as member of editorial boardEditorial boardThe editorial board is a group of people, usually at a publication, who dictate the tone and direction the publication's editorial policy will take.- Board makeup :...
s of numerous other important archaeological publications.
- His book The Material Culture of the Land of the Bible in the Persian Period (Hebrew edition 1978, English Edition 1982), is considered to be the standard textbook on this period and has won him the Ben Zvi Prize.
- His popular book on Dor, Dor - Ruler of the Seas (Hebrew edition 1992, English editions 1994 and 1999), has been awarded the Irene Levi-Sala book prize.
- Another significant contribution is the book Archaeology of the Land of the Bible, Volume II: The Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian Periods.
- Eretz Israel (Volume 29: the Ephraim Stern Volume) - Archeological, Historical and Geographical Studies. The book was dedicated to Prof. Stern by the Israel Exploration Society on the occasion of his 75th birthday. The book consists of 64 articles in Hebrew, English and French, written by 80 authors - students and colleagues of Prof. Stern. Edited by J. Aviram, A. Ben-Tor, et al, published by the Israel Exploration Society, 2009. http://israelexplorationsociety.huji.ac.il/FLIER%20ERETZ-ISRAEL%2029.pdf
- Final Archeological Reports
- The Excavations at Tel Mevorakh (2 Vols. Qedem Publications Nos. 9 and 18, 1978 and 1984), Institute of Archaeology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
- Tel Dor Excavations (2 Vols. Quedem Reports Ia-b, 1995), Institute of Archaeology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Israel Exploration Society.
- En-Gedi Excavations (Vol. 1, 2007), Institute of Archaeology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Israel Exploration Society.
- Figurines and Cult Objects from Dor (2010), Institute of Archaeology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem and The Israel Exploration Society.
- Links to Other Articles Authored by Prof. Stern
- Goddesses and Cults at Tel Dor http://books.google.com/booksid=oYearm8YobQC&pg=PA177&lpg=PA177&dq=ephraim+stern+hebrew&source=bl&ots=YpUXnKobop&sig=butmISNhL1qs1SujX3ihg5x61H8&hl=en&ei=bwQyTdfzAoeisAO5-pzcBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&sqi=2&ved=0CFMQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=ephraim%20stern%20hebrew&f=false
- The Many Masters of Dor, Part 1, Ephraim Stern, BAR 19:01, Jan/Feb 1993 http://cojs.org/cojswiki/The_Many_Masters_of_Dor%2C_Part_1%2C_Ephraim_Stern%2C_BAR_19:01%2C_Jan/Feb_1993
- The Many Masters of Dor, Part 2: How Bad Was Ahab? Ephraim Stern, BAR 19:02, Mar/Apr 1993. - http://cojs.org/cojswiki/The_Many_Masters_of_Dor%2C_Part_2:_How_Bad_Was_Ahab%3F_Ephraim_Stern%2C_BAR_19:02%2C_Mar/Apr_1993.
- The Many Masters of Dor, Part 3: The Persistence of Phoenician Culture, Ephraim Stern, BAR 19:03, May/Jun 1993. http://cojs.org/cojswiki/The_Many_Masters_of_Dor%2C_Part_3:_The_Persistence_of_Phoenician_Culture%2C_Ephraim_Stern%2C_BAR_19:03%2C_May/Jun_1993.
- Buried Treasure: The Silver Hoard from Dor, Ephraim Stern, BAR 24:04, Jul/Aug 1998. http://cojs.org/cojswiki/Buried_Treasure:_The_Silver_Hoard_from_Dor%2C_Ephraim_Stern%2C_BAR_24:04%2C_Jul/Aug_1998.
- Prize Find: Priestly Blessing of a Voyage, Ephraim Stern, BAR 21:01, Jan/Feb 1995. http://cojs.org/cojswiki/Prize_Find:_Priestly_Blessing_of_a_Voyage%2C_Ephraim_Stern%2C_BAR_21:01%2C_Jan/Feb_1995.
- The Babylonian Gap - The Assyrians impressed their culture on Israel … the Babylonians left no trace: http://cojs.org/cojswiki/The_Babylonian_Gap,_Ephraim_Stern,_BAR_26:06,_Nov/Dec_2000.
- Yes There Was - The Babylonian Gap Revisited http://www.123people.com/ext/frm?ti=person%20finder&search_term=ephraim%20stern&search_country=US&st=person%20finder&target_url=http%3A%2F%2Fmembers.bib-arch.org%2Fpublication.asp%3Fpubid%3Dbsba%26volume%3D28%26issue%3D3%26articleid%3D3
- The Babylonian Gap: The Archaeological Reality http://jot.sagepub.com/content/28/3/273.abstract
- Judah and the Judeans in the Persian period http://books.google.com/books?id=1zi2i_C1aNkC&pg=PA199&lpg=PA199&dq=ephraim+stern+hebrew&source=bl&ots=D7Sr-XbwQc&sig=S9EyxHaBD6OLfO12a8im8G6n8FQ&hl=en&ei=xgkyTfvZHMX0gAfVlPzeCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CEsQ6AEwCTge#v=onepage&q=ephraim%20stern%20hebrew&f=false
- A link to Prof. Stern's List of Publications: The link reflects information contained in RAMBI - an Index of Articles on Jewish Studies.
External links
- Israel Prime Minister EMET Prize http://www.emetprize.org/english/Article.aspx?Item=755
- Hebrew University, the Department of Archeology http://archaeology.huji.ac.il/index.asp
- Israel Exploration Society http://israelexplorationsociety.huji.ac.il/
- Yad Ben Zvi Institute http://www.ybz.org.il/?CategoryID=278
- The Hebrew Reali School in Haifa, Israel http://www.hareali-haivri.haifa.k12.il/newsite/template5.asp?typeid=1