Hazor Masseboth

View looking east at a large collection of standing stones (Hebrew: masseboth) that were located in the temple area on the “citadel” of Tel Hazor.  This picture was taken after additional excavation had taken place (image taken June 2006-to view an earlier image Click Here). 

These stones seem to be arranged in pairs—a larger stone with a smaller one.  It seems that this collection belongs to the late MB II Period (2000–1550 BC).  They were part of the final “cult center” that was west of this area.  The stones themselves may represent elite persons who symbolically faced, and remained in the presence of the deity (deities?).  The corresponding “temple” to the west, from the same period of these stones, has not yet been excavated.

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For a descriptive commentary on these stones see—Ben–Ami, Doron.  "Mysterious Standing Stones — What Do These Ubiquitous Things Mean?"  Biblical Archaeology Review, vol. 32, no. 2 (March/April 2006):38–45.

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For more images of Hazor Click Here.

Image from the Zondervan Atlas of the Bible, p. 112.