Holy land (Room 88)

3rd century BC - 8th century AD

Currently closed

The Hellenistic, Roman and early Byzantine periods of the Levant are featured in this gallery. Objects on display include archaeological finds from Petra, in modern-day Jordan, Hellenistic bronze "lion masks", Jewish ossuaries (stone burial chests) and nineteenth century models of King Herod’s fortress at Herodium and the Temple in Jerusalem. Other important objects come from the early Christian Monastery of St Lot in Jordan, built over a cave where, according to tradition, Lot and his daughters took refuge after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Image captions (clockwise from top left):

Limestone ossuary 1st century AD

Pottery lidded jar of the sort used to store the Dead Sea Scroll 1st century AD