Bible and Archaeology

This week, we're talking about Homer with Dr. Celsiana Warwick! What do we actually know about Homer? Was Homer a real person? And why does Homer still matter to us today?Join Dr. Cargill for his new online course ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cities of the Bible⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.eduWant to watch the show? Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see a video recording of this show.Everywhere you can find us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest: Dr. Celsiana Warwick, Assistant Professorand Director of Graduate Studies at the University of IowaHosted, Produced, and Edited by Jordan JonesAdditional Contributions by Mary Kathryn LichtyThe Bible & Archaeology podcast is made with support from Amanda Stone

This week, we're talking about AI with Matthew Cunningham! How does AI actually think? What is AI really? Is AI going to take over everything? And how should we think about the impact of AI on our lives? Join us for a deep dive into the complicated world of AI and its implications.Join Dr. Cargill for his new online course ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cities of the Bible⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.eduWant to watch the show? Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see a video recording of this show.Everywhere you can find us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest: Matthew CunninghamHosted, Produced, and Edited by Jordan JonesAdditional Contributions by Mary Kathryn LichtyThe Bible & Archaeology podcast is made with support from Amanda Stone

This week, we're talking about the Serabit El-Khadim inscriptions with Dr. Aren Wilson-Wright! Join us for a deep dive into the history and significance of these inscriptions and a discussion of some of the problems that exist with the readings proposed by Michael Bar-Ron.Sinai 357 (Photo by Cédric Paulhiac)Sinai 357 Bar-Ron (Photo by Michael Bar-Ron)Sinai 361 (Photo by Aren Wilson-Wright)Sinai 361 Bar-Ron (Photo by Michael Bar-Ron)For more from Dr. Aren Wilson-Wright, look HERE or HEREFor a good article on Sinai 357, consider "Sinai 357: A Northwest Semitic Votive Inscription to Teššob" by Dr. Aren Wilson-WrightJoin Dr. Cargill for his new online course ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cities of the Bible⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.eduWant to watch the show? Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see a video recording of this show.Everywhere you can find us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest: Dr. Aren Wilson-Wright, Assistant Instructional Professor at the University of ChicagoHosted, Produced, and Edited by Jordan JonesAdditional Contributions by Mary Kathryn LichtyThe Bible & Archaeology podcast is made with support from Amanda Stone

There are a lot of archaeological news stories every month and with every story come questions. This week on the podcast, we wanted to round up three stories from July 2025 that deserve more discussion. Check out our news shorts for weekly archaeology news updates.Aeneashttps://deepmind.google/discover/blog/aeneas-transforms-how-historians-connect-the-past/https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09292-5Genome Sequencinghttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09195-5https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-have-sequenced-an-ancient-egyptian-skeletons-entire-genome-for-the-very-first-time-heres-what-they-found-180986935/Burialshttps://apnews.com/article/israel-archaeology-paleolithic-burial-skeletons-6813bf418566721409f2c3c94b5d627cJoin Dr. Cargill for his new online course ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cities of the Bible⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.eduWant to watch the show? Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see a video recording of this show.Everywhere you can find us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hosted by Jordan Jones and Mary Kathryn LichtyProduced and Edited by Jordan JonesThe Bible & Archaeology podcast is made with support from Amanda Stone

Did plague bring an end to the age of Pax Romana? This week, Dr. Colin Elliott joins the podcast to explain the Antonine plague and the influence this wide-reaching plague had on the decline of the Roman Empire.Looking for more from Dr. Elliott?Check out his book Pox Romana: The Plague That Shook the Roman World.His podcastOr his YouTube channelJoin Dr. Cargill for his new online course ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cities of the Bible⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.eduWant to watch the show? Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see a video recording of this show.Everywhere you can find us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest: Dr. Colin Elliott; Professor, Department of History, Indiana University BloomingtonHosted, Produced, and Edited by Jordan JonesAdditional Contributions by Mary Kathryn LichtyThe Bible & Archaeology podcast is made with support from Amanda Stone

What's the real message of the Tower of Babel? This week, Bob and Jordan walk through four different versions of the Tower of Babel story to see how this story has grown over time and unpack the real meaning of this story.Join Dr. Cargill for his new online course ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cities of the Bible⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.eduWant to watch the show? Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see a video recording of this show.Everywhere you can find us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hosted by Jordan Jones and Robert CargillProduced and Edited by Jordan JonesAdditional Contributions by Mary Kathryn LichtyThe Bible & Archaeology podcast is made with support from Amanda Stone

This week, we're talking about magic! What is the line between magic and religion? What makes something a miracle instead of magic? Join us for a dive into the text to see if the Bible is actually as opposed to magic as it gets depicted to be.Join Dr. Cargill for his new online course ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cities of the Bible⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.eduWant to watch the show? Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see a video recording of this show.Everywhere you can find us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hosted by Jordan Jones and Mary Kathryn LichtyProduced and Edited by Jordan JonesThe Bible & Archaeology podcast is made with support from Amanda Stone

This week, we're talking with Dr. Briana Jackson about propaganda in ancient Egypt! What counted as propaganda? How was it used? And how different is Egyptian propaganda to what we see today?Interested in more? RSVP for Dr. Jackson's upcoming online class (July 12th) Never Has There Ever: Royal Propaganda in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia (it's free!)Join Dr. Cargill for his new online course ⁠⁠⁠Cities of the Bible⁠⁠⁠Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.eduWant to watch the show? Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see a video recording of this show.Everywhere you can find us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest: Dr. Briana JacksonHosted, Produced, and Edited by Jordan JonesAdditional Contributions by Mary Kathryn LichtyThe Bible & Archaeology podcast is made with support from Amanda Stone

This week, we're talking with Dr. Paula Fredriksen about her new book: "Ancient Christianities: The First Five Hundred Years." We discuss one of the larger questions that runs throughout the book: Christian persecution. When did it happen? How common was it? And why does it become such a dominant part of early Christian identity?Buy "Ancient Christianities" HERE Join Dr. Cargill for his new online course ⁠⁠Cities of the Bible⁠⁠Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.eduWant to watch the show? Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see a video recording of this show.Everywhere you can find us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest: Dr. Paula Fredriksen, Aurelio Professor of Scripture emerita, Boston University; Distinguished Visiting Professor, The Hebrew University of JerusalemHosted, Produced, and Edited by Jordan JonesAdditional Contributions by Mary Kathryn LichtyThe Bible & Archaeology podcast is made with support from Amanda Stone

There are a lot of archaeological news stories every month and with every story come questions. This week on the podcast, we wanted to round up four stories from June 2025 that deserve more discussion. Check out our news shorts for weekly archaeology news updates.Join Dr. Cargill for his new online course ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cities of the Bible⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.eduWant to watch the show? Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see a video recording of this show.Everywhere you can find us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stories:Caesarea Maritima: Roman Sarcophagushttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-sarcophagus-unearthed-in-israel-portrays-an-epic-drinking-contest-between-the-god-dionysus-and-the-mythical-hero-hercules-180986785/ https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/extraordinary-sarcophagus-discovered-in-israel-shows-carving-of-dionysus-beating-hercules-in-a-drinking-contest Egyptian Bluehttps://www.nature.com/articles/s40494-025-01699-7 https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/researchers-are-recreating-the-long-lost-recipe-for-egyptian-blue-the-worlds-oldest-known-synthetic-pigment-180986778/Madaba Maphttps://archaeology.org/news/2025/05/29/lost-byzantine-city-rediscovered-in-jordanian-desert/ https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/4243913Tel Dor Shipwreckshttps://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/iron-age-ship-cargoes-from-the-harbour-of-dor-israel/D44019724498E1221A1E026E25FFEA04 Hosted by Jordan Jones and Mary Kathryn LichtyProduced and Edited by Jordan JonesThe Bible & Archaeology podcast is made with support from Amanda Stone