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Jewish Roman ritual Batillum (incense shovel)
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A bronze ritual incense shovel with a semi-cylindrical handle with decorative terminal, leading to a rectangular tray with sides. The reverse of the tray has a lion’s paw support and four short legs such that the shovel can stand in a horizontal position. Supplied with a purpose-made modern acrylic display stand.
Roman / Jewish Holy Land: Circa 1st - 2nd century AD.
Condition: Very Fine losses to the edges at the base but the metal is strong and stable.
Length 28.5 cms (11.2 ins).
Weight 905 grams.
Provenance: Private collection of Gerry Sigel, Washington DC, acquired in Israel in the 1960s.
Incense shovels are often found in Israel. In the Jewish religion, it was used in the Temple of Jerusalem, to clean the lamps of the Menorah (Ex.25:38). After the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD. the incense shovel became one of the Jewish symbols.
Among the furnishings of the temple mentioned in the Bible are objects which may illuminate the function of the shovel represented here. These are the shovels, fire pans, and censers used in the service of the altar. The shovel is used to carry coals from the sacrificial altar to the incense altar in front of the holy of holies. The offering of incense was made each morning and evening and accompanied the offerings of meal, of the first fruits on Shavuot, and was displayed in the Temple with the showbread.
Since these have been found in the Italian sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum, as well as in Israel, archaeologists have connected them with pagan ritual. However, there was a tradition of the use of the shovels both in Temple ritual and as representations in post-destruction art, usually associated with Temple furnishings like the menorah. There seems to be no cogent reason, therefore, for denying a Jewish use for this shovel. Since all sacrificial activity was forbidden when the Temple was destroyed in 70 AD. the burning of incense afterwards may not have been cultic, but merely for its pleasing odour.
Similar Mahta type bronze incense shovels were discovered in the Dead Sea caves in the 1960s.
Literature: For lists of published rectangular bronze shovels see Goodenough (1954) 4.197 Yadin (1963), 54-57 Rutgers (1999), 197-198.
Israel In Antiquity The Jewish Museum in New York Andrew Ackerman and Susan Braunstein page 119.
See: O.W. Muscarella (ed.), Ladders to Heaven. Art Treasures from Lands of the Bible (Toronto, Royal Ontario Museum, 1981), p. 293, cat. no. 274.
Leonard Victor Rutgers, "Incense Shovels at Sepphoris?" in Eric M. Meyers (ed.), Galilee Through the Centuries. Confluence of Cultures. Papers Presented at the 2nd International Conference on Galilee in Antiquity Held at Duke University and North Carolina Museum of Art on Jan. 25-27, 1997 (Duke Judaic Studies Series, 1) (Winona Lake, Eisenbrauns, 1999) p. 177-198.
Erwin R. Goodenough Jewish Symbols in the Greco-Roman Period (New York, Princeton University Press, 1954) 4, 195-208.
Rachel Hachlili Ancient Jewish Art and Archaeology in the Land of Israel (Leiden, Brill, 1988), 257-266.
J.W. Hayes Greek, Roman and Related Metalware in the Royal Ontario Museum (Toronto, Royal Ontario Museum, 1984), p. 203-207. All our items are supplied with an illustrated certificate of authenticity (COA) which will act as as a guarantee that all items are authentic and dated to the period stated.
All our items include shipping to mainland UK.
Buyers outside the UK and non-mainland UK need to email us for postage costs before buying. Overseas buyers need to check that the item they intend buying can be imported into their country and will be responsible for paying any customs and/or tax charges.
Payment is can be made either through clicking on the Buy Securely icon, or alternatively via a bank transfer (in which case we can pass on the resulting saving of Paypal fees). We are not able to process debit/credit card payments over the phone.
SellerTimesAncient
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Private dealer
By appointment only
Bristol
Somerset
Tel : 07503789204
Non UK callers : +44 7503789204
Roman / Jewish Holy Land: Circa 1st - 2nd century AD.
Condition: Very Fine losses to the edges at the base but the metal is strong and stable.
Length 28.5 cms (11.2 ins).
Weight 905 grams.
Provenance: Private collection of Gerry Sigel, Washington DC, acquired in Israel in the 1960s.
Incense shovels are often found in Israel. In the Jewish religion, it was used in the Temple of Jerusalem, to clean the lamps of the Menorah (Ex.25:38). After the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD. the incense shovel became one of the Jewish symbols.
Among the furnishings of the temple mentioned in the Bible are objects which may illuminate the function of the shovel represented here. These are the shovels, fire pans, and censers used in the service of the altar. The shovel is used to carry coals from the sacrificial altar to the incense altar in front of the holy of holies. The offering of incense was made each morning and evening and accompanied the offerings of meal, of the first fruits on Shavuot, and was displayed in the Temple with the showbread.
Since these have been found in the Italian sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum, as well as in Israel, archaeologists have connected them with pagan ritual. However, there was a tradition of the use of the shovels both in Temple ritual and as representations in post-destruction art, usually associated with Temple furnishings like the menorah. There seems to be no cogent reason, therefore, for denying a Jewish use for this shovel. Since all sacrificial activity was forbidden when the Temple was destroyed in 70 AD. the burning of incense afterwards may not have been cultic, but merely for its pleasing odour.
Similar Mahta type bronze incense shovels were discovered in the Dead Sea caves in the 1960s.
Literature: For lists of published rectangular bronze shovels see Goodenough (1954) 4.197 Yadin (1963), 54-57 Rutgers (1999), 197-198.
Israel In Antiquity The Jewish Museum in New York Andrew Ackerman and Susan Braunstein page 119.
See: O.W. Muscarella (ed.), Ladders to Heaven. Art Treasures from Lands of the Bible (Toronto, Royal Ontario Museum, 1981), p. 293, cat. no. 274.
Leonard Victor Rutgers, "Incense Shovels at Sepphoris?" in Eric M. Meyers (ed.), Galilee Through the Centuries. Confluence of Cultures. Papers Presented at the 2nd International Conference on Galilee in Antiquity Held at Duke University and North Carolina Museum of Art on Jan. 25-27, 1997 (Duke Judaic Studies Series, 1) (Winona Lake, Eisenbrauns, 1999) p. 177-198.
Erwin R. Goodenough Jewish Symbols in the Greco-Roman Period (New York, Princeton University Press, 1954) 4, 195-208.
Rachel Hachlili Ancient Jewish Art and Archaeology in the Land of Israel (Leiden, Brill, 1988), 257-266.
J.W. Hayes Greek, Roman and Related Metalware in the Royal Ontario Museum (Toronto, Royal Ontario Museum, 1984), p. 203-207. All our items are supplied with an illustrated certificate of authenticity (COA) which will act as as a guarantee that all items are authentic and dated to the period stated.
All our items include shipping to mainland UK.
Buyers outside the UK and non-mainland UK need to email us for postage costs before buying. Overseas buyers need to check that the item they intend buying can be imported into their country and will be responsible for paying any customs and/or tax charges.
Payment is can be made either through clicking on the Buy Securely icon, or alternatively via a bank transfer (in which case we can pass on the resulting saving of Paypal fees). We are not able to process debit/credit card payments over the phone.
Price
The price has been listed in British Pounds.
Conversion rates as of 13/FEB/2025. Euro & Dollar prices will vary and should only be used as a guide.
Always confirm final price with dealer.
Category Ancient Artifacts
Date 1st - 2nd century AD.
Pre 16th Century Antiques Material Bronze
Origin Israel
Item code as1213a180 / Y097
Status For Sale
£1250.00 ![UK](//staticaz.antiquesatlas.com/images/flag_uk.gif)
$1565.38![USA](//staticaz.antiquesatlas.com/images/flag_us.gif)
€1500.38![EU](//staticaz.antiquesatlas.com/images/flag_eu.gif)
![UK](http://staticaz.antiquesatlas.com/images/flag_uk.gif)
$1565.38
![USA](http://staticaz.antiquesatlas.com/images/flag_us.gif)
€1500.38
![EU](http://staticaz.antiquesatlas.com/images/flag_eu.gif)
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Conversion rates as of 13/FEB/2025. Euro & Dollar prices will vary and should only be used as a guide.
Always confirm final price with dealer.
Shipping information
Antiquities are precious, and we send all items with insurance and tracking where possible, which is also reflected in the shipping cost.
Since 1 January 2021, EU buyers may be required to pay import VAT, and sometimes a customs processing fee. These amounts vary by country and carrier. Antiquities are usually duty free and subject to a lower percentage VAT rate. New processes can also increase delivery times.
Since 1 January 2021, EU buyers may be required to pay import VAT, and sometimes a customs processing fee. These amounts vary by country and carrier. Antiquities are usually duty free and subject to a lower percentage VAT rate. New processes can also increase delivery times.
Terms and conditions
TimesAncient guarantees all items to be authentic and to comply with the description provided in relation to broad age and culture. Upon satisfactory evidence from a recognised authority, an item found not to comply with this guarantee of authenticity can be returned to TimesAncient by the Buyer for a full refund including return shipping costs.
An item found to be unsatisfactory may be returned to TimesAncient for a full refund within 14 days of receipt, provided it is returned in the same condition as sent.
The Buyer will bear responsibility for return shipping costs, safe packing and insurance.
An item found to be unsatisfactory may be returned to TimesAncient for a full refund within 14 days of receipt, provided it is returned in the same condition as sent.
The Buyer will bear responsibility for return shipping costs, safe packing and insurance.
View all stock from
TimesAncient
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By appointment only
Bristol
Somerset
Tel : 07503789204
Non UK callers : +44 7503789204
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