Life at the Dead Sea

It is a world premiere: neither in Germany, nor in Europe or elsewhere has the cultural history of the Dead Sea region been the topic of an exhibition so far.

The lowest place on earth's surface, mineral mud for the skin, reading the newspaper while floating in the water – these aspects signify the Dead Sea today, whose shores belong to Israel, Jordan and the West Bank.

But although life in this arid region is hardly manageable, it did attract people over thousands of years. They settled here because of its resources - salt, asphalt, minerals – and the possibility to cultivate date palms and balm. They built villages, castles and temples. Others came to hide in caves in times of trouble.

Their activities resulted in some of the most famous archaeological sites worldwide: Jericho, once called the oldest city of the world and Masada with the Herodian fortress and palaces. Or Qumran, where the scrolls were found. Equally spectacular are the cult objects or personal valuables found in the Cave of Treasure or the Cave of Letters.

The exhibition Life at the Dead Sea presents this unique cultural landscape along thematic paths: nature & subsistence, wellness, mobility, settlements, power & powerlessness as well as cult & religion. Furthermore, the history of research and the astonishingly well preserved textiles from the Dead Sea are presented.

LANGUAGES
A booklet with the English translation of the German text panels is provided at the entrance of the exhibition.

CATALOGUE
Order the catalogue with essays and objects (in German) online.

BOOK A TOUR
A guided tour in English can be booked here: buchung@smac.sachsen.de
Costs: 75 € + group admission (5 € per person)
 

© Ashmolean Museum Oxford / mindbox GmbH