Breaking news: Amazing archaeological find

One of the great privileges of living near Tübingen is that I rub shoulders with some amazing biblical scholars. And it is a deep honour that I've been permitted by one of them based at the Theologikum, to announce an amazing archaeological find.

I feel really honoured to be the first to publically announce the following.

Recently, ancient artwork was found in excavations at Megiddo. Not only has an ancient wall portrait been found, but the figure is clearly identified in an almost perfectly maintained inscription underneath. None other than the Bible's 'bad girl' Jezebel.

The shocker, as if it wasn't already, is the portrait dates back to almost 800 BC!! In other words, we now know what Jezebel probably really looked like in real life! Of course, there is much more of interest in the picture and inscription, but early date is simply staggering.

What is more, and this is the really exciting bit, my contacts at the University have given me permission to publish a photo of the portrait on this blog!! The quality isn't perfect; the resolution of this photo is a little low (though a better copy will be published by the Megiddo team in due time).

Anyway here is a copy of the recently discovered portrait of Jezebel! (I was not allowed to publish the inscription too)