Time Sifters Archaeology Society Newsletter November 2016

NOVEMBER-2016 November Program November 16 - at 6:00 PM - Selby Library, 1331 First St., Sarasota 34236 Herod's Mountaintop Monolith: Masada and her Palaces Dr. Steven DerflerExecutive Director, Educational Resources, Inc.Dear Member:The holidays are coming and I hope you'll be in town and join us for the Time Sifters annual potluck party inDecember. This year, we also want you to share more than a yummy dish. We'd like you to send us a coupleof photos of somewhere you have been this year. Have you visited an archaeological or historical site, heritageor art museum, cultural event, foreign country? Submit a few pictures to my email address, or bring hardcopies to November's meeting. I'm going to create a slide show so we can share our stories during the party.(Date and time will be announced at the November meeting and in next month's newsletter.)Meanwhile, Time Sifters helped with the recent archaeology at Phillippi Estate Park. On November 12th, atthe 100th Anniversary of the Edson Keith Estate, Dr. Uzi Baram will unveil new interpretive signage about thearchaeological insights into the history of the property. And don't miss Dr. Steven Derfler's presentation at ourNovember meeting. He is still actively working in the Middle East and it is sure to be fascinating. Remember, if you missedthe October meeting, the video is up on our website.Thanks for being a Time Sifters member!Sherry Svekis, President [email protected] 16, Selby LibraryDr. Steven DerflerHerod’s Mountaintop Monolith: Masada and her Palaces.Herod became the Roman King of Judea in 40 BCE and writer, Dr. Derfler has been un-and imposed changes upon his subjects that covering the histories of Ancientresulted in a “world turned upside down.” Civilizations for 40 years. TracingHerod’s desert fortress on the mountaintop of the development of western religionsMasada has been described as one of the most from their roots in the Middle Eastenduring engineering feats of the ancient Roman and Eastern Mediterranean coun-world. His royal northern palace is a marvel of Ro- tries, Dr. Derfler brings insight toman technology as it hangs over a precipice in current political and social events,three levels descending down the mountain bridging the past with the futureface, literally 'hanging' over the Dead Sea Val- to promote greater understandingley 1300 feet below. between people from different faiths and walks of life.An international educational consultant, publicspeaker, archaeologist, historian, researcher, teacher

Notes from a Time SifterHistorical Fiction/Non Fiction – Roman StyleHistorical fiction allows authors the story of the eruption of Mt. of the most knowledgeable authors onand readers to flush out life and Vesuvius. It is told from the point of Rome was Michael Grant CBE (21society in the times past. It provides view of the Roman aqueduct engineer November 1914 – 4 October 2004).possible answers to what it was responsible for the city’s water sys- He published over 70 works, mostlike to live during the Roman Empire. tem who notices sulphur in the about the Classical world. He hasThere are tons of really good novels water days before the eruption. written biographies of Julius Cae-available. Here are a few you Now we jump ahead to the next sar, Nero, Herod the Great, Cleo-might want to try. dynasty, the Flavians (68 – 96 patra, Emperor Constantine, theThe Julio-Claudian Dynasty AD). Simon Scarrow has written a Antonines and the Severans, just(100 BC – 68 AD) is the most series of novels that revolve to name a few.famous of the Roman dynasties around two Centurions of the Anthony Birley has written goodand has more stories written about Roman Army during the reigns of biographies of the Emperors Marcusit then all the others combined. Proba- Claudius, Caligula, and Nero. Aurelius, Hadrian and Septimiusbly the best known was written by They are involved in the conquering of Severus. His other works coverRobert Graves and made into a Britain with General Vespasian (the Roman life in Britain including lifeMasterpiece Classic for PBS – future Emperor). Their travels at the military posts at Hadrian’s Wall.I, Claudius. This two book series is A little known work by Margueriteabout one of the most notorious take them over most of the empire Yourcenar titled “Memoirs of Hadrian” isfamilies that has ever been, a dynasty including Germany, Syria, Egypt, an excellent biography of Emperorthat included the first six emperors of and Crete, as they fight alongside Hadrian (76-138 AD). It is a classicRome: Julius, Augustus, Tiberius, both future Emperors Vitellius and hard to find but well worth theCaligula (Gaius), Claudius, and and Vespasian. search.Nero. Harry Sidebottom’s Iron & Rust, Most of these books are not written likeThe five book Emperor Series by takes us to 222 AD to pick up the textbooks and are easy and enjoyable toConn Iggulden follows the life of tale of Emperor Severus Alexander read. There are other authors whoJulius Caesar from the age of 14 who is the last of the House of have written extensively on Romethru his military career, to becoming Severus. He is on campaign in and half the fun is the search forEmperor, and his betrayal and Germany to subdue the Germanic good ones. If you have a recom-death. The final novel illustrates tribes when the Army mutinies mendation, please drop us a line so and installs Maximinus I, thus that we can share it with otherthe power struggle and civil war starting the Age of Crisis which members.after his death. will see 13 emperors in 25 years.Another trilogy taking place in the Taylor Caldwell’s Pillar of Iron issame time frame is Robert Harris’ about Cicero and Dear and GloriousAncient Rome Trilogy which fol- Physician is about St. Luke whilelows the life of the greatest orator he was in Rome. Also, Great Lionof his time, Cicero. Imperium, of God is about St. Paul andConspirata and the just published Judas and takes place during theDictator are all excellent novels Roman occupation of Palestine.showing the politics of Caesar’s If you like non-fiction instead, yourise to power and the end of the are in luck because there areRepublic. Harris also wrote Pompeii, many really good biographies and works about Roman society. One

Celebratethe 100th Anniversaryof Edson Keith EstateSaturday, Nov. 1210 - 11 a.m. – Dedication of theArchaeology Interpretive Signage onProdie Shell Midden - west of EdsonKeith Mansion.The Edson Keith Mansion at Phillippi Estate Park, built in1916and listed in theNationalRegisterofHistoricPlaces,has seen alot in the past 100 years. Interestingly, the past century atthe park has opened up a window into the area’s far distantpast as well.The Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and NaturalResources Department is celebrating the 60-acre park thatsits on the shores of Phillippi Creek south of downtownSarasota.Included in the November 12th event is the unveiling of newHeritage Interpretation signs based on the archaeology ofthe property, and a presentation by Uzi Baram \"The ManyHistories Along Phillippi Creek\".Free and open to the publicWorld Heritage Sites World Heritage Site #1107 Avdat is a site of a ruined Nabataean city Copyright © 2016 in the Negev desert in southern Israel. It Time SiftersArchaeologySociety,Inc., was the most important city on the All rights reserved. Incense Route after Petra, between the We send newsletters to people 1st century BCE and the 7th century CE. who have attended or expressed It was founded in the 3rd century BCE, interestin our lecturesand given us and inhabited by Nabataeans, Romans, their email address. and Byzantines. Avdat was a seasonal camping ground for Nabataean caravans travelling along the early Petra–Gaza road in the 3rd – late 2nd century BCE. (Wikipedia)Officers: Board of DirectorsSherry Svekis, PresidentDarwin \"Smitty\" Smith, Vice Pres. Directors: Evelyn MangieBernice Jones, Secretary Valerie Jackson Bell Sharon McConnellCaroline Reed, Treasurer Robert Bopp Saretta SparerKaren Jensen, Membership Glenn Cooper

Membership Speakers & Events CalendarLifetime: $200 All to be held at 6:00 PMIndividual: $25 Selby Library, 1331 First St., Sarasota 34236Family: $35Sustaining: $50 November 16Student: $10 King Herod’s Palace at Masada Dr. Steven Derfler, Executive Director, Educational ResourcesPay online at: January 18WWW.TimeSifters.org Holiday PartyOr mail checks to: TBDTime Sifters, Inc.PO Box 5283 January 18Sarasota, FL. 34277 Archeology Year in Review Darwin “Smitty” Smith, Vice President, Time Sifters Time Sifters Archaeology Society A Chapter of the Florida Anthropological Society http://timesifters.org/Time Sifters Archaeology SocietyP. O. Box 5283, Sarasota, FL 34277