Did you know that the Rath of the Synods at Tara was excavated in 1899 by a
group calling themselves the British Israelites, looking for the Ark of the
Covenant?
Phyllis
>Here at UPenn we have an endowed annual prize fund for student papers in
>religious studies (undergrad and/or grad), established many years ago in
>memory of a buisnessman who had the following passion:
>
><quote>
>In his later years, the possibility of establishing ties between ancient
>Israel and the ancient Celts who migrated westward from east and central
>Europe was suggested to him by his analysis of Celtic sword designs and
>certain linguistic features. He did not live to see this theory tested by
>careful, sytematic study.</quote>
>
>We were able to convince the donor to let us award prizes for essays
>dealing with pre-modern Jewish topics, especially archaeological, rather
>than specific treatments of the late honoree's interests. Noone has ever
>submitted an essay on possible (or impossible) connections between ancient
>Israel, or even Judaism broadly defined, and "the ancient Celts," but I'm
>tempted to offer a special prize this year for such an essay (for UPenn
>students only) if there is any reason to think that a responsible study of
>that subject would be possible today (letting the chips fall where they
>may). Any advice from you experts would be appreciated, including
>judgments that it would be a waste of time, or conversely, pointers to
>responsible literature and/or evidence that might be useful to include in
>any "call for papers."
>
>Thanks!
>Bob
>--
>Robert A. Kraft, Religious Studies, University of Pennsylvania
>227 Logan Hall (Philadelphia PA 19104-6304); tel. 215 898-5827
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>http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/rs/rak/kraft.html
Phyllis G. Jestice
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