This book contains the papers delivered at the 1996 Copper Scroll Symposium which was organized by the Manchester-Sheffield Centre for Dead Sea Scrolls Research to mark the 40th anniversary of the opening of this enigmatic scroll in Manchester. The papers cover the history of the scroll's interpretation (P. Muchowski, P. Davies, B. Segal, M. Wise); how it should be conserved, restored and read (N. Cacoudre, M. Lundberg, E. Puech); how it was produced (P. Kyle McCarter); the meaning of its technical terms (J.F. Elwolde, A. Lange, J. Lefkovits, J. Lubbe, L. Schiffman); its genre (M. Bar-Ilan, R. Fidler, T. Lim); its geography (P.S. Alexander); its correlation with archaeological remains (H. Eshel); and not least who wrote it, when and why (S. Goranson, I Knohl, H. Stegemann, B. Thierine, A. Wolters).

Table of Contents

Part I Opening, restoring and reading the Copper Scroll: the conservation and restoration of the Copper Scroll from Qumran; John Allegro and the Copper Scroll; Professor Henry Wright Baker - the Copper Scroll and his career; when images meet - the potential of photographic and computer imaging technology for the study of the Copper Scroll; some results of a new examination of the Copper Scroll (3Q15). Part II Archaeological and linguistic studies: aqueducts in the Copper Scroll; 3Q15 - its linguistic affiliation, with lexicographical comments; the meaning of "Dema' " in the Copper Scroll and ancient Jewish literature; the Copper Scroll treasure - fact or fiction?; the abbreviation KK versus KKRYN; the Copper Scroll and language issues; "Kelei Dema' " - tithe jars, scroll jars and cookie jars; the vocabulary of the Copper Scroll and the Temple Scroll. Part III Interpreting the Copper Scroll: the process of writing the Copper Scroll; inclusio and symbolic geography in the Copper Scroll; further reflections on the Copper Scroll; new light on the Copper Scroll and 4QMMT; the origin of 3Q15 - 40 years of discussion; the Copper Scroll - novel approaches; the Copper Scroll - King Herod's bank account?; some palaeographical observations by the artist of "Searching for the Treasures of the Copper Scroll"; David J. Wilmot and the Copper Scroll; palaeography and literary structures as guides to reading the Copper Scroll.

Author Biography

George Brooke is Rylands Professor of Biblical Criticism and Exegesis at the University of Manchester and Co-Director of Manchester-Sheffield Centre for Dead Sea Scrolls Research Philip Davies is Professor of Biblical Studies in the University of Sheffield.