ELEPHANTINE

Elephantine is an island in the Nile River in southern Egypt. Papyri discovered there dating from the 5^th c. BCE open a window on a Jewish community that served as a garrison for the Persian rulers of Egypt. In the papyri, Elephantine is called Yeb. Among the manuscripts (known as the Elephantine papyri) are letters about a Jewish temple in Elephantine, marriage and divorce contracts, and business contracts that illustrate many facets of Jewish life under the Persians.

Elephantine Island from the south

(www.bibleplaces.com)

Elephantine Island Excavations

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D. Falk, 2002

dfalk@oregon.uoregon.edu