Baetylus
Videos
Page
Baetylus are sacred stones which were supposedly endowed with life, or gave access to a deity. According to ancient sources, at least some of these objects of worship were meteorites, which were dedicated to the gods or revered as symbols of the gods themselves.
The Emesa temple to the sun god Elagabalus with baetyl at centre. Roman coin of 3rd century AD.
Depiction of Jacob's dream sleeping on a stone at Bethel, by José de Ribera
Gold Minoan seal ring, with drawing of design. The goddess in the centre appears to the figure at left, lying on a stone. The worshipper at right is shaking a sacred tree, another way of summoning the deity.
The baetylus of Aphrodite at Palaepaphos, described by Tacitus.
Bethel
Videos
Page
Bethel was an ancient Israelite city and sacred space that is frequently mentioned in the Hebrew Bible.
The ruins of Beitin, commonly identified with Bethel, during the 19th century
Beitin in 1894, from the book Holy Land photographed by Daniel B. Shepp
Depiction of Jacob's dream at Bethel, by Jusepe de Ribera.
Early Bronze Age Canaanite ritual site, cut through the bamah by Middle Bronze Age II city wall. Tel Beit El, Beitin, 2017.