|
A Topeth The Bible speaks in Jeremiah and also other passages about a ‘Topeth’ or a Tophet.’ What does this mean to archaeologists and how [or does] it apply to us today? A ‘tophet’ is evidently the ancient sacred site for burning and sacrificing babies. Jeremiah 7:31 says that the ancient Israelites:
…built the high places of [the] Topheth in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to
burn their sons and daughters in the fire—something I did not command nor did
it enter my mind.”
Jeremiah 7:31 Going into this Topheth, you would apparently see several sacrificial alters or “high places” that the children were sacrificed. A mother and father would bring their baby (or even a toddler) to an outdoor Tophet. There would be an alter there. The Tophet priest would take the child and cut its throat, sprinkling the blood around the alter. There appears to be several of these “bamah” alters. We see this from a carved limestone stele from the Topeth at Carthage. It shows a priest carrying a baby to be sacrificed. After the blood was drained from the child’s body, they than would burn the corpse in a special furnace so they were able to preserve the ashes or in a huge pit in the Tophet. Then the ashes would be gathered by the Canaanite priests, placed in jars and buried in an adjoining cemetery. Over it would be placed a stele sometimes naming the child. [Stele - a stone slab that is engraved or has a carved design or description. For the most part, they were tomb shaped and dedicated to some god or goddess]. A Tophet was found at Carthage on the coast of North Africa, near Tunis. Archaeologists have so far found the remains of 20,000-25,000 thousand babies buried there at the Tophet. Most likely others will still be found. This was the largest Tophet ever found. At this Tophet, most (if not all) the babies were sacrificed to the goddess Tanit and to the god Baal Hammon. As a little note, Tanit should be recognized with the old Canaanite goddess Asherah/Astargatis. It must be pointed out, however, that the exact meaning of the Tophet is unknown. Archaeologists have been able to put some pieces of the puzzle together, with the help of the Tophet at Carthage and also at the island of Sardinia in the western Mediterranean.
© 2003 by Terra A. Mandrell ~ Please do not reprint or duplicate without permission. |
Home Making Skills for Keepers at Home For You Unmarried Folks- Like Me! Terra's Helpful Household Hints Amish Cooking, Baking & History
|