Tributes to a Legendary Archaeologist
When news broke of Dr. Eilat Mazar’s death, the flood of tributes was overwhelming. The influx of warm messages from friends, family and admirers; from fellow archaeologists and scholars—and even from some who had disagreed with her interpretations—were a testament to Eilat’s incredible personality and esteemed career.
Here are just some of the tributes honoring the life and work of Dr. Eilat Mazar. (Longer tributes have been edited for concision.)
“With heavy hearts, the Hebrew University reports the passing of pioneering archaeologist Dr. Eilat Mazar. During her tenure, Mazar unearthed King David’s Palace in the City of David, sections of King Solomon’s Walls, and clay seals belonging to King Hezekiah and possibly Isaiah the Prophet.”
—The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
“The City of David mourns the untimely death of archaeologist Dr. Eilat Mazar who contributed greatly to the study of the City of David and Jerusalem and left a significant mark on understanding the history of the city. We are so honored to have worked alongside Dr. Eilat Mazar who helped uncover and discover the City of David, ancient Jerusalem.”
—The City of David
“Eilat’s love for Jerusalem led her to focus on excavations in the city and thanks to it the whole world was exposed to a variety of amazing finds of international importance, including the large stone structure identified by Mazar as David’s Palace, the Jerusalem Wall from the First Temple Period, and her most prominent find—the seal of King Hezekiah. Eilat was a brilliant, original, daring researcher who stuck to her work and did not shy away from criticism. She always stood by her principles and believed in herself to the end. I remember the phone call late at night, when she called me about discovering the seal of one of King Zedekiah’s ministers. She was gripped by excitement. She was so happy about having the privilege of being part of revealing findings that correspond exactly with the verses of the Bible and to see with her own eyes the Bible being brought to life. Eilat will forever be remembered as a pioneer standing shoulder to shoulder with the greatest scholars of Jerusalem throughout the ages. May her memory be a blessing.”
—David Be’eri (City of David CEO)
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Eilat Mazar, fearless defender of Israel’s past and present, a fighter for archaeological truth, and a friend. May her memory live on in the artifacts she revealed and the biblical history she substantiated.”
—Ambassador Michael Oren
“Eilat Mazar, one of Israel’s greatest archaeologists, passed away this week. Though born a decade after the Jewish state was established, Mazar is seen by those privileged to know her as being among the country’s founders because she had that rare and unmistakable character of the generation of leaders who brought the state into being against all odds. She was driven by an instinctive love for the land of Israel, felt deeply connected to the Bible without being traditionally religious, and embraced archaeology, with its alluring combination of the spiritual and the earthly. Like Israel’s “Greatest Generation,” Eilat was supremely confident and touchingly modest, naturally charming and exasperatingly stubborn, totally committed to the national cause but even more devoted to her family. May her example light a path for all those seeking to be part of the incredible story of the renewal of Jewish sovereignty in the Land of Israel.”
—Dr. Daniel Polisar (The Shalem Center)
“Eilat Mazar, one of the most prominent and important Israeli archaeologists, has died. Probably her most significant discovery is the Large Stone Structure that she attributed as having been David’s palace, which almost certainly is correct. Mazar received a firestorm of opposition for making such attributions, especially since many academics have embraced the minimalistic position that the Bible’s United Monarchy of Israel has no place in reality. To her credit, she withstood the opposition with strength and conviction. This is what an archaeologist faces when he or she attempts to connect monumental architecture or material finds with elements in the biblical narrative. Mazar’s stance was heroic.”
—Prof. Douglas Petrovich
“The indomitable and self-effacing Eilat Mazar never flinched as she rose to fame as the doyenne of ancient Jerusalem, saying that people would see her truths, even if it took them some time to come around. A sad time for biblical archaeology.”
—Roger Isaacs (The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago)
“Dr. Eilat Mazar was one of the most prominent and influential Israeli archaeologists, well-known and respected both at home and on the world stage. She contributed greatly to our understanding of the archaeology and history of ancient Israel, especially regarding Jerusalem in biblical times. Her most outstanding contributions were the excavations in two locations in the ‘City of David’ ridge—above the Gihon spring and in the ‘Ophel’ south of the al-Aqsa mosque. The results of these projects enabled reconstructing the layout of the city, its material culture and its impact on Judah and beyond. Excavating in Jerusalem is a complicated task, which calls for special personal skills. Eilat Mazar’s strong character and resolve were essential to her success in the field. Despite our interpretational differences, I have respected her work; we were good friends and shared a passion for the past of the land of Israel. Eilat Mazar’s impacts on the archaeology of Israel in general and Jerusalem in particular will always be counted among the cornerstones of the archaeology of Israel. She will be greatly missed.”
—Prof. Israel Finkelstein
“The Israeli woman to whom the stones spoke. Eilat Mazar helped uncover the truth about Jerusalem’s past and King David’s realm. Her critics never forgave her for it, but her achievements made Jewish history.”
—Jonathan Tobin (JNS editor in chief)
“A great archaeologist of Jerusalem and a remarkable woman. I remember the combination of scholarship and excitement with which she conveyed to a group of us at the City of David the significance of the excavation of the palace of the biblical King David.”
—Bill Kristo (The Bulwark editor at large)
“I am deeply upset to hear of the passing of Eilat Mazar, one of Israel’s greatest archaeologists of our time. I got to know her at the Shalem Center, where she led the charge to (successfully) find King David’s palace in Jerusalem. What a huge loss.”
—David Hazony (independent editor)
“Legendary archaeologist Eilat Mazar, the ‘Jewish Indiana Jones,’ found the palace of the kings of Judah in a dig in Jerusalem, 2005. No one in our generation “בתרמואך ןידיידן ךאומרבת .did more for the reputation of the Bible
—Yoram Hazony (author)
“Dr. Eilat Mazar will be greatly missed. Her contribution to the archaeology of Jerusalem (and Phoenician archaeology too) has been great and she is to be greatly thanked for all the wonderful work she has accomplished over the years. I will never forget the many wonderful meetings we had together and with friends. Rest in peace, my dear friend. You will not be forgotten.”
—Dr. Peter van der Veen
“I am heartbroken by the passing of a personal hero of mine, archaeologist Dr. Eilat Mazar, who discovered the City of David and many other historic biblical findings. Her love for Tanach, and the history of our people, guided her life and archaeology. Rest in peace.”
—Rabbi E. Poupko
“Dr. Eilat Mazar was archaeology royalty. While she made significant contributions to understanding the Phoenicians, Eilat Mazar became a household name when she returned to dig in Jerusalem with her grandfather. In addition to her prowess as an archaeologist, Eilat was kind and gracious. She will be missed by family, friends and the archaeology community alike.”
—Biblical Archaeology Review
“Although she did not regard herself as personally religious, her sense of intellectual and scientific honesty and inquiry led Dr. Eilat Mazar to use the Bible as a crucial, historically accurate document. Dr. Mazar’s work was blessed in a special way.”
—theTrumpet.com
“We are saddened by the news that renowned Israeli archaeologist Eilat Mazar, has passed. The grand-daughter of famous archaeologist, Benjamin Mazar, she made numerous important contributions to Israel archaeology herself. Eilat Mazar considered herself a nonreligious person. But when it came to her work, few took the Bible more seriously than her. May her memory be a blessing!”
—Christianity Today
From her excavation volunteers and staff:
“Dr. Eilat Mazar’s archaeological finds and digs will literally never be forgotten. They will live on into eternity. She has the most impressive archaeology resume in the history of mankind. Honored to have worked around the GREATEST OF ALL TIME.”
—Jeremy Cocomise
“Today we lost a real ‘mother in Israel’ (Judges 5:7), but we celebrate her life’s work and the mountain of archaeological discoveries she brought us from biblical Jerusalem. Working for Dr. Mazar was one of the great privileges of my life.”
—Christopher Eames
Headlines:
Armstrong Institute of Biblical Archaeology:
“Dr. Eilat Mazar, Queen of Jerusalem Archaeology, Has Died”
The Times of Israel:
“Fearless Pioneering Biblical Archaeologist Eilat Mazar Dies at 64”
The Times of Israel Blogs:
“Eilat Mazar, One of Israel’s Founders”
Haaretz:
“Dr. Eilat Mazar, Doyenne of Ancient Jerusalem Archaeology, Dies”
Christianity Today:
“Died: Eilat Mazar, Archaeologist Who Believed the Bible”
Jewish News Syndicate:
“The Woman to Whom the Stones Spoke”
The Jerusalem Post:
“Remembering Eilat Mazar, the Archaeologist of Jerusalem”
Biblical Archaeology Review:
“Remembering Eilat Mazar”
The Trumpet Daily:
“Eilat Mazar Will Be Missed”
The Telegraph:
“Eilat Mazar, Leading Light of Israeli Biblical Archaeology Who Uncovered What She Claimed Was the Palace of King David—Obituary”
Mosaic Magazine:
“Remembering the Archaeologist Who Uncovered Biblical Jerusalem”
Aish:
“Dr Eilat Mazar: Queen of Biblical Archaeology”
Mishpacha:
“The Woman Who Unearthed Jerusalem”