Title:
Liberty Biblical Museum: Weapons of the Bible
Topic:
This site will be an online exhibit exploring the instruments of warfare in the biblical era through the weapons collection of the Liberty Biblical Museum
Vision:
The Liberty University Biblical Museum curates authentic artifacts and various forms of biblical era antiquities that continue to be invaluable to Judaic studies, biblical history, archaeology, and individuals of the Christian faith. One of the museum’s signature features is the weapons exhibit. The weapons exhibit includes many fascinating ancient artifacts, such as a Roman gladius, a bronze sword, a khopesh (or sickle-sword), a slingshot, a mace head, and an axe head, as well as a spearhead and arrowheads. The goal of this project is to display these artifacts in an online exhibit showcasing the changing weaponry used in the Holy Land during the time of the Bible. The weapons in the online exhibit will be displayed in chronological order so that visitors can see how weaponry progressed throughout the Bible. The site will also allow visitors to view specific weapons through a selection menu. Each weapon will be accompanied by digital photos and a short description of the artifact to provide more information to the audience. The target audience for this project includes people interested in weaponry in the ancient Near East as well as those who simply wish to learn more about the Liberty Biblical Museum. It is our hope that this site will give visitors a sampling of what the Liberty Biblical Museum has to offer and will motivate more people to come and see the museum in person.
Stage 3 Update:
The original format and template chosen was not providing what was needed so the information was transferred to a new template, Weebly. Everything should be at a viewers fingertips so above the banner image are links to the Artifacts and much more. The banner image was chosen from the template catalogue but fits the topic quite well. When a viewer clicks on the Artifacts they can select which one they would like to view. The artifact individual pages have been formatted so that the view can immediately see pictures of the artifact but also have access to written information.
The site includes a selection of detailed photographs of each of the artifacts in the online exhibit. Each artifact currently has between one and three images, but will have three to six photos by the time of the project’s completion. The upcoming photos will be a series of close-ups and shots from different angles. The weapons have been photographed against a dark background so that they will stand out when viewed on a screen. All photos will undergo a slight touch-up in Adobe Photoshop in order to accentuate the details of the artifacts.
Each artifact is accompanied by 100-200 words of interpretive text which explains its significance. The first paragraph beside each artifact describes the background of the weapon and how it is linked to the Bible. This paragraph includes information such as, how the weapon was used, why it was used, when it was used, and who used it. The second paragraph addresses the artifact itself, including where the artifact was discovered, the age of the artifact, and the material of which the artifact is made. The images and text work in conjunction to provide users with an introductory understanding of the weapons in the exhibit and how they relate to the battles of the Bible.
Stage 4 Update:
Finishing touches were added to polish and enhance the site. These included two video interviews with graduate assistant Christy Connell about two artifacts, the khopesh and Roman gladius. The videos were then added to their designated pages. The two artifacts with videos were chosen because of the amount of knowledge known about them. Also the rest of the photos were added to the artifacts pages. Each artifact has a minimum of three photos from different angles to provide a clear representation of the artifact. Also among the new photos were ones with a measuring stick to help the audience see just how large the artifact is. At least one of these is included for each artifact.
The updates for Stage 4 also included the development of interpretive text for each artifact. All artifact pages now include an artifact description, brief historical background information, and references to Bible passages relevant to the artifact. Captions were added to all pictures on the site. The Home and Artifacts pages now include a sleek, tiled menu showcasing thumbnails of each artifact. External links were also added to the Further Reading page. In addition, the Contact page now displays contact information for both the Liberty Biblical Museum and the Liberty University History Department.
To learn more about the artifacts, click here.
For further reading on the weapons of the Bible, click here.
To view the sources used for research on this site, click here.
