phenomenons 338.phe.0003 Louis J. Sheehan, Esquire

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It is not easy to conclude such a long and complicated story. First, it must be made clear that Dayan never was an archaeologist. Only blind followers can call him �a superb archaeologist� (Slater 1991:161). Dayan was a robber of antiquities, who had never acquired nor showed the slightest interest in acquiring scientific knowledge, such as methods of excavation, dating, stratigraphy, etc.� This is the very soul of archaeological excavation, which should never be a crude search of nice finds. Dayan never took academic courses in archaeology, though he had an opportunity in 1959. His allegedly �deep knowledge� was confined to antiquities-dealing- identifying forgeries, estimating monetary value, bargaining and possessing �merchandise�.

8.2���� Dayan honestly loved his hobby and was searching for roots and everything that could come under that term. When he became Minister of Defense in 1967, he chose four pictures �reflecting Jewish history� to decorate his office- including one of the Egyptian temple at Serabit el Khadem (Dayan 1976:354-5).� He associated all antiquities with his roots, because he related it first of all with himself. Chalcolithic or Canaanites dwellers were his forebears, this was the important point, and not the religion they practiced. Hence those who disliked Dayan�s allegedly �Canaanite� or �un-Jewish� preferences miss the point (e.g. Sheshar 1986; Rosenson 1991).� Dayan was eclectic in his collection. What allured him was the �hunting�, the sense of danger and excitement, the pride in doing it himself and the desire to possess. Possession was a key motive in his life. Archaeologists also know the same desire- we often err in speaking about �our sites�, �our finds�. Archaeologists collect books- a sublimation of the same desire. But this is legitimate, and we do not use army helicopters for that aim.

8.3���� The evidence indicates the immense scope of Dayan�s illicit robbery of antiquities during three decades. From an innocent help by friends, he gradually developed nets of informers and accomplices- children, soldiers, robbers and dealers. From symbolic gifts, he moved into precious items on the antiquities-markets. Nothing mattered except possession: Dayan robbed sites even when they were being excavated at the same time by professional archaeologists; hampered scientific excavations while robbing sites; damaged sites with bulldozers; and used army equipment and personnel for private gains.

8.4���� Miberg�s verdict (1991:20), that Dayan corrupted in his archaeological activities the whole archaeology of Israel is too extreme. Yet, Dayan�s activity caused a lot of damage by undermining principles of law and order in a democratic state. Dayan corrupted others. Army commanders started to cultivate their own collections; citizens erected private antiquities gardens. Dayan did not invent or cause all these phenomenons, but because of his high public status, he became a negative model for others.� It is common for modern states to use archaeological sites and finds in order to prove common descent, rights to disputed territories, and political legitimacy. Archaeology and antiquities are used to weld social bonds and consciousness that build nations (cf. Smith 1991; Anderson 1983).� While antiquities belong to humanity in general, we still leave in a world of nations in which antiquities are said to belong to nations. Although this is not an ideal system, it is far better than the former world of antiquaries and private ownership of antiquities.� Thus, one cannot justify Dayan as a sort of modern Robin Hood who fights �the establishment�.� Dayan was part and parcel of the establishment, and all his digging and robbing were done to satisfy his private greed.�

enjoy 3329.enj.002 Louis J. Sheehan, Esquire

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I didn't enjoy living through it, and I don't enjoy seeing it romanticized.

If you're taking young children – and there were plenty of preteens at the performance I attended – be aware there is simulated sex, real nudity and lots of profanity. Additionally, contrary to the prayers of Man in Chair, the fourth wall crashes down with alarming regularity.