Episode

To Live and Die at Late Bronze Age Yavne Yam, or, I Dream of a Gini with a Jar Full of Opium

Podcast

This Week in the Ancient Near East

Published

Nov 17, 2025

Duration seconds

2471

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not_requested

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https://thisweekintheancientneareast.podbean.com/e/to-live-and-die-at-late-bronze-age-yavne-yam-or-i-dream-of-gini-with-the-jar-full-of-opium/

Audio

https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/da2jen4ev3qxt4g6/podcast_127_-_11_16_25_1044_AM728bc.mp3

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Summary

A wealthy Late Bronze Age tomb at Yavne Yam on the coast of Israel has us talking about trade, class, and real estate. How did folks at a pokey little port afford all that stuff, not to mention all the opium? Is this the Southern Levant’s Boca Raton? Come for the wide-ranging discussion of social inequality, stay for shoutouts to the one and only ‘Grandpa’ Al Lewis and the classic hit by Golden Earring, Radar Love!