Life in Bible Times - Agriculture:

Agriculture

FREE PICTURES

Irrigation
Egyptian painting from tomb of Ipui, Thebes, 13th century BC, showing slave working an irrigation machine..

Ploughing
Such a ploughing team as this may have prompted the phrasing of Paul´s admonition ´unequally yoked together´ (II. Corinthians vi, 14). The difference in height imposes an unfair strain on the smaller animal. An early photograph..

Muzzle
This early photo illustrates instructions taken from Deuteronomy xxv:4, I. Corinthians ix:9, I. Timothy v:18 ´Do not muzzle the ox´..

Sows
A man sows seed on the higher slopes of the Mount of Olives, not far from the village of Bethany. An early photograph..

Watchtower
Watchtower at Tantur.

Watchtower
During the vintage the Arab farmer repairs with his family to one of the crude stone watchtowers. From the upper storey of the tower a look-out is constantly maintained - the sleeping quarters are in the lower part.. It is necessary not only to protect the fruit from thieves but also to prevent foxes and other animals from spoiling the young vines. An early photograph.

Sickle
A man harvesting corn the traditional way, with a sickle. An early photograph..

Hand
Women harvesting corn by hand..

Beating
Primitive method of beating out grain..

Gleaning
Woman gleaning after man, tomb of Ramose, Thebes..

Sifting
This farmer is sifting corn in a large shallow sieve. This is shaken vigorously until the remaining weeds, dust and chaff rise to the surface, are collected and thrown on the heap of refuse. An early photograph..

Threshing
Threshing floor at Tantur.

Threshing
A threshing-floor. Grain is heaped and then winnowed by the farmer ´whose fan is in his hand´ (Matthew iii, 12).. The fan is a several-pronged pitchfork and is used to toss corn against the breeze to free it from chaff and crushed straw. Since the grain is heaviest it falls straight to the ground - straw is blown a short distance and collects in another heap, while the chaff is completely scattered by the wind. An early photograph.

Threshing
A threshing sledge raised on end for the replacement of missing ´teeth.´ Made of logs, it has sharp flints stuck in the under surface.. When the oxen drag the sledge over corn on the threshing-floor, the stones rip the husk away from the corn.

Threshing
Threshing sledge at Tantur.

Threshing
Sharp flints or iron teeth set in the under part of a sledge cut into the huge mounds of straw, which is finely chopped for fodder. An early photograph..

Threshing
Threshing scene at Heliopolis. This threshing floor is on the site of an ancient temple.(A photograph by R E M Bain in about 1890).

Winnowing
Winnowing wheat from the husks in the traditional manner. The wind blows away the husks, leaving the grain of the wheat to fall in a heap..
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Wine Press
Wine presses consist of troughs with connecting channels. An early photograph..

Wine-making
Cattle-herding (above) and wine-making (below). Painting from tomb of Puyemre, Thebes, Egypt. 15th century BC. Also, a slave is being beaten - cf. Exod.2:11..

Grape Press
Grape press at Tantur.

Sorting Figs
Sorting figs. The first ripe figs are the finest, but the peasants distinguish many grades. The two baskets recall those of the good and bad figs in Jeremiah´s vision (Jeremiah xxiv). An early photograph..

Olives
Olives are first pulped in a circular stone basin by rolling a large wheel over them.. The mass is collected, wrapped in canvas bags and further crushed by a heavy beam which presses the oil out so that ´the fats overflow´ (Joel iii,13). An early photograph.