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Biblical Potters know no gender. During bible times men typical threw pottery on the wheel while women would be more involved in hand coiling and sculpting. These craftsman practices were familiar and apart of everyday life to the people of that day making their biblical messages easily understood by the then-common day peoples. It is hard to think about this type of work and common knowledge in the industrialized nation we live in today. During bible times, people looked at the simple everyday life practices for a way to understand spiritual implications more clearly.
Pottery dates back to 5,000 B.C. during the Neolithic age. Older pottery can still be found in archeological searches, as it withstands chemicals and most weathering. Once pottery is fired in a kiln it is almost indestructible. Clay in Palestine was very popular and can still be found in the remains of tools, kilns, potters wheels, and prepared clay. Within the Old Testament, the word "potter" referenced yastar, "the one who forms." Many of the practices and formation methods in pottery were experimented and perfected during bible times. Many of the techniques are still used today.
In Palestine, pottery quickly moved into becoming an artistic talent. Though even so an artistic flare was added, pottery still remained useable and kept its practicality with citizens needs still in mind. During this time, pottery was not a luxury item, but used often in everyday life.
I really can not help but think about how amazing it is that a craft like pottery that has been around for thousands of years, is still prevalent and used in today's society.
Kelso, J. L., and J. Palin Thorley. “Palestinian Pottery in Bible Times”. The Biblical Archaeologist 8.4 (1945): 82–93. Web...
"The Master Potter: Pottery Making in the Bible." The Master Potter: Pottery Making in the Bible. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2016.
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