Discover objects

In the Bibelhaus you can experience a special treasure of book history: an original Luther Bible from 1545. The third edition of the Bible “auff news zugerichtet” is the last to accompany Luther in its creation. Martin Luther dies on 16 February 1546.

The replica of a Gutenberg press conveys the media revolution of the 15th and 16th centuries. Visitors to the Bibelhaus can print their own psalm in guided tours.

A calendar inscription from the year 9 B.C. names motifs familiar to Christians, especially from the New Testament. It is originally the language of the Roman imperial cult.

A commentary on the biblical Book of Habakkuk is one of the exciting finds in the first Qumran cave on the Dead Sea.

Many people were buried in ossuaries in Jerusalem at the time of Jesus. Researchers recognise in this form of burial the hope of the resurrection of the dead.

The powerful rulers of Israel like David and Solomon were anointed king by the great prophet of their time. Anointing oil was precious and reserved for only a few. It was kept in small anointing oil bottles for use.

An almost complete scroll of the prophetic book Isaiah is one of the spectacular cave finds at the Dead Sea. The original was made in 125 BC.

Ancient notes are found on shards of clay, so-called ostraka. The Bible House displays copies of the twelve name ostraka, which can otherwise only be seen in the Masada Museum on the Dead Sea. A note from the fortress of Masada records the Aramaic name Ben Ja’ir and tells a gruesome story of war and ruin around 73 AD.

In the desert sands of Egypt, ancient biblical manuscripts are particularly well preserved. Coptic characters can be seen on an original papyrus ball from Egypt.

The oldest keys found in Israel date from the 1st century AD. The Bibelhaus Erlebnis Museum shows an iron key from a Roman bath.

Bottles were already common utensils in ancient times. A bottle from the 1st century AD can be seen in the Bible House. The bottle was found on the Judean fortress of Masada.

Limestone tableware is considered typical for the Herodian Temple period in Jerusalem, especially for the years between 20 BC and 70 AD.

The Temple of Herod in Jerusalem was the national and religious
sanctuary of Israel at the time of the New Testament. Under King Herod the Great, construction began on the Temple Mount around 20 BC.

The fragment of a roof tile from a building of the Tenth Legion, the “Legio X Fretensis”, clearly shows the imprint of the characteristic legion stamp.

A coin from the priest-king Alexander Jannai from the year 80 shows a star as a symbol of power. The Gospel of Matthew relates this symbol to the Christ.

Emperor Titus has the Colosseum Sestertius minted to mark the opening of the Colosseum in 80 or 81 AD. The coin shows the power and greatness of the Roman Empire. The Gospel of Luke proclaims a completely different message.