Those of you who have been following the discussion over the Talpiot B “fish symbol” will find this of interest. Kudos to Mark Goodacre for posting Amos Kloner’s 1980 photograph inside this tomb before it was sealed (see Tabor’s report) that is available on the “Jesus Discovery” website (NOTE per Mark Goodacre in the comments: this “fish” is the “half fish” on the side of the ossuary rather than the so called “Jonah fish” on its front facade). The “fish” symbol is visible in the photo. You can go to the post and click on Goodacre’s link to a high resolution image of the “fish” to see the point Goodacre is making — the “fish” has handles. This of course would be no surprise if the “fish” is an unguentarium ( a flask), but it’s not expected (!) for a fish.
I took the liberty of adding lines to the left and right-hand of the image so readers could see the point Goodacre is making (click on the links). While the (larger image) left-hand side has the most visibly clear lines (of a handle)
I think the (larger image) right-hand side does as well:
Looking less like a fish all the time.
And then there’s the issue of photo-shopped images of the fish symbol released to the public, as ably pointed out by Robert Cargill.
If you could see me now, I don’t have a surprised look on my face.
Thanks for the post, Mike, and thanks for the helpful illustrations. It might be worth pointing out for those not so familiar with the investigation that this picture is the so called “half fish” on the side of the ossuary rather than the so called “Jonah fish” on its front facade.
got it and will make that clear.