2011年3月17日星期四

ial circumstances).10 In the later second millennium BC, the basic price of slaves crept upwards, to 30 shekels (and more) as at later 15th-Century Nu

in a Name?On his appointment to office as the pharaoh’s chief minister, Joseph was given an Egyptian name, Zaphenath-pa’aneah (in English form) and an Egyptian wife Asenath, daughter of a Potiphera, (high) priest of On (i.e., Heliopolis)—Genesis 41:45—the latter’s name being reminiscent of his former employer’s (Potiphar, Gn 39:1). Naturally, these outlandish names have attracted much comment. Regarding Zaphenath-pa’aneah, the suggestion of C. Steindorff, a century ago, has enjoyed wide, not to say dogmatic acceptance (1889:41–42; 1892:50–52). He understood it as Egyptian Dje(d)pa Nute(r) (e)f-’ankh, to be translated “The God has said: ‘he will live’!”15 This particular type of name (Djed DEITY ef-’ankh) is very well attested from the late 20th Dynasty down to the 26th Dynasty and after, say ca. 1100–500 BC.16 But this particular form of the name, with “God” instead of a named deity, is still purely theoretical,17 and may be purely imaginary.18 Its theoretical status is not the only problem. It is, by meaning, a birth-name, the kind given to a child at birth (as various scholars have pointed out) and hence eminently unsuitable for Joseph at 30 years old.19 Thus, we are fully entitled to present a better solution to Zaphenath-pa’aneah if it exists.20 Quite some time ago, this writer presented precisely such a solution, but only in brief (1962; 1980); hence, a slightly fuller treatment is in order here. The Hebrew “name” is rather long and falls into two parts. The second half clearly contains the Egyptian word ‘ankh, “life/to live,” as is almost universally conceded; before it is some element containing p or f. The first half, conversely, seems much more “Semitic” at first sight: Zaphenath is directly reminiscent of the common Semitic root zaphan,21 and of very little in Egyptian.22 However, if a simple metathesis of the p and t be conceded, giving Zat(h)nap(h) for Zap(h)nat(h), then the situation is radically different. Zatnap corresponds precisely to Egyptian djad(u)-naf, “who is called...,” introducing a second name after the first-for example, “Ankhu djad(u)-naf Hedjeri” means “Ankhu called Hedjeri.” In its masculine and feminine forms, this construction appears in the Middle Kingdom (from ca. 2000 BC), and stayed in use into the New Kingdom to at least the 18th Dynasty.23 The verbal variant of this construction, djad tu-naf (and feminine equivalent) was current mainly from the 18th Dynasty (ca. 1550–1300 BC) onwards, into the Later Period.24 Thus the construction is superabundantly attested in Egyptian, in two closely-similar forms, covering between them the period of ca. 2000–600 BC.25 But is the assumption of metathesis justified? The answer is “yes.” It is a common feature when names and words transfer from one language into another. Compare the k/s and s/k sounds in Greek (Al)eksandros and Arabic Iskander; or the Hurro-Hittite Ini-Tesub becoming in Egyptian Ini-Tebus. Or in the Bible itself,



Egyptian Taharqa becoming in Hebrew Tirhaqah.
And not least with our name itself Hebrew Zapnat becomes in the Greek of the LXX Psonth... The reason in our case (Djat-naf to Zapnat) is very simple. The consonantal succession was totally foreign to a Semitic speaker and writer, so it was switched to a sequence that was very familiar, z-p-n(-t). Hence, there is no problem in accepting Zapnat from Egyptian Djad(u)-naf.26The second half of the name (“pa’aneah”) is very straightforward. As Engelbach long ago foresaw, names of the type Pa(i)ankh are very rare and unsatisfactory. But at least two other better solutions exist. One is to understand (E)fankh, as in the birth-name solution, but as an independent name. Such a name is attested from Middle-Kingdom times to the Greek period (Ranke 1935:14:5). The other, far better-based solution is to understand Pa’aneah as Egyptian (I)p-ankh or (I)pi-ankh or (I)pu-ankh, closely-related variants of each other (Ranke 1935:21:30; 22:16; 23:18). These are very common in the Middle Kingdom, but not any later. So, at court, the pharaoh is to be envisaged as calling his new minister Yosep djad-naf (I)pi-ankh, “Joseph called (I)pi-ankh.” In Hebrew the link-word djad-naf and name proper (I)p-’ankh were simply taken over as one epithet of Joseph. The case of a foreigner in Egypt being given an Egyptian name introduced by djad-naf now known to be a very common one, from the Middle Kingdom, as Papyrus Brooklyn 35.1446 of the 18th century BC makes very clear (Hayes 1955:99–102).Joseph’s wife Asenath also bears an Egyptian name. But which? The classic explanation owed to Sethe (1899: §223,l)was to derive it from Egyptian Nes-neit (“she belongs to [the goddess] Neit,”), with elision of initial n, giving Es-neit. For this, we have cuneiform and Greek transcriptional evidence during the first millennium BC. However, this name is not attested, it is theoretical, although there are plenty of other such names compounded with those of other deities—(N)es-Amun, (N)es-Hor, etc. (Ranke 1935:173–80, passim). And, as Spiegelberg objected (1904:18–19), the a-vowel in Hebrew Asenath and LXX Greek Asen(n)eth did not agree with the e-vocalization of the (N)es-names. He therefore suggested a name Iu.s-en-Neit (pronounced As-en-Neit) instead. This, too, is unattested; it has a parallel with one other deity—Mut is attested.27 The iu.es-, pronounced As-en-, is certainly preferable to Sethe’s (N)es. But the ancient goddess Neith is rather rare in personal names—she belonged mainly in Sais in the West Delta, whence we have almost no data on personal names. In the East Delta, at Heliopolis, she would not be expected to occur in names. Is there an alternative? Again, yes. We have men called Iuf-ni, “he belongs to me” (spoken by a parent), and commonly women called Ius-ni, “she belongs to me” (ditto), well-attested in the Middle Kingdom (Ranke 1935:14:7 and 15:4, respectively). We have women called Ius-n-ites and Ius-en-mutes, meaning “she belongs to her father” and “she belongs to her mother” (Ranke 1935:15:1, 7, respectively; of Middle Kingdom date). We have a man called Iuf-en-at, probably “he belongs to you” (fem.), i.e. to his mother (Ranke 1935:14:12, of the First Intermediate Period/early Middle Kingdom). From this, it is a very short step indeed to suggest that our Asenat(h) is simply Ius-en-at, “she belongs to you” (fem.), in exactly the same way, and pronounced As-en-at. This explanation for Asenath eliminates the unrealistic link with Neith, fits the vocalic pattern in Hebrew and Egyptian, and derives from an attested name (even if in the masculine only at present).Mummy of Ramesses II, Pharaoh of Egypt 1279–1213 BC. Egyptian Museum, Cairo.There remain Potiphar and Potiphera. The universally acceptable interpretation of Potiphera is that it is from the Egyptian Pa-di-Pre, “the gift of the (god) Re,” a well-known type of name (Pa-di-DEITY), and in fact attested just learn french

te of its orchards and crops.”[62]Even Kadesh, the fierce enemy of Thutmose III that led a rebellion against Egypt at the outset of his reign as

ired innumerable supplies. A central part of the Egyptian campaigning policy in Palestine was to provide food for the troops and horses.[67]b. Evidence related to the reign of Amenhotep II. Even stronger evidence demonstrating that Thutmose III did not burn the city to the ground is that Hazor was a functioning city during Amenhotep II’s reign, and that Amenhotep II himself could not have burned the city to the ground either, despite his own claim to have destroyed Hazor. This conclusion is based on both archaeological and epigraphical evidence. Archaeologically, Hazor’s stratigraphy reveals a notably long period of non-habitation that occurred between the city’s Late Bronze I and Late Bronze II occupations, thus demonstrating that Hazor sat deserted for a considerable time after its conflagration at the close of Late Bronze I. Yadin writes in reference to the findings in the lower city, “In view of a considerable accumulation between Stratum 2 and Stratum 1B above it, it may be assumed perhaps that there was a gap in the history of Hazor, some time in the middle of the fifteenth century” BC.[68]This “considerable accumulation” attests to a period of multiple decades in which the once-glorious Hazor sat abandoned, unused, and uninhabited. Since Amenhotep II mentions Hazor on the conquest list of his Year-3 campaign, the city cannot have been destroyed by his father and then abandoned throughout the entirety of his own reign. If Amenhotep II’s claim to have destroyed Hazor is accepted as trustworthy,[69] this renders a conflagration under Thutmose III and a subsequent invasion/conquest under Amenhotep II mutually exclusive, an impossible chain of events. There had to be an occupied city of Hazor for Amenhotep II to conquer!Important archaeological evidence exists in the form of a royal scarab from the reign of Thutmose IV (ca. 1418–1408 BC).[70] This son and successor of Amenhotep II reigned for a modest “eight-plus years,” though most scholars assign ten years to his reign.[71] During Yadin’s second year of excavations, he began work in what became Area F, which is located in the lower city between Area C and Area D.[72] While digging in Stratum 1B (Late Bronze IIA, = 1400–1300 BC), his team found a burial cave, designated 8144, which yielded the critical scarab. The cave was buried under Stratum 1A (Late Bronze IIB, = 1300–1200 BC), so the stratified scarab was placed there at the end of the 15th century BC, indicating roughly when this cave was first used for burials.[73]The final period of the cave’s use, which further defines the chronology of the cave and the stratum, is indicated by an unusually great yield of imported Mycenaean pottery, along with datable imported Cypriotic ware (Milk Bowls, a Base-ring, and Bucchero Ware) and local pottery, none of which dates beyond the 14th century BC.[74] Yadin draws special attention to “a large group of imported Mycenaean vessels of the late stage of III A: 2,”[75] noting also that this abundance of IIIA:2 pottery was complemented “with [a] few A: 1” vessels.[76] According to the pottery specialist whom Yadin consulted, Mycenaean IIIA:2 pottery dates to ca. 1400–1375 BC in its early forms and dates to ca. 1375–1300 BC in its late forms, while Mycenaean IIIA:1 ware dates to ca. 1425–1400 BC.[77] In Yadin’s discussion of LB-I-Age pottery found in Hazor’s caves during his expeditions, he describes numerous types of late Mycenaean IIIA:2 wares, but he makes no mention of any early Mycenaean IIIA:2 pottery that would date to the short period from ca. 1400–1375 BC.[78] This dearth of early Mycenaean IIIA:2 pottery matches well with the period of non-habitation—as revealed by the noted occupational gap—that occurred after the city was destroyed on Joshua’s northern campaign in ca. 1400 BC. Thus the cave was in use during the years shortly before ca. 1400 BC, and throughout the years from ca. 1375–1300 BC.The stratified, royal scarab of Thutmose IV cannot be considered a later reproduction or a mere family heirloom that was passed down from one generation to the next. As Yadin carefully explains, “All Thutmose IV scarabs are rare and a boon to archaeologists in this country because we know that they were made exclusively during his reign (the names of some Pharaohs continued to be inscribed on scarabs after their death, but the popularity of Thutmose IV was buried along with him). We can therefore conclude that the cave was first used sometime during his eight-year reign, from 1410 to 1402 BC, or immediately thereafter.”[79] The significance of this royal scarab to the present debate is that it confirms the existence of Hazor as an occupied and functioning city in the last quarter of the 15th century BC, immediately after the reign of Amenhotep II. Due to the subsequent occupational gap after the destruction of Late-Bronze-I Hazor, which was discussed above, the city could not have been occupied during the modest reign of Thutmose IV if Amenhotep II truly had destroyed the city. Therefore, Amenhotep II’s “destruction” of the city was immediately followed by continuous occupation.Epigraphically, one piece of evidence that argues conclusively against the destruction of Hazor under Amenhotep II is Papyrus Hermitage 1116A, which contains a list recording the allocation of beer and corn to messengers from Djahy, who are envoys to cities such as Megiddo, Chinnereth, Achshaph, Shimron, Taanach, Ashkelon, and Hazor. This list, which demonstrates the trading relations between these southern Canaanite towns and the Egyptian government, is variously dated to the reign of Thutmose III, to the coregency he shared with his son, and to the sole reign of Amenhotep II.[80] However, dating the papyrus to the reign of Thutmose III can be eliminated from the realm of possibility,[81] given that the manuscript is attributed to a regnal Year 18 and bears the praenomen of Amenhotep II—the sign that provides the pharaonic throne-name, and is given to the Egyptian monarch upon his ascension to the throne—enclosed in a royal cartouche.



As Redford concludes,A date for the two Leningrad
papyri shortly after eighteenth year would satisfy all the evidence. But there is no reason to believe that Thutmose III was still alive and reigning at the time.”[82] Given that Hazor was one of the thriving cities involved in the trading of commodities at this time, it had remained unharmed at least into the 18th year of Amenhotep's reign, coinciding to 9 years after the Israelite exodus.Because Amenhotep II’s Year 18 (ca. 1438/1437 BC) was a time when Hazor thrived, it must be emphasized that he launched only two campaigns into Asia: the first in Year 3, and the second in Year 9.[83] This grossly diminished number of Asiatic campaigns is especially startling given that the Egyptian empire was at its height during the reigns of Thutmose III and Amenhotep II.[84] Immediately after these were waged, a sharp decline in the Asiatic campaigning of the pharaohs transpired. Aharoni attributes this to an underlying diminishment of Egyptian power: “Already in the days of Amenhotep II, the son of ThRosetta Stone

The King and I: The Apostle John and Emperor Domitian, Part 1

Tags: domitian, apostle john, patmos, revelation, sabastoi temple, ephesus, zeus, jupiter--> This article was first published in the Spring 1999 issue of Bible and Spade.Emperor Domitian, the self-proclaimed “Lord and God” and ruthless dictator, reigned from AD 81 to 96. He was the son of Emperor Vespasian and the brother of Titus, the conquerors of Jerusalem in AD 70. Late in life, Domitian become very superstitious. In fact, on the day before he was murdered, he consulted an astrologer. During this time he also consulted Apollo, the god of music and poetry, as well as light, truth and prophecy! Commemorating his superstition, the emperor minted coins depicting Apollo on one side and a raven, associated with prophecy, on the other (Jones 1989: 266).The ancients believed a bird’s flight could foretell the future (Kanitz 1973–1974: 47) and Domitian looked to the raven to foretell his immediate future. Ironically, Suetonius, a Roman historian and senator, records, “A few months before he (Domitian) was killed, a raven perched on the Capitalium and cried, ‘All will be well,’ an omen which some interpreted as follows: . . . a raven . . . could not say, ‘It is well,’ only declared ‘It will be well’“ (Rolfe 1992: 385). Emperor Domitian died soon after and all was well!The Apostle John, exiled to the island of Patmos about AD 95, received a more sure word of prophecy. Not from a raven or Apollo, but from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. The Book of Revelation begins, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place” (Rv 1:1). He goes on to say, “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it, for the time is near” (Rv 1:3).Emperor Domitian minted coins with the head of Apollo, (right) and the raven (left). He consulted Apollo, Roman god of music, poetry, light, truth and prophecy, for knowledge of the future. Depicted as a handsome young man, Apollo was also identified with Helios, the Greek sun-god. Emperor Domitian consulted the raven because its flight pattern was believed to predict the future. Christians have a “more sure word of prophecy.”The Book of Revelation is a polemic against Emperor Domitian and the Roman world. While Domitian looked to Apollo and the raven to foretell the immediate future, the omniscient Lord Jesus Christ, infinitely greater than Domitian, revealed the future of the world in this book. He instructed John to:write the things which you have seen [the vision of the glorified Son of Man—Rv 1], and the things which are [the situation of the seven churches in Asia Minor at the end of the first century AD—Rv 2–3], and the things which will take place after this [all the future events recorded in Rv 4–22] (1:9).This article will examine several aspects of Domitian’s reign and John’s exile to Patmos.In the 19th century, Bible scholars, linguists, pilgrims, travelers and military intelligence officers from America, England and the Continent began visiting the lands of the Bible. They described sites, recorded manners and customs, drew maps and sketched landscapes. This research began to open up the world of the Bible, making it no longer just a theological treatise, but a Book about real people, events and places. Another dimension these explorers provided students back home was intelligence information for European countries awaiting the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.Remains of a gate built by Emperor Domitian at Hierapolis (modern Pamukkale) 6 mi north of Laodicea, Turkey. While he had his name inscribed on the gate when it was constructed, Domitian’s name was removed after his death, by edict of the Roman Senate.At the turn of the 20th century, Sir William Ramsay explored, excavated and wrote about Asia Minor. Among his important works was Letters to the Seven Churches, about the world of Revelation 2–3. An important recent study on the setting of Revelation 2–3 is Colin Hemer’s Ph.D. dissertation under F.F. Bruce at the University of Manchester in 1969, entitled The Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia in their Local Setting.I have tried to “follow in the footsteps” of these great explorers. First, by reading the accounts of their travels and, secondly, traveling to the places they visited, making my own observations and taking pictures. From this perspective, we will consider the historical setting of Revelation 1:9 and the Apostle John’s exile to Patmos. I begin with the assumption that Revelation was written in AD 95, during the reign of Emperor Domitian, not in the reign of Nero (Thomas 1994: 185–202).A dedicatory inscription for the Sabastoi Temple in Ephesus. The name of Emperor Domitian had been chiseled out of the top four lines as a result of the damnatio memoriae issued by the Roman Senate.The Self-Deified EmperorEmperor Domitian had a definite ego problem! In Imperial Rome the senate would deify an emperor upon death (Kreitzer 1990: 210–17). However, like Gaius Caligula, and well attested by ancient writers, Domitian could not wait until death and deified himself.Seutonius (AD 75-ca. 140), in his Lives of the Caesars, wrote: "With no less arrogance he began as follows in issuing a circular letter in the name of his procurators, ‘Our Master and our God bids that this be done’" [Dominus et deus noster hoe fieri iubet] (Rolfe; 1992: 367).He also delighted in the adulation of the people in the amphitheater when they shouted “Good Fortune attends our Lord and Mistress” [Domino et dominae feliciter] (Rolfe 1992:367).In Panegyricus (33.4), Pliny the Younger (ca. AD 61–113) wrote a tribute to Emperor Trajan:He [Domitian] was a madman, blind to the true meaning of his position, who used the arena for collecting charges of high treason, who felt himself slighted and scorned if we failed to pay homage to his gladiators, taking any criticism of them to himself and seeing insults to his own godhead and divinity; who deemed himself the equal of the gods yet raised his gladiators to his equal.Dio Cassius, in his Roman History, wrote:For he even insisted upon being regarded as a god [theos] and took vast pride in being called ‘master’ [despotus] and god [theos]. These titles were used not merely in speech but also in written documents” (Cary 1995: 349).Elsewhere he wrote:One Juventius Celsus . . . [conspired] . . . against Domitian . . . When he was on the point of being condemned, he begged that he might speak to the emperor in private, and thereupon did obeisance before him and after repeatedly calling him “master” [despoton] and “god” [theon] (terms that were already being applied to him by others) (Cary 1995: 349).Later writers repeat the same claim and even embellish it (Jones 1992: 108). However, in Silvae 1.6:83–84, Statius claims Domitian rejected these titles. Other contemporary evidence seems to support the view that Domitian claimed deity. Unfortunately, no inscriptions with such titles on them have been discovered. Dio Cassius again adds an important detail, when he wrote:After Domitian, the Romans appointed Nerva Coceius emperor. Because of the hatred felt for Domitian, his images, many of which were of silver and many of gold, were melted down: and from this source large amounts of money were obtained. The arches, too, of which a very great number were being erected to this one man, were torn down (Cary 1995: 361).Upon his death, the Roman Senate was:overjoyed . . . [assailed] the dead emperor with the most insulting and stinging kind of outcries . . . Finally they passed a decree that his inscriptions should everywhere be erased, and all record of him obliterated (Rolfe 1992: 385).This decree, the damnatio memoriae, destroyed all the statues and inscriptions of Domitian, such as Domitian’s arch at Hierapolis and dedicatory inscriptions at the Temple of the Sabastoi in Ephesus (Friesen 1993a: 34).A coin minted by Emperor Domitian in AD 84, depicting Jupiter, chief deity of the Roman pantheon.

Rosetta Stone German

where the entire nation could be more effectively

Administrated and the eastern frontier could be better accessed (Leprohon 1992:345–46).Still, the most powerful city in the south, Thebes, continued to serve as a national shrine with each Pharaoh bringing gifts to the Amun Temple at Karnak. Throughout the Second Intermediate Period, when the Asiatic Hyksos from the Delta ruled Egypt, Thebes continued to be the dominant city in Upper Egypt. A new Theban dynasty (the 18th) finally defeated the Hyksos and again reunited the nation.While all New Kingdom Pharaohs were not Theban like the 18th Dynasty, they all treated Thebes as their royal hometown and necropolis. Admittedly they did seem to prefer residences in the north to administer their growing empire in Canaan to the east, but they continued to make their own mark on the national shrine at Karnak, the ever-growing Amun (now known as the combined god—Amun-re) Temple. Bringing vast quantities of booty from foreign wars, each Pharaoh made pilgrimages to Thebes for the annual Opet-festival (Redford 1992:442). During this ceremony, the images of Amun-re, Mut and Khonsu (the moon god) were transported up the Nile from Karnak to the newer Luxor Temple where Pharaoh would meet with the gods.While royal palaces would have been constructed all around Thebes in antiquity, they have not yet been found. What we do know is that, at its height, Thebes was actually a series of settlements around major temples situated along broad sphinx-lined avenues on the Nile’s east bank. The central settlement lay in and around Karnak’s Amun-re Temple. To the north was the Montu temple and 1 km (0.6 mi) south was the complex to Mut (mother goddess) and Khonsu (her child). Another 3.5 km (2.2 mi) south was the Luxor Temple to Amun (Redford 1992:443). Communities of priests, builders, artisans and supporting industries made relatively self-sufficient settlements near each temple. Numerous prisoner-of-war slaves were employed in the state building projects in and around Thebes, including the Karnak Temple, the Pharaoh’s own Valley and Mortuary Temples, and the royal tomb. Many of these slaves were Asiatics from Canaan.Massive columns of the Hypostyle hall in the Karnak Temple built in the early 13th century BC. Note the remnants of paint still visible on the under side of the capitals and stone roof beams. The hall is a dizzying forest of 134 papyrus-shaped columns. The columns of the two central rows that form the main aisle are a lofty 69 ft high and 34 ft in circumference. Remains of one of the stone-cut clerestory windows along the central aisle can be seen in the upper center. The capitals are so large that 125 men can stand on the top of one capital! On either side of the central aisle are seven rows of smaller columns 42–1/2 ft high and 27–1/2 ft in circumference. Michael LuddeniLuxor TempleConnected to the Karnak Temple by a 3.2 km (2 mi) long sphinx-lined avenue was a later temple known as the Luxor Temple. Very near the Nile’s east bank, the earliest religious structures were shrines built by Hatshepsut (18th Dynasty) to the Theban triad of Amun-re (the husband/father god), Mut (the wife/mother goddess; the goddess of war) and Khonsu (their divine offspring; the moon god). They still can be seen today within the Peristyle Court.Amenhotep III (18th Dynasty) greatly enlarged the temple as Amun’s private quarters, including the Great Colonnade and the Court of Amenhotep III behind it with its double rows of massive columns. Much of this still can be seen today. The Luxor Temple was the focus of the annual ophet-festival. Later additions were made by Tutankhamun (18th Dynasty), Rameses II (19th Dynasty) and Alexander the Great (who redesigned the main sanctuary). During the Roman period, the Temple was rededicated to the imperial cult and even an altar was found dedicated to Emperor Constantine (fourth century AD).During the 19th century, the Mosque of Abu el-Hagag was built within the ruins of the Luxor Temple. Until excavations of the temple began in 1885, a village was located inside the temple walls. Within the Inner Sanctum was a suite of rooms, the “bedroom” of the god, where the secret rites of the opet-festival took place (Oakes and Gahlin 2003:152–53). The boats, which floated down the Nile with the images of the gods, were carried into this area for the culmination of the festival.The first pylon was constructed by Rameses II (19th Dynasty) and recorded his military exploits against the Hittites at the Battle of Kadesh (1275 BC). He further decorated the entranceway with six statues of himself (two seated and four standing) and two obelisks.Along the secondary north-south axis of Karnak Temple is a relief carved by Merenptah (1212–1202 BC) that apparently corresponds to the famous stele found in his mortuary temple on the west bank (Byers 2004). In an area between the Hypostyle Hall and the seventh pylon at Karnak Temple, known as the Cour de la Cachette, Merenptah depicted military exploits from his Canaanite campaign in 1210 BC. This wall, originally about 49 m (160 ft) long and 9 m (30 ft) high, was constructed by Ramesses II and already contained the text of his Battle of Kadesh (1275 BC) peace treaty with the Hittites. Merenptah usurped space on both sides of the treaty text to illustrate his Canaanite campaign. Interestingly, he did the same thing with the stele on which is recorded in text form this same military action. After demolishing Pharaoh Amenhotep III’s mortuary temple to build his own, Merenptah appropriated and reused the reverse side of a 3 m (10 ft) tall stone monument originally carved by Amenhotep III. In the Karnak Temple, three cities are depicted being conquered by the Pharaoh. One of them, Ashkelon, is named and apparently the other two are Gezer and Yenoam, as described in Merenptah’s stele. The fourth scene, above and to the right of Ramesses’ peace treaty, did not depict a city but a people group being defeated—also described in the stele. They appear as a confusing jumble of defeated soldiers beneath the horses of Merenptah’s chariot. Like the people in the conquered cities, these soldiers wear ankle-length garments, suggesting they inhabit the same region. Apparently these soldiers were the fourth defeated enemy in Merenptah’s Canaan campaign—Israel—just as recorded in the Merenptah Stele. That makes this the earliest visual portrayal of Israelites ever discovered. The next time Israelites are visually depicted on a relief comes ca. 370 years later on an Assyrian obelisk (Maier 2004:91). Michael LuddeniValley of the KingsWhile the Nile’s east bank was given over to palaces and temples and their surrounding settlements, the west bank was a vast necropolis, both royal and private, within the desert mountain region. Beyond Pharaonic tombs in the Valley of the Kings was the Valley of the Queens, the Valley of the Nobles and even the necropolis (and village) of the Valley of the Kings’ workers, at Deir el Medina (Hawass 1997:287). As was customary throughout dynastic Egypt, the royal necropolis was located near the capital. In Old Kingdom Egypt, when the capital was at Memphis, Pharaohs built their mortuary temples and pyramid tombs at Dahshur, Saqqara, Abu Sir and Giza. When Thebes became Egypt’s capital during the 11th Dynasty, Pharaoh Montuhotpe I constructed his mortuary temple and tomb in a valley on the Nile’s west bank, across from Thebes.Later Middle Kingdom Pharaohs also built pyramid tombs, now of mud brick, near the northern capital, itj-tawy. While the exact location is unknown today, it was no doubt near the royal Middle Kingdom cemetery at modern El Lahun (Leprohon 1992:346). But with the 18th Dynasty reuniting Egypt at the beginning of the New Kingdom, Thebes was reestablished as a capital city. The new royal cemetery was in the mountains across from Thebes.In the desert directly across from Thebes each Pharaoh had his own Valley Temple constructed at the end of a canal dug from the Nile. Here the royal body was received from Thebes by way of the royal funeral barque. The body was then transported to the Pharaoh’s specially constructed mortuary temple in preparation for his burial.

2011年3月9日星期三

10 Mar 11 Destination Military Surplus Products

Destination Military Surplus ProductsBy: Ali Khan .... Click author's name to view profile and articles!!!Retargeting by ChangoTweet Military surplus as its name indicates, the military goods. There are online shops that give the viewer a lot of information about military surplus stores and camping equipment shop. Military or army surplus shops actually supply a large army surplus clothing, camping equipment and other military surplus and army surplus equipment. These sites help in retail of military or army surplus goods, such as the various ponents of the army surplus pants, jackets, hats, footwear. There are also items such as badges and recorded.All elements are manufactured and designed with the utmost care and perfection. Since the products, which are chiefly in the retail, military and armed forces, the primary goal is to keep in mind the safety factor. However, the products are different from the old military items, such as the dress is a bit elegant, footwear and hats, and masks or helmets are very trendy. Even some famous brand names such as Gelert and Camelbak are related to the army or military surplus stores in a number of other military surplus supplierThe pany asks the viewers, or customers can surf the Internet, the military and army surplus stores, and do not hesitate to contact us if you have any help or assistance while purchasing. These retail sites was very easy to purchase, viewers only need to click on the items you want, and one gets to take pictures of the product. Detailed information about all products are available with him.All elements of the army surplus business, dealing with the military products UKwhich certainly have a grade quality assigned to them so that customers can easily judge whether they are original surplus products or just new items. The quality of the items may be subject to different grade 1, the average high and are useful for everyday use. These products are known to be cheaper than the super-quality and cheaper than new items. The Super Grade items in this Store UK is definitely a little high-quality, appropriate for all purposes. The entries do not look any signal. They are a bit cheaper than new items. The items which are not issued, or a pletely new battery, brand new without any marks on them.If the customer is dissatisfied with the service of military products, the pany tries to solve the problems within two business days from the date of the plaint, or as soon as possible. These retail sites was very easy for purchasing products. There is only one browsing the online store, and click the "order" button after selecting the items that one wants to buy. The item will automatically be added to the customer's basket. If the client has pleted the placing of orders for retail stores, the next step is to click the "Checkout" button and you will receive the additional information needed for a pany satisfy the order. The customers of such stores still cancel the order at any time, simply putting the selected items from the "basket". Shop in the United Kingdom to ensure that this mitment has never buys a product.Article Source: abcarticledirectoryWe provide you with many free tips on Health, Beauty, Weight Loss and Fitness, e in and learn, Beautify yourself. Beauty Tips Health Tips Weight Loss TipsNote: The content of this article solely conveys the opinion of its author, Ali KhanRetargeting by ChangoDid You Like This Article? Share It With YourFriends!Please Rate this Article 5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 Not yet Rated Click the XML Icon to Receive Free Articles About Auditing via RSS!Additional Articles From - Home Accounting AuditingWhat you need to know about Auditing from the experts.- By : john newportCulture and business proposition- By : foxhatsNavigating Miscellaneous Itemized Deductions- By : Sawyer AdamsAbout The National Association Of Enrolled Agents (NAEA)- By : Sawyer AdamsThe History Of Enrolled Agents- By : Sawyer AdamsThe Canon Sd780is Black Silver Gold Red - Very Nice Christmas Gift- By : ArticleSubmit AutoIRS Increasing Enforcement Activity- By : Sawyer Adams5 Tips For Getting The Right Health Insurance For Your Needs- By : danica12 Quick Tips For Eye Shadow- By : Ali Khan10 Simple Steps To A Clearer Skin- By : Ali Khan Still Searching? Last Chance to find what you're looking for. Try using Bing Search!

2011年3月5日星期六

5 Mar 11 Selling Products as an Affiliate

: Selling Products as an AffiliateBy: Kathryn Lively .... Click author's name to view profile and articles!!!Retargeting by ChangoTweet For the Internet user who want to turn a simple website into an effective income generator, the buzzword to know these days is "affiliate." Browse the more popular merchant sites like Amazon.com, Overstock.com, and other big players and you may notice everybody is offering an affiliate program. Sign up today and earn a percentage of sales attributed to your site, read the promotional ads. You might think to yourself that it is too good to be believed, but in truth a well-constructed website can earn its owner money.If enough thought and investment is put into the site, one may easily earn enough to devote energy to the site on a full-time basis. It may seem like a dream, but Hockey Jersey
one must note that becoming a "super-affiliate," a person who is sustain solely through affiliate earnings paid out by different merchants, requires work. Being an affiliate involves more than just setting up a website and waiting for the profits to roll in. First, you must know what to do, what to sell, where to get the products, and how to sell them. Thorough research of the world of affiliate marketing will give you the knowledge you need to succeed on the Internet.Learning About AffiliatesIn the Internet world, an affiliate is somebody who signs on with an online merchant to sell products from his website, e-mail newsletter, or online forum. An affiliate doesn't have to buy and store product at home, but merely adjust his Web space to include point of sale links to the different products for which he wishes to earn money. The owner of a baseball website, for example, may join affiliate programs for sporting goods stores or sports collectibles stores, and provide links and graphics for baseball cards, equipment and memorabilia. Visitors who click-through to merchant sites from the affiliate sites are tracked by special HTML code, and as each visitor buys from the merchant, the affiliate gets a percentage of the sale.Seems like easy money, but in reality a number of affiliate programs offer 10%-20% of the sale price to affiliates. For a website owner to make money as an affiliate, visitors must be compelled to visit often and buy often. Affiliates must choose products wisely, and offer enough content on site to keep traffic high.Setting up ShopIt is important for your affiliate site to look as professional as possible. Purchase a domain name conducive to your selling points, and webspace. Free site space is already cluttered with ads, and long URL strings are difficult for visitors to remember. Choose a template and color scheme that is attractive yet not distracting, and present your links and sale banners for the products you wish to sell visible and working properly.Maintain a focus on one style of product as you sell. Let the Amazons and Overstocks of the world remain the clearinghouse. Select one corner of the pie as your own for promotion. Whether you choose health products, sporting goods, books or food, design your site around the products. Entice potential customers with strong content and articles. Boston Bruins jersey
Employ SEO tactics like site submission, good META data and a weblog for regular updates about your products and related topics. Become an expert on the products and topics and write articles for other sites, encouraging them to link back to you for popularity.As you foster your affiliate site, you may see traffic grow and eventually sales attributed to your work. The important thing to remember about building an affiliate site is to not treat it as merely an overgrown link to a product on another site, but as a database of knowledge, a place visitors can view more than once, and buy again and again.Article Source: http://www.shop-on-sale.com Kathryn Lively offers book marketing tips to authors, and writes for FlowCushion, the alternating press seat cushion.Note: The content of this article solely conveys the opinion of its author, Kathryn LivelyRetargeting by ChangoDid You Like This Article? Share It With YourFriends!Please Rate this Article 5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 Not yet Rated Click the XML Icon to Receive Free Articles About Affiliate Programs What Cloth Diaper Provides The Top Match For Newborns?- By : mirtagaylWhat is Affiliate Marketing and Why You Should Do It?- By : James A AndersonEarning Money Quickly With Email Marketing - True or False?- Bruins jersey
By : chad buistMoney Creating Tips For Individuals Involved In An Online Affiliate Marketing Home Business- By : Johnny BarrellGlobal Success Club And How To Make Money Online- By : Don SeanMake Cash Over The Internet With Affiliate Marketing- By : Leroy WheelerWhich Affiliate Networks To Look Out For When Promoting ?- By : Elsa Braxton Still Searching? Last Chance to find what you're looking for. Try using Bing Search!

2011年1月24日星期一

24 Jan 11 Georgia-Colorado: Bulldogs Win As Road Favorites Over Buffaloes

Mike Zarrilli/Getty ImagesThis Saturday the Colorado Reebok Green Bay Packers #12 Aaron Rodgers Realtree camo Jersey
Buffaloes will host the Georgia Bulldogs in an important non-conference game for both teams. Georgia desperately needs a win this weekend, as they fell to 1-3 on the season after losing at Mississippi State 12-24. Colorado got an early bye last week, and come into the game with wins over Hawaii and Colorado State, but also have a big time loss at home to California 7-52. This is only the second meeting between the two schools, with Georgia grabbing the only win 14-13 at home in 2006. If you are thinking about betting on the game this weekend, the current college football odds have the Bulldogs favored by 4.5-points over the Buffaloes on the road.Georgia (1-3, 0-3 SEC): With the last loss against Mississippi State the Bulldogs found themselves in a huge hole in conference play, as they have already lost three conference games. The seat is getting very hot for head coach Mark Richt, as he wonmake it through the season if the Bulldogs donstart winning. Georgia really killed themselves against Mississippi State, as they fumbled the ball twice, including once just a yard from a touchdown, and had numerous penalties that really hurt them, as they actually outgained the Rebels 387 to 314.The Bulldogs got a solid performance out of quarterback Aaron Murray, who threw for 274 yards and a touchdown on 18 of 31 passing. Murray also ran for 32 yards on seven carries. There is no question that Murray and the offense miss the play of star wide receiver A.J. Green, who is expected to make his return Reebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
this week against Colorado. I expect Green to make an immediate impact once he steps on the field, and I think we could see Georgia roll off a few wins in a row to get back to above .500.Colorado (2-1, 0-0 Big 12): The Buffaloes will finish up their non-conference portion of the schedule this week. While Colorado comes in with a winning record, there is still a lot of room for improvement for this team. The Buffaloes got off to a slow start against Hawaii in their last game, as they trailed 10-0 at half, before pouring on 31 points in the final two periods of play.Quarterback Tyler Hansen had a pretty nice day throwing the football, completing 19 of 26 attempts for 200 yards and two touchdowns. The Buffaloes however did most of their damage on the ground, as they ran for 252 yards as a team. Brian Lockridge accounted for 109 yards on 14 carries, and Rodney Stewart had 106 yards and two touchdowns on 22 attempts. It will be interesting to see if the Buffaloes can have that same kind of success against a solid SEC defense like Georgia.Looking at the Odds: With Green back in the mix for the Bulldogs, I think you have to take Georgia to cover the 4.5-point spread in this game. Green will force Colorado to put more attention on him, which I believe will help out Reebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
the running game as well as the other receivers. I think Colorado is going to really struggle to move the ball against the Georgia defense. My final score prediction is Georgia 27, Colorado 17.Interested in making some money this college football season? Check out what our expert college football handicappers have to offer in their weekly college football picks.

2011年1月22日星期六

22 Jan 11 Florida State-BYU: Young Seminoles Look Good in All Phases as They Crush Cougars

Chris Thompson's first touch of the game was an electrifying 83-yard TD run.Florida State got back on track Saturday with a 34-10 win at home against an overmatched BYU team that traditionally doesndo well on the East Coast.Once again, coach Jimbo Fisher relied heavily on his freshmen and sophomores, as the Seminoles pulled away in the second half, turning a close game into a rout.The Seminoles had ample chances to blow the game open early on, but mistakes, penalties, questionable calls, and bad luck prevented FSU from getting into the end zone.On successive drives of 52 and 62 yards, the 'Noles could only muster three points. The first of the two drives ended when Bert Reed fumbled the ball inside the Cougar 10-yard line, as a Seminole player inadvertently struck Reed and jarred the ball loose.The Kansas City Chiefs jersey
second drive ended in a field goal after Christian Ponder threw a third-down pass over 66 receiver Rodney Smith and into the stands.Whereas the Seminoles offense was a bit out of sync in the first quarter, the defense was stingy, only allowing BYU to gain 29 yards on three drives. They forced two punts and swiped an interception.The Cougars fumbled the ball on their opening drive of the second quarter, resulting in an FSU field goal. BYU would then punt on its next drive.The Seminoles took the field, and on first down, speed demon Chris Thompson took a handoff off the left side, and thanks to a perfect block thrown by fullback Lonnie Pryor, he bolted up the sideline for an 83-yard touchdown. The Noles now led 13-0.FSU stumbled in somnambulance through the rest of the second quarter, as their offense went from out of sync to all-out sputtering. The defense began to falter as well.BYU answered with two successive drives that yielded 10 points, as they marched up and down the field with ease.By halftime, FSUlead was now 13-10, and BYU's stats (152 net yards) matched those of FSU (140). FSUdefense registered three sacks, but the offense was a paltry 1-for-6 on third down conversions and was penalized five times for 45 yards.Once again, though, the Noles would come out after halftime and execute well. A seven-minute drive resulting in a touchdown took nearly all the wind out of the Cougars sails and swelled FSUlead to 20-10.The Seminole defense also came out in the third quarter and stepped up their game. They forced BYU to punt on its first two drives of the second half and allowed only 30 yards in the quarter. FSU would score another touchdown on its second drive thanks to a 31-yard scamper by Thompson and a 34-yard jump ball caught by Willie Haulstead.The second-half adjustments made by the Seminoles stifled the Cougars on both sides of the ball. FSU would add another five sacks (making the game total eight) and would only allow BYU to gain five yards in the final quarter.There is a group of underclassmen on this team who are clearly stepping to the forefront, as they are dominating the stat sheet nearly every Saturday.Though Jermaine Thomas started the game, the rushing totals were dominated by Chris Thompson (123 yards, one TD) and Ty Jones (95 yards, one TD). Ponder even chimed in to the tune of 50 yards and a touchdown on the ground.Bert Reed has emerged as the clear-cut No. 1 receiver, as Ponder identified him as his third down possession guy often. He led the team with nine catches and amassed 89 yards. Though their numbers werenas gaudy as Reeds, big men Willie Haulstead and Rodney Smith were targeted frequently throughout the game on long routes.On the other side of the ball, Xavier Rhodes, Lamarcus Joyner, and Nick Moody had excellent games in the secondary.Rhodes had a sack and an interception early in the game that really set the tone, Joyner was involved in numerous pass breakups, and Moody seemed to be doling out crushing hits all day like jello shots at a tailgate party.Overall, the defense just seemed to tackle better. Exceptional might be a better way to describe it. There weren't many broken tackles (if any), as Cougars were brought down upon immediate impact.If none of this was enough to bring a smile Miami Dolphins jersey
over any Nole boosterface, the D-line also stepped up in a big way.The defensive line accounted for five sacks and pressured the BYU quarterbacks all dayso much so that calm Cougar touch passes in the first half turned into hurried, early, inaccurate rifle shots in the second half.In a two-play sequence in the third quarter, playmaker Everette Dawkins broke a double team to bring a running back down in the backfield and then sacked the quarterback on the very next play.The linebackers did a nice job in run support and managed to hassle the quarterback as well. Brandon Jenkins had two sacks. The linebackers had trouble covering receivers and backs throughout the game, though.When the clock reached zero, BYU only had 10 points to speak of (all coming in the first half) and tallied 191 total yards, managing only 39 of them in the second half.Despite last weeksetback (itstill too painful to call it what it really was), this youngFSUteam is showing real promise.If the FSU--Miami game were to be played today, what would be the outcome?If the FSU--Miami game were to be played today, what would be the outcome?FSU wins big6.7%Miami would win11.8%FSU escapes with a narrow victory58.8%The game would be too close to predict22.7%Total votes: 119The running game looks deadly, especially off tackle. Receivers are making plays, both underneath coverage and vertically downfield. The offensive linewithout starting tackle Andrew Datkoblocked well and protected their passer all day.The big surprise was the effort of the defense. The sack total reminded Seminole fans of the glory days in the early '90s, when knocking quarterbacks out was expected. The question wasnif the Noles would knock a QB out of the game; it was how many.The tackling was superb and hasnbeen this good since those glory years. The lapses on defense were minor, and just like in Weeks 1 and 2, FSUD was stellar in the second half.Ithard to place an accurate value on Saturdayaccomplishment, largely because ithard to figure out how legitimate the opponent was. One thingfor Minnesota Vikings
certain: The Seminoles seem to get better and better each week. These young underclassmen are coming up huge each week, and thereno telling where they will be come October 9.The coaching staff and players arenlooking too far ahead, but as fans, critics, and observers, we are more than welcome to do so. That looming collision in South FL with hated rival Miami should have Seminole fans salivating.

2011年1月18日星期二

18 Jan 11 Oregon vs. Arizona State: Ducks Need To Avoid This Trap

Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesThe Oregon Ducks have been absolutely stunning over the last few weeks. They are leading the nation in scoring, they are second in rushing yards per game, and they are only allowing an average of four points per game. Most baseball teams would be happy with that average.Overall, very few things have not worked for Oregon. True, they have yet to play a truly tough opponent, and the only sign of adversity they have confronted was during the first quarter in Tennessee. But you can only be asked to play the games on your schedule, and Reebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
the Ducks could not have been more impressive so far.On the flip side, Arizona State had a similarly easy schedule in their first two weeks of the season, in fact playing the same Portland State team that Oregon just destroyed. But ASU was forced to face a true test of adversity, playing 11th-ranked Wisconsin in Madison last week. While the Sun Devils ultimately were beaten by the Badgers, they looked very impressive in the process.Arizona State is a very talented team, but the real key to this game has more to do with Oregon's focus. They must make sure they don't look past the Sun Devils in anticipation of their big showdown with Stanford the next week.The key to Arizona State is their fast-paced spread offense. They have a solid running game with a nice combination of thunder and lightning in Cameron Marshall and Deantre Lewis. But they rise and fall based on their veteran signal caller Steven Threet.Threet is poised, accurate, and a better athlete than he may appear to be. He runs the offense with confidence and almost pulled off a nifty comeback last week against Wisconsin.But Threet isn't mobile enough to give Oregon's linebackers too much trouble, and his arm isn't big enough to take advantage of the Ducks' cornerbacks, who are the closest thing to a weakness on the superb Oregon defense.The running game is solid, but it isn't better than Tennessee's, and we all saw how Oregon was able to adjust to the Volunteers.On the other side of the ball, ASU has a very good linebacker corps led by Vontaze Burfict. They are strong, but, most importantly, Reebok Minnesota Vikings 28 Adrian Peterson Realtree camo Jersey
they are fast. If the Sun Devils' defensive line can prevent the big guys from getting up field to open up holes, then linebackers can slow down the Ducks running game.However, the Oregon offensive line has been a handful to opponents. A big part of their success has been left tackle Darrion Weems. But according to Oregon Live Weems has missed practice all week and is questionable for this week's game. If Weems misses the game, the Ducks will need the right side of the offensive line to step up, and the tight ends will have to help open up holes.That being said, this Arizona State defense isn't a great deal different from the squad that Oregon blew out last year, and on paper this is a team that still is capable of crushing the Sun Devils.Darron Thomas has impressed in his first few games, and he should be able to give ASU's defenders fits. His athleticism should open up the door for his receivers to burn Arizona State's somewhat shaky defensive secondary.Overall, the key to this game will be special teams. Arizona State was able to mount a comeback against Wisconsin namely because of their ability to return kicks.So far Oregon has been extremely stout against returners, allowing only one return of 30 yards or more. There is no reason to believe that Oregon will have the same trouble with the Sun Devils' return game that Wisconsin had, since Oregon's defense is a lot deeper than the Badgers.But Arizona State showed some real explosiveness and I would be shocked if they were held in check. Look for either Kyle Middlebrooks for Omar Bolden to get a hold of another kick return and take it deep into Ducks territory.Oregon is definitely the favorite, but it will come down to how serious they take the Sun Devils. If they come out flat, ASU has the talent to make it interesting. But if Oregon gets out to a Reebok Minnesota Vikings #4 Brett Favre Realtree camo Jersey
quick lead, they have the type of running game that can hold that advantage.This will be a true mental test for the Ducks, and it could serve as a nice spring board to their showdown next week with Stanford.Look for Oregon to win this one, but ASU should make it interesting. Oregon is favored by 12 points; personally, I would take the under. This is a game the Ducks should be wary of although they ultimately will win by a touchdown.

2011年1月15日星期六

15 Jan 11 St. Louis Rams "Lack of change puts league on notice"

On paper, the St. Louis Rams' offense looks primed to explode. With the addition of tight end Randy McMichael, wide receiver Drew Bennett, and versatile rookie running back Brian Leonard added to a youthful O-line that was able to gain valuable experience as last season wound down, the NFL's sixth-ranked offense can only increase its potency. Adding this sort of weaponry to star mainstays Marc Bulger, Steven Jackson, Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt is akin to handing a blowtorch-toting arsonist a bag of bottle rockets.On paper, the Rams' defense is disturbinglyReebok Baltimore Ravens #52 Ray Lewis Realtree camo Jersey
similar to last year's. The additions of linebacker Chris Draft, defensive end James Hall and rookie lineman Adam Carriker are the most notable names brought in during a seemingly unremarkable offseason on that side of the ball. To describe last year's defensive squad as underwhelming is an understatement comparable to saying that Paris Hilton has "loose" morals.On paper, however, the Rams appear to like what they see on both sides of the ball. The coaching staff has made no effort to acquire any "name" players on defense, opting to pass on players such as DTs Kris Jenkins and Sam Adams. Additionally, the acquisitions on offense, though not marquee players, are proven veteran talents just entering their prime. As a result, the offensive roster is now arguably the most talent laden in the league.So, what does all of this mean for Rams fans? It means you're either supremely confident in this year's club, bracing yourself for a rehash of last season's unrealized success, or your thoughts fall somewhere in the middle of the emotional spectrum.Scott Linehan has opted for the confident posture, explaining, "I feel so much better this time of this year than I did last year. I think we were still working trying to find some answers that weren't there yet. Now I think we have addressed those needs and now we have to go out and Reebok Chicago Bears #54 Brian Urlacher Realtree camo Jersey
prove it and do it on the field."Of course, a head coach has no option but to appear confident at this point in the offseason; he couldn't exactly proclaim, "I've really made a mess of things," even if he believed that were the case. However, Linehan appears genuinely intrigued by the performance of his younger players, praising the likes of rookie Carriker's mini-camp performance as well as former doghouse resident Claude Terrell in recent interviews.The fact that the Rams have only added complementary players rather than making wholesale changes is telling; it signals that Linehan believes that the core of the team is set and only needed a little fine tuning.The defensive line was a problem, so potential starters Hall and Carriker were added. Dante Hall was added to the perennially problematic special teams, and although his electrifying days may be behind him, he need only show up to bolster the Rams' return game immeasurably. Outside of these changes, the Rams will basically field the same team as last season, the only difference being they will have a year in the system under their belts.Perhaps there is a method to Linehan's madness, unlike his predecessor, who seemed to frequently have a madness to his method. Perhaps Linehan's confidence is justified after all.When one looks at the awesome array of weaponry on offense and the potential of the young players on defense, it is hard not to share the head coach's confidence. With a roster replete with proven veterans and young potential, the Rams appear at least the equal of any NFL team in terms of Reebok Chicago Bears #6 Jay Cutler Realtree camo Jersey
talent. They appear to have all the tools required to build upon last year's season-ending three-game winning streak. They now possess the talent and ability to push to the next level and into the playoffs.On paper.**You can e-mail Steve Reynolds at sreynoldsRealFootball365.com: Where there's never an offseason for St. Louis Rams football! Tell your friends about us. (7)