Alan Millard
Alan Millard (1937–2024) made the world of the Bible come alive. Dr. Millard was at the forefront of research in some of the world’s most tumultuous regions: Until recently, he was the Vice-Chairman of the British School of Archaeology in Iraq. He has taught at the University of Liverpool since 1970, where he was Professor Emeritus and has served as librarian at Tyndale Library for Biblical Research.
Professor Millard was responsible for the rediscovery of the Epic of Atrahasis, one of three surviving Babylonian flood stories. One of the few scholars in the world with an expertise in Akkadian, he has worked alongside legendary archaeologist Yigael Yadin at the Institute of Advanced Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Professor Millard has pursued understanding of the Bible in the context of the society where it first appeared. His expertise on the culture, thought, and even the language and book production of Biblical times have informed his research and his writings. His many publications include such seminal works as Treasures from Bible Times (1985), Discoveries from the Time of Jesus (1990) and Reading and Writing in the Time of Jesus (2000). He has also published Assyrian and Babylonian cuneiform texts, and documents of Old Aramaic.
Dr. Alan Millard was an outstanding scholar who has been described by prior BAS program participants as “informative,” “accessible” and “engaging.” In addition to lecturing for us at our Oxford Seminar and Bible Fest, he has written numerous articles for Biblical Archaeology Review and Bible Review.
Presenter at
Bible & Archaeology Fest XIV, November 18 – 20, 2011
Folk Tales and Biblical History
Many of the stories from ancient literature are labeled “folk tales,” and are presumed to have no basis in reality—the Biblical texts are no exception. Many stories in the Bible are seen as allegories or folk tales. When we read the Biblical narratives and stories in other ancient texts, is it enough to label them “folk tales” or should we investigate the possibility that they are factual accounts? This presentation will examine this question using several well-known examples from the Bible, such as the accounts of Moses in the bull-rushes and King Solomon’s wealth.
Seminar at Sea, January 24 – 31, 2010
- Exploring Babylon and the Bible: Connections and Contrasts
- Babylon: The Land, the People and their Languages
- Stories of Creation: Babylon and Genesis
- Sargon, Abraham and the Amorites: History vs. Legend
- Law, Wisdom and Piety: What does the Bible Owe to Babylon?
- Babylon’s Agents and the Deception of Hezekiah.
- Nebuchadnezzar’s “Great Babylon”: Was Daniel Really There?
Selected Articles by Alan Millard
- Literacy in the Time of Jesus
BAR 29:04, Jul/Aug 2003 - Where Was Abraham’s Ur? The Case for the Babylonian City
BAR 27:03, May/Jun 2001 - How Reliable Is Exodus?
BAR 26:04, Jul/Aug 2000 - Ebla and the Bible: What’s left (if anything)?
BR 8:02, Apr 1992 - Does the Bible Exaggerate King Solomon’s Golden Wealth?
BAR 15:03, May/Jun 1989 - The Question of Israelite Literacy
BR 3:03, Summer 1987
