Royal Ontario Museum

Dead Sea Scrolls: Words that Changed the World

June 27, 2009 - January 3, 2010

Photo: Book of War, 20-50 CE in Hebrew, discovered in Cave 11 in 1956. Courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority, photographs Tsila Sagiv & Clara Amit.

Garfield Weston Exhibition Hall

An exhibition of unparalleled significance, Dead Sea Scrolls showcases one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century. Discovered in between 1947 and 1956 by Bedouin goat-herders in a series of caves off the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea, the Scrolls were authored between 200 BCE and 68 CE. Over 900 separate documents were unearthed, pieced together from over 100,000 scroll fragments.

Among these ancient manuscripts are the oldest-known copies of the Hebrew Bible, hymns, prayers and other important writings. They are a link to the ancient Middle East and to the birth of Judaism and Christianity. Over 200 biblical manuscripts are more than a thousand years older than any previously known copies of the Hebrew Bible. The Dead Sea Scrolls have enabled scholars to understand the textual history of the Bible and have provided new information on theological debates at the dawn of Judaism and Christianity.

Created by the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Royal Ontario Museum, Dead Sea Scrolls unearths the intriguing tale of their discovery, examines the environment in which they were found and explores the science and technology which helped to decipher them. The exhibition also paints an extraordinary picture of this period in history through artifacts, multi-media and much more.

Note: CityPass ticket holders interested in visitng Dead Sea Scrolls must purchase a $6 (Adult or Youth) upgrade in the exhibit hall or the admissions queue just prior to entering this special exhibit. Please visit the Royal Ontario Museum Web site for more detailed information.