The Dead Sea Scrolls Online: Taking on a (Second) Life of Their Own.

The Dead Sea Scrolls represent not only a unique archaeological discovery, but also the religious and cultural message of the Qumran community of the Second Temple period, and the written word of the Bible. The cultural legacy of these rare documents opens up new vistas on ancient Judaism and the origins of first-century Christianity, while at the same time providing a contemporary vehicle for interfaith study and dialogue.
While the physical manuscripts are located and displayed in the Israel Museum, their compelling aesthetic presence, scribal features, and historical message can be readily extended across electronic pathways to reach remote visitors beyond the museum walls. The New Media Unit at the Israel Museum is responsible for interpreting the depth and breadth of collections across the Museum campus, but is particularly excited when it comes to working with the Dead Sea Scrolls, which represent the crown jewels of the Museum collection.
This paper will discuss the different digital platforms that have been inspired by the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Shrine of the Book, from the innovative 3D virtual world of the Shrine Educational Experience (SEE), jointly created by the Museum and the Politecnico di Milano of Italy, to the interfaces developed for the Dorot Foundation Information and Study Center in memory of Joy Gottesman Ungerleider. We will showcase the stunning online scrolling manuscripts, envisioned by George Blumenthal, and describe the latest, recent partnership with IBM. This partnership has served to bring the internationally renowned scrolls into the virtual world, where they now take on a [second] life of their own.