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The Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Studies Unit is the largest of the three units in the Department of Biblical and Ancient Studies. It concerns itself primarily with the ancient world of the Middle East, within the period from roughly 4800 BCE to the Hellenistic era and dawn of Christianity c. 70 CE. Given the scope of this time period, the unit comprises a wide variety of experts in the Hebrew Bible, Biblical Archaeology, Biblical Studies, Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Semitics, and Judaica. The scholars in the unit focus on giving important background information to a wide variety of religious and theology-based disciplines. The unit's research aims to illuminate the world of the Bible and the Ancient Near East, which served as the cradle of civilisations and gave rise to three major world religions.
We are happy to welcome any prospective students who wish to benefit from the rich, contextually relevant degrees and Short Learning Programmes we offer.
The unit does not offer standalone undergraduate degrees; our modules are available as core compulsory modules or electives across various BA and BTH degrees. Look out for the following module codes:
The sub-units/specialisations within the Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Studies Unit collectively work together to study all aspects of the world of the Ancient Near East. Although the degrees and modules are divided into broad subject and field categories, these categories are not meant to be hard borders. Multi-disciplinary research and studies are an integral part of the broader discipline of Ancient Studies, and are highly encouraged within the unit and department.
The Old Testament section focuses on the major historical themes that shaped the Old Testament texts. These themes, as experienced by the ancient Israelites, include, but are not limited to:
This continues a long tradition of textual and scripture-based scholarship that stretches back to biblical times.
These scholars study Old Testament texts and contexts, focusing on historical and historiographical research and providing support and background for theological fields. In the past, Classical Hebrew was offered as a separate course; however, this has been discontinued due to a lack of interest.
Research on the historical aspects of the Old Testament helps theologians as well as laypersons to better understand the world of the bible and how this influenced the Scriptures.
Currently, the Old Testament Unit is responsible for all undergraduate modules listed above, as well as the following postgraduate modules:
The field of Biblical Archaeology is one of the oldest forms of archaeology. It began in the late 19th century, when scholars, mostly theologians and Bible scholars, began travelling to "the Lands of the Bible" to verify the narratives in the Bible. These "Lands of the Bible" included Egypt, the Levant, Aram (Modern Syria), Mesopotamia (modern Iraq), Persia (Modern Iran) and Turkey. Scholars began studying the ancient cultures of these areas, founding many fields of archaeology, including Assyriology and Egyptology.
Today, "Biblical Archaeology" refers to the "Archaeology of the Lands described in the Bible". It seeks to describe and study the lands of the Bible, as well as the rest of the Middle East, as they pertain to the Bible. Together with Ancient Near Eastern Studies, the field of Biblical Archaeology offers modern humans a way to access the context and sitz im leben of daily life in ancient times.
Currently, the Biblical Archaeology Unit is responsible for the following postgraduate modules:
Ancient Near Eastern Studies at UNISA offers a unique opportunity to explore the origins of human civilisation through the languages, histories, religions, and cultures of ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Anatolia, and the Levant. Students engage directly with the intellectual worlds that shaped law, religion, literature, and social organisation, while developing critical skills in historical interpretation, textual analysis, and cultural comparison. Our programmes introduce key areas such as religion, society, and material culture, alongside engagement with ancient traditions including Egyptian and Mesopotamian sources, equipping students with a rigorous and versatile foundation in the humanities.
Positioned within an Afrocentric and decolonial framework, we encourage students to rethink the ancient world from African and global perspectives, fostering independent, critical thought. Through structured research training and comparative analysis, graduates develop strong analytical, interpretive, and research skills applicable across academic, educational, and cultural sectors. Whether pursued as a pathway to advanced study or as a means of deepening intellectual engagement with the ancient world, Ancient Near Eastern Studies at UNISA provides a distinctive and meaningful academic experience.
Modules
Currently, the Ancient Near Eastern Cultures Unit is responsible for the following postgraduate modules:
| Name | Office | Telephone number | E-mail address |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit leader | |||
| Dr A Bvumbi | WMM 8-81 | +27 12 429 6882 | bvumbae@unisa.ac.za |
| Administrative staff | |||
| Mrs Esther Mema-Dyasi | WMM 8-128 | +27 12 429 4711 | memae@unisa.ac.za |
| Mrs Rodo Mbendane | WMM 8-129 | +27 12 429 6812 | mbendr@unisa.ac.za |
| Academics | |||
| Prof EB Farisani | WMM 8-114 | +27 12 429 4410 | |
| Dr LLD Mokoena | WMM 8-104 | +27 12 429 4687 | mokoell@unisa.ac.za |
| Prof VNN Mtshiselwa | WMM 8-120 | +27 12 429 4485 | mtshivnn@unisa.ac.za |
| Prof H Ramantswana (COD) | WMM 8-130 | +27 12 429 2898 | ramanh@unisa.ac.za |
| Mr LB Richards | WMM 8-119 | +27 12 429 3494 | richarlb@unisa.ac.za |
| Dr EC Swart | WMM 8-110 | +27 12 429 4389 | swartec@unisa.ac.za |
| Post-Doctoral Research Fellows | |||
| Dr D Coetzee | WMM 8-126 | +27 12 429 6095 | coetzd2@unisa.ac.za |
| Dr M Seheri | WMM 8-115 | +27 12 429 6492 | seherm@unisa.ac.za |
Last modified: Tue Apr 14 12:32:08 SAST 2026