Showing posts with label archeologists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label archeologists. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Egypt Accuses Archeologists of Faking Stars of David in Ancient Temple By Ahuva Balofsky - BREAKING ISRAEL NEWS

Two six-pointed stars were found on a stone in the ruins of a Roman Temple in Egypt. (Photo: Official Twitter feed of @selket_de)
Two six-pointed stars were found on a stone in the ruins of a Roman Temple in Egypt. (Photo: Official Twitter feed of @selket_de)

Egypt Accuses Archeologists of Faking Stars of David in Ancient Temple

“And David spoke unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Shaul.” II Samuel 22:1 (The Israel Bible™)
The ruins of a Roman Temple, dating back to the third century BCE, is the center of a storm of Egyptian controversy owing to a pair of six-pointed stars found engraved at the site. According to a report by The Jerusalem Post, the ruins are located on the Elephantine Island in the southern Egyptian city of Aswan.
Dr. Mahmoud Afifi, the head of the Egyptian Antiquities branch in the Antiquities Ministry, said he noticed the engravings, which resemble the Star of David which appears on the Israeli flag, on a stone. He accused the German archaeologists assisting in the temple reconstruction of carving the stars into the stone.
Afifi demanded the German team immediately remove the offending stone, threatening legal action if the archaeologists repeat the move.
One Egyptian news site, Suezbalady, went so far as to accuse a Jewish member of the German team of vandalism with the intent of harming Egyptian culture.
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Newly appointed Egyptian Antiquities Minister Khaled Anani visited the shrine at Aswan Saturday. He then issued a press release stating that he had instructed the joint Egyptian-German group to submit a scientific report about the two engravings found on one of the temple’s walls.
“The report will include a picture of the stone under discussion from the time it was discovered, to explore its archaeological repercussions without the two Star of David engravings,” Anani said.
“We will be aided by an expert of Islamic antiquities to understand whether the Sign of David was common in that early period,” Anani announced.
It should be noted that despite its strong modern associations with the State of Israel, the Star of David, known in Hebrew as the magen David, or shield of David, was not historically a uniquely Jewish symbol. It can be found in the iconography of many religious groups, including both Christians and Muslims. Its Hebrew name evokes the Biblical King David, known as a great warrior and faithful servant of God.

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Archeologists Uncover Byzantine Era Monastery in Israel - Julie Stahl CBN News


Archeologists Uncover Byzantine Era Monastery in Israel
01-25-2016

CBN News


ROSH HA'AYIN, Israel – Israel's growing construction sites have uncovered some ancient treasures in unlikely places.
Before any construction work begins, the Israel Antiquities Authority conducts what it calls a salvage excavation. In Israel's central plains, a building boom dots the skyline with cranes in places like Rosh Ha'ayin.

"We started digging here and we didn't know what we are going find," excavation director Amit Shadman told CBN News. "But after three months we exposed a pretty nice and large monastery."
The discovery of many impressive rural churches and monasteries in the area show that Christianity spread rapidly around the fifth century.

  
The Byzantine church is paved with a colorful mosaic, but Shadman says the most important find is the Greek inscription at the entrance.
"It's exactly the same as it is today," he explained. "People want to know that they gave the money, and you have to understand that it's very expensive to build a complex like this."

The inscription reads, "This place was built under Theodosius, the priest. Peace be with you when you come. Peace be with you when you go. Amen." It's the equivalent of a donors' plaque in a modern building.
Up to 30 monks would have lived at the compound. Shadman believes they were also farmers.
Archeologists uncovered living quarters, stables and an olive oil press, which he says would not have been built without the help of the church.
"The main thing of this monastery is to take care of the rural area," Shadman said.
The IAA team also uncovered an even older structure nearby: a 2,700-year-old farm house.
"This area from the beginning was used for farming and for agriculture," Shadman continued.


Sometimes archaeologists must move the antiquities and they often rebury them. But this ancient monastery and farmstead are slated to become part of a park.
"I can tell you that this site, we're not going to destroy it," Shadman said. "We will plan to keep it and leave it like a green area."

Friday, October 23, 2015

Archaeologist Believes to Have Discovered Location of Biblical Sodom, But One Thing Remains a Mystery - BIN


"The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah" by Peter Schoubroeck. (Photo: Wiki Commons)

“The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah” by Peter Schoubroeck. (Photo: Wiki Commons)


Archaeologist Believes to Have Discovered Location of Biblical Sodom, But One Thing Remains a Mystery


“Then the Lord said, ‘The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.’” (Genesis 18:20)
After 10 years of digging, archaeologist Steven Collins, of Trinity Southwest University of New Mexico, and his team believe they have discovered the location of Biblical Sodom in the Southern Jordan Valley in Jordan, about 14 kilometers northeast of the Dead Sea. However, they are struggling to solve a deep mystery.
The city, with its massive walls, palaces, administrative buildings and surrounding farm region, flourished and dominated the region for 3,000 years. Based on evidence found at the site, some 4,000 years ago the entire area suddenly became uninhabited for over 700 years. Archaeologists and scientists are attempting to figure out why.
While digging at the Tall el-Hammam Excavation Project, Collins studied accounts of Sodom extensively, explaining to Popular Archaeology, “Tall el-Hammam seemed to match every Sodom criterion demanded by the text.”
We know very little about the Bronze Age in the south of the Jordan River Valley. Most archaeological maps of the area were blank. But what we have found is an important city-state, which was unknown before our project began,” he said.
“Tall el-Hammam matches the description of the area where Sodom was located according to the Bible. It was said to be the largest city east of Kikkar. When we explored the region, Tall el-Hammam was an obvious choice, as it was five to ten times larger than the other Bronze Age cities throughout the region, even those found beyond Jordan.”
One of the characteristics of Sodom mentioned in the Bible is the incredible richness of the area.  Lot, Abraham’s nephew who escaped Sodom when it was destroyed, chose the Jordan Valley for this particular trait (Genesis 13:10). The area of Tall el-Hammam fits that description well. The farms in the area took advantage of the annual flooding of the Jordan River, planting in the newly deposited rich silt as the floodwaters receded.
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Sodom was also noted in the Bible for homosexuality. Collins offers a theory to link his findings to that aspect of the Biblical narrative, including archaeological evidence that indicates that homosexuality was an accepted part of the Tall el-Hammam culture.
“It’s quite large, and has a pillared gate-house through which one would enter the city,” explained Collins. “Such pillared architecture is more Aegean than Canaanite or Levantine, which suggests a connection to the world of the Minoans and Mycenaeans.”
Many of the architectural and artistic motifs found at Tall el-Hammam strengthen this cultural connection. According to Collins, there is documented proof that the Creat Minoans practiced homosexuality as part of their culture. Based on evidence indicating the strong cultural link between the Creat Minoans with Tall el-Hammam, it is likely they adopted this practice as well.

Dead Sea, Israel. (Photo: xta11/ Wiki Commons)
Dead Sea, Israel. (Photo: xta11/ Wiki Commons)

The site is adjacent to the Dead Sea, which has a 34 percent salinity. This unique feature coats the rocks on its shore in thick layers of salt. This is consistent with the Biblical account, which describes Lot’s wife turning to a pillar of salt.
Sometime between 2000-1540 BCE, the city and surrounding area became uninhabited. Initial tests show that no life existed in that area for about 700 years, but the archaeological team has found no evidence for this sudden and lasting desolation.
Clues to this mystery may also be found in the Bible narrative. The destruction of Sodom is described as God raining down burning sulfur, or, in other translations, fire and brimstone (Genesis 19:24). At the Tall site, a layer of ash was discovered and the remains of one palace are stained red from burning. In addition, pottery shards display signs of exposure to extremely high temperatures. Normally, evidence of fire at such sites is the result of a military action, however a military conquest would usually be followed by an occupation, and it certainly would not account for 700 years of desolation.
Collins offers his own theory remarkably Biblical in nature. According to Collins, an enormous explosion over the city, such as that caused by a massive meteor, would account for all the evidence. He describes it as an “airburst”. As fantastic as that sounds, a similar occurrence was documented in Mesopotamia around 2200 BCE and credited with disrupting that civilization.
The Tall el-Hammam Excavation Project is an example of how scientists are successfully using the Bible as an authoritative source to learn more about the world around us. In the case of Sodom, Steven Collins discovered that what most people understand as a Biblical myth was actually accurate in the most astounding ways.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Israel's Magdala Center Brings Gospel to Life - CBN


Israel's Magdala Center 
Brings Gospel to Life

By Chris Mitchell
CBN News Middle East Bureau Chief
Tuesday, February 11, 2014

MAGDALA, Israel -- Discoveries from a new archaeological dig are creating excitement in the area where Jesus began his ministry. The village is called Magdala (Migdal in Hebrew), and it's the home of Mary Magdalene.

"She lived here and she met Jesus here and she continued with Him. Yes, it's that place," senior Israeli archaeologist Arfan Najar, who oversees the excavation at Magdala, told CBN News.


Najar said the city lay hidden all this time by just a small layer of dirt.

"Some place almost you touch the surface and you have the wall, waiting for us for 2,000 years to when we are coming," he said.

The most important discovery in Magdala has been a synagogue dating back to the time of Jesus. According to archaeologists, it's the first one discovered in the Galilee.

"An expression that appears many times in several places of the Gospel, 'Jesus went around Galilee preaching in their synagogues," Father Solana, general director at the Magdala Center, explained. "So this is the closest synagogue to Capernaum where He lived. So it was likely He was here many times."

In the synagogue, the team discovered a 2,000-year-old treasure. They call it the Magdala Stone, and some archaeologists say it's the most important discovery in decades.

Magdala Stone

CBN News first reported on the stone just after it was uncovered in 2009. Father Kelly, of the Catholic order Legionnaires of Christ, showed CBN News a replica while overlooking the Temple Mount.

Father Eamon Kelly 
- Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center

"This particular Magdala Stone is the most important discovery ever made in relation to the Second Temple, the temple at the time of Jesus, which Herod redid. So that's quite the statement," Father Kelly said.

The Menorah (six-lamp candelabrum) on the stone is one of a kind, the first one discovered before the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. The Legionnaires of Christ own the land and are building an entire center at Magdala with an archaeological park, hotel and spiritual center.

Father Solana dreamed up the project and wants it to be a center for all.

"I'm pretty sure it's a gift for the world, for culture, for religions, for Israel of course," he said.

Visitors to the center see the Bible come to life.

"The altar is in the shape of a boat, a fisherman's boat," said Monica, a Christian pilgrim from Australia. "You're reminded of Jesus standing in the boat and preaching to the people on the shore."

Fisherman's boat on the Sea of Galilee (Kinneret)

Jane, another Christian from Australia, said "…the whole Gospel story has come alive for me here. It will never mean the same ever again."

Father Solana sees the motto of the center, "Duc in Altum," Latin for "go into the deep," as a message for today.

Jesus walks on water

"Somehow Jesus tells to all of us, 'Go into the deep, try again, you can. Go, go, go!'" he said. "So I think this a beautiful message that the world needs in this moment. Financial crisis, problems with jobs, many situations and we need to try again. God is on our side."

Watch here: Video on CBN News

Friday, November 1, 2013

The Christian pantheon of Holy Land explorers


The Christian pantheon of Holy Land explorers


Walled off, neglected, vandalized, the Protestant cemetery on Mount Zion tells the story of a generation of legendary 19th century explorers who studied the Land of Israel • A new article by Israeli archeologists investigates this unique site. 
Nadav Shragai

The Protestant cemetery on Mount Zion
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 Photo credit: Reuven Milon