Recent Ancient Discoveries Under the Western Wall (Kotel) by Noam Matas - BREAKING ISRAEL NEWS

A tunnel under the City of David in Jerusalem. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Recent Ancient Discoveries Under the Western Wall (KOTEL)

By Noam Matas November 11, 2015

The Kotel (Western Wall) is arguably the most important archaeological site in Israel. As the focal point of Israeli archaeology, there are new discoveries found periodically. However, the latest finds have been particularly exciting to archaeologists and tourists alike.

The Channel from the City of David to the Temple Mount 

The most important archeological discovery in the Old City of Jerusalem is the ancient Second Temple Period water system, linking the City of David to the Western Wall. It is amazing to consider that this tunnel would have existed at the time of the second temple. This was the main water drainage tunnel that flowed through the Shiloah Pool and outside the city. Ronny Reich and Eli Shukron are the archaeologist leading this massive effort of unearthing these ancient structures and discovering the meaning and importance to the people of Israel during the Second Temple period

Among the discoveries, Mr. Reich and Mr. Shukron uncovered many coins- including a shekel coin from the city of Tyre- and a miniature golden bell usually owned by people of importance, as described in Exodus 29:31, “They made pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet material and twisted linen on the hem of the robe. They also made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates all around on the hem of the robe.” Another treasure found in the tunnels was a seal with the Aramaic words “Daka Le’Ya”, meaning “Pure for God”, possibly used to approve the purity of a sacrifice at the Second Temple.

The 14th Century Grand Hall

Another significant find has recently been uncovered under the Kotel. Archaeological excavations have revealed a 14th century grand hall in the tunnels under the Muslim Quarter. The Western Wall Heritage Foundation has transformed the hall into an educational center focusing on the genealogy of the Jewish nation and the connection to Jerusalem. The Israel Antiquities Authority worked closely alongside the excavation to oversee the project, which was funded entirely by Zvi Hirsch Bogolyubov, a Jewish billionaire from Ukraine.

Ancient Bronze Coins

For hundreds of years it was widely accepted that King Herod the Great was responsible for the construction of Jerusalem’s Western Wall. However, due to recent discoveries this notion is now being refuted. While excavations were carried out underneath the Western Wall’s foundation stones, ancient bronze coins were found. Archaeologists were thrown for a loop when they examined the coins and found the stamp of Valerius Gratus, a Roman governor who served 20 years after Herod’s death. This places construction of the wall around 17 A.D. and indicated that Herod was not responsible for its completion. This finding substantiates the writings of venerated Roman historian, Josephus Flavius, who stated that construction of the wall was completed by Herod’s great-grandson, King Agrippa II.

With so many years of important history behind it, it is not surprising that new discoveries are being made under the Kotel even to this day. As the excavations continue, there is no doubt new significant findings are yet to be uncovered.

Ancient Mystery Solved: Greek Citadel Unearthed in Israel - CBN News

Ancient Mystery Solved: Greek Citadel Unearthed in Israel

By Chris Mitchell

CBN News Middle East Bureau Chief

Wednesday, November 04, 2015

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JERUSALEM, Israel --  Earlier this week Israeli archaeologists announced one of the most important discoveries in history. 

For more than a hundred years, Israeli archaeologists have searched for the Greek fortress, known as Akra, from the time of the Maccabees, around 200 BC. Now they say they've found it.

The discovery answers a perplexing question about the ancient city of Jerusalem -- a question that Israeli archeaelogists have been digging for for nearly a decade.
   
"We can now be more than positive we are facing part of the stronghold that used to house the upper part of the city of David in the time of Antiochus IV," Doron Ben-Ami, of the Israel Antiquities Authority, said. 
 
Antiochus IV built the nearly 60-foot tall fortress in order to control Jerusalem. It also included a large ramp known as a Glasies.  After he defiled the Jewish temple, the Macabees, also known as the Hasmoneans, revolted.

The excavation shows evidence of that revolt, including artifacts such as arrowheads with the inscriptions of Antiochus and sling stones. The discovery confirms the accounts of the historian Josephus and the book of Maccabees.  
 
"In the book of Maccabees, it specifically says that the Akra fortress is built in the city of David," said Rabbi Barnea Levi Selavan, an archeologist and Jerusalem-based tour guide.   
 
It also fills in another big piece of the puzzle of ancient Jerusalem.  
 
"Today, because of this discovery, we can connect other elements that were isolated thus far and put them all together to see the real fortress or stronghold here on the upper part of the city of David," explained Ben-Ami.  

Rabbi Selavan says these ancient stones give proof to a story that many have considered legend, much like Santa Claus.
 
"Yes Virginia, there is a Josephus and he said the Greeks made it a powerful fortress which controlled the city," Barnea said.  "The bravery of the Hasmoneans to take on the Greeks who were sitting there in Jerusalem,  the bravery of the Hasmoneans to service in the Temple for 25 years while there's Greek soldiers right there. At least we can serve God.  So what if we don't have political freedom, but we can serve God.  What a message!" 

Mark Burnett Working on ‘The Bible’ Sequel, to Air on NBC Next Spring

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NBC will air a sequel to 'The Bible' next year. (Joe Alblas/The History Channel)

Fans of last year’s record-breaking The Bible have reason for celebration: Major network NBC will air a sequel next year.

Mark Burnett and his wife, Roma Downey, will produce A.D.: Beyond the Bible as a follow-up to their hugely popular miniseries, which aired on the History Channel last spring.

The Bible premiered to 13.1 million viewers, and the 10-hour miniseries beat almost everything else on television. It was the third most-watched cable series or miniseries of the year. NBC is hoping to break that record with the sequel.

“We are firmly in the ‘event’ business and nothing has more event potential than A.D. as it continues immediately after the The Bible ended,” NBC Entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt said in a statement.

The 12-hour miniseries is expected to take up the story of the New Testament after the crucifixion of Jesus, and will contain other elements as well, Burnett told TV Guide Magazine.

“You’ve got parts of the Bible,” Burnett said when asked what will be used as source material for A.D., which is a working title. “Josephus was Jewish and wrote one of the most incredible historical documents [in the first century]. There’s also great archeology and a lot of writing to mine.”

NBC Entertainment President Jennifer Salke added: “Everyone’s lives were completely altered in an instant and the immediate aftermath of Christ’s death had an impact on his disciples, his mother Mary, and key political and religious leaders of the time. In the first episode alone you see the last moments of the Crucifixion, Judas taking his own life after betraying Christ, Peter denying Jesus three times, and then the miracle of the Resurrection.”

Burnett spoke of series like The Tudors and The Borgias, which both “weave fiction and history, as inspiration,” explained TV Guide Magazine. The magazine asked if this means A.D. will contain some fictional elements and perhaps original characters. Burnett said yes.

“Much the way HBO's Rome did. With the spirit of history. Clearly A.D. is not predominantly Bible stories. This goes beyond that. But we spoke to all our advisers and our huge network, NBC, and they can’t wait for this.”

The producer said A.D. will likely last more than one season.

“It could run in the same way as Game of Thrones, 12 hours year after year. I don't think for a minute that A.D. lasts for just a season,” he explained.

Burnett, who produces The Voice for NBC, also talked about why he picked the network to air his next project.

“I chose NBC because I believe they could turn this into an enormous event,” he said. “This is more than TV for us. When you have the amount of passion that Roma and I have for a subject, you're willing to do anything it takes to launch and make it happen.

According to the Los Angeles Times, British playwright and screenwriter Simon Block will write the series. A director and star have not been set.

In addition to the sequel set for next year, an edited-down movie version of The Bible will be released in theaters Feb. 28. Click here to watch the trailer for Son of God.

Archaeologists Uncover First-Ever Find in Jerusalem

CBNNews.com

Wednesday, December 04, 2013

Israeli archaeologists have uncovered a first-ever find in Jerusalem: an impressive building dating to the second century B.C., the time period of the famous Maccabee family, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced this week.

The family is associated with the holiday of Hanukkah.

The discovery is from the Hasmonean Period, when the Hasmonean Dynasty ruled ancient Judea and surrounding areas from 141-37 B.C. It began with a descendant of the Maccabees, Simon Maccabaeus, some two decades after his brother, Judas the Maccabee (hammer) defeated the Seleucid army in a rebel revolt.

The Seleucids imposed their Greek culture on the Jewish people and forbid them to keep the Sabbath and circumcise their sons - both Biblical commandments.

They also defiled the Temple in Jerusalem by erecting idols and sacrificing a pig on the altar of God.

The Maccabees led the revolt against the Seleucids and eventually rededicated the Temple in Jerusalem. Hanukkah means "dedication."

Despite more than 100 years of excavations, this is the first time such a building was found.

"This discovery bridges a certain gap in Jerusalem's settlement sequence," excavation directors Dr. Doron Ben Ami and Yana Tchekhanovets said.

"The Hasmonean city, which is well-known to us from the historical descriptions that appear in the works of [the Jewish historian] Josephus, has suddenly acquired tangible expression," they said.

Numerous pottery vessels and more than 40 silver and bronze coins were also found in the building.

The building in the City of David just outside Jerusalem's Old City Walls is about four meters (about 13 feet) tall and covers an area of around 64 square meters.

It's walls are more than three feet thick and are made of roughly hewn limestone blocks arranged as headers and stretchers.

"These indicated the structure was erected in the early second century BCE and continued into the Hasmonean period, during which time significant changes were made inside it," the IAA said.