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Jerusalem news

Leen Ritmeyer — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 12:32:23 +0000

In yesterday’s post, we reported on the large mysterious V-shaped marks found in the City of David Excavations:

The announcement by Eli Shukron that he was puzzled by the marks, brought an enormous response from people who had all sorts of different suggestions. The Jerusalem Post reported that more than 20,000 people had responded:

Among the most interesting ideas: a torture device, drainage for ancient urinals, the original McDonald’s sign, an abbreviation for “veni vidi vici” (Latin for “I came, I saw, I conquered”), a footprint from King Solomon’s pet dinosaur, molds for smelting iron to make tools, the Trinity, a representation of mountains or the symbol for water, signs to the exit, an alien cryptogram, or support for a wooden structure.

Here in the UK, BBC 4 aired an interesting program on Jerusalem with Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of “Jerusalem, the biography“. The first part of a series can be seen in the UK on BBC iPlayer. Here is a good review of his book.

Arutz Sheva (Israel National News) has a report on illegal Muslim burials at the Ophel Corner, near the southeast corner of the Temple Mount. It appears to be part of an illegal land-grab.

Illegally built Muslim tombs at the Ophel Corner, near the southeast corner of the Temple Mount. Photo: Clare Ritmeyer

The southeast corner during the Herodian period. © Leen Ritmeyer

Jerusalem City engineers have ordered that the ramp to the Mughrabi Gate be closed indefinitely for safety reasons, although there may be political reasons behind the move, i.e. to force the Israel government to build a new bridge despite international pressure to refrain from upsetting the Arabs.

Some members of the Knesset (Israel’s Parliament) have called for an alternate access for Jews to visit the Temple Mount (what about the tourists)?

The Mughrabi Ramp partly obscures the Herodian Barclay’s Gate. We commented on the problems of the ramp in previous posts, such as this one, containing a diagram:

The diagram shows the relationship between the ramp and the location of Barclay's Gate, one of the four gateways in the Western Wall of the Herodian Temple Mount. The Western Wall Plaza is on the left and the excavation area on the right. © Leen Ritmeyer

This is a view of the Western Wall of the Herodian Temple Mount in between Barclay's Gate (lower right) and Wilson's Arch (lower left). This section of the Temple Mount walls corresponds with the wall that can be seen in the Western Wall Plaza area today. Herod's Temple towered high above the Temple Mount.

Todd Bolen posted a useful review of recent history of access to the Temple Mount.

How to distort the truth about the Herodian Temple Mount

Leen Ritmeyer — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 23:52:13 +0000

In my latest blog post, I tried to show how the Temple Mount may have developed after the death of Herod the Great. This post was written in the wake of the discovery of four coins from the time of the Roman procurator Valerius Gratus (17/18 AD) below the Western Wall as described previously.

Now, a Palestinian “archaeologist”, Dr. Jamal Amro, claims that he was the one who found the 17 (not 4) Roman coins! He rightly states that the coins date from the time of Valerius and then draws the illogical and ridiculous conclusion that:

“All archaeological discoveries that were found before this one in the Arab city of Jerusalem and around the Aqsa Mosque date back to ancient Arab and Islamic eras especially the times of Umayyad and Abbasid reigns (661-1258) up to the Ottoman rule (1520 AD)”

He also stated this discovery left the Jewish archaeologists in a state of shock and frustration because it just proved further their false claims and beliefs about the legend of the temple.

Here is Amro’s statement.

Joe Lauer comments:

The sad thing is that instead of laughing Amro off the stage, his statements are being parroted all over the world and incorporated into the Arab Narrative, perhaps to become an official UNESCO policy statement. Googling the headline “Archaeologist rebuts Jewish claims about their alleged temple” demonstrates how quickly and easily foolish lies can be spread in our day.

Goebbels would have been jealous.

Dating the Western Wall of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem

Leen Ritmeyer — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:16:32 +0000

The announcement of the new theory on when the Western Wall was built (see here and here) was not as dramatic as expected. The discovery of coins, the latest of which were struck by the Roman procurator Valeruis Gratus in 17-18 AD, in a mikveh that went out of use when the Western Wall was built over it, suggests that the building of the Temple Mount walls took decades. This is the full report released by the Israel Antiquities Authority.

A picture of the two coins that were found in the mikveh. The coins date from the time of the Roman procurator Valeruis Gratus (17-18 AD). Photo: Vladimir Neichin/IAA

This picture shows that the Western Wall was built over the remains of a mikveh. Photo by Vladimir Neichin/IAA

Photo of the excavation of the mikveh by Vladimir Neichin/IAA

This late date is not surprising, as at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, usually dated to 30 AD, it was said that this Temple complex had been in building already for 46 years (John 2.20).

At the northern end of the Western Wall is a piece of bedrock that wasn’t even removed before the Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.

A huge block of bedrock that was never quarried is visible at the end of the Western Tunnel. The Western wall is visible on the right and on the left is the street that was paved around the protruding piece of rock. Photo: © Leen Ritmeyer

This doesn’t mean to say that the Western wall is not Herodian. The whole building concept was designed by Herod the Great and completed after his death.

Walking with Abraham

Leen Ritmeyer — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:47:57 +0000

History becomes alive in Israel and other Bible Lands. Not only can well-known Biblical sites that are associated with both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament be visited, one can also sail across the Sea of Galilee and walk on ancient routes.

Sailing across the Sea of Galilee. Photo: © Leen Ritmeyer

One such route is the Jesus Trail, a 65 km long hike from Nazareth to Capernaum.

The Jesus Trail is a 65-kilometer hiking trail in the Galilee region of Israel which connects important sites from the life of Jesus as well as other historical and religious sites. The Jesus Trail™ offers an alternative for travelers and pilgrims to experience the steps of Jesus in a way that is authentic, adventurous and educational by hiking through the rugged and beautiful landscape of the Galilee in Israel.

The main Jesus Trail hiking route is 65km and begins in Nazareth and passes through Zippori National Park, Cana, Ilaniya, Kibbutz Lavi, the Horns of Hattin, Nebi Shu’eib, Arbel National Park, Migdal, the Jesus Boat at Kibbutz Ginosar, Tabgha, the Mount of Beatitudes, and Capernaum.

A beautiful mosaic floor was found in the dining room (triclinium) of one of the wealthy houses of Sepphoris. At one end of the mosaic floor is the face of a beautiful woman, who was quickly dubbed the "Mona Lisa of Sepphoris".

Another trail is the Israel National Trail:

The Israel National Trail (INT) is a footpath that winds its way nearly 1000 kilometers across Israel, from the Lebanese border in the north to the Red Sea in the south. Because of the way it traverses Israel’s unique physical, ethnic, and religious landscape, the INT is gaining a reputation as one of the world’s great long-distance treks.

The Abraham Path

A new trail is at present being developed by William Ury, of the Harvard University, that will follow in the footsteps of the patriarch Abraham.

The Abraham Path, which is now being marked, begins in Haran and meanders its way to the city Gaziantep. From there, it continues southward, crosses the border into Syria and wends its way to Aleppo. The path then moves south, passes through Damascus before crossing into the kingdom of Jordan and the city Amman. At that point it crosses over to Jericho in the Palestinian Authority, and then to Nablus (Shechem), Jerusalem and Hebron, where Abraham was buried. Additional offshoots of the path follow Abraham’s journeys through Iraq and Israel.

The Israeli archaeologist Avner Goren is preparing a segment between Beersheba and Arad, while other groups are preparing different sections of this trail.

Arad is an ancient Canaanite city in the Negev, mentioned in Numbers 21.1. The Canaanites were initially successful in their fight against Israel, but the tables were soon turned when the Israelites destroyed the city. Arad also features in the list of Canaanite cities that were conquered by the Israelites (Joshua 12.14). The city of Arad extended over a large area and had a sacred precinct. This reconstruction drawing shows the largest of two twin temples that have been excavated. The temple has three rooms, the smaller one of which was the holy of holies. A stone stele was found in the room on the left. In the courtyard stood a large square altar with a stone lined pit, which was used as a ceremonial washing basin, next to it. © Leen Ritmeyer

One can only hope that it will remain peaceful enough in the Middle East to walk on this exciting new historical path.

Music Festival at the home of the Ark of the Covenant in Kiryat Yearim

Leen Ritmeyer — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 09:19:15 +0000

Kiryat Yearim is one of the most evocative Biblical sites in Israel and never more than during the Abu-Gosh Festival. Then, twice a year, at Succot and Shavuot, this Arab village in the Judean hills, where the Ark of the Covenant rested for 20 years (1Sam. 7:2) becomes the backdrop for Israel’s most important vocal music event.

A representation of the Ark of the Covenant as described in Exodus 25.10-22. The Ark was a box made of shittim wood and overlaid with gold. It had a golden covering lid, called the mercy seat, out of which two cherubim were crafted. The two tablets of stone on which God had written the Ten Commandments were placed inside the Ark. The Ark was carried by two poles which were placed in rings fixed to the side of the Ark. © Leen Ritmeyer

The 12th century Crusader church at the heart of the village and the church of Notre Dame de l’Arche de L’Alliance (Our Lady of the Ark of the Covenant) at the top of the hill are the main venues because of their remarkable acoustics.

A video showcasing the site and the event can be viewed here.

The programme of the upcoming 40th festival is here. This is a previous blog post on the festival.

This painting hangs on the walls of the Church of Our Lady of the Ark of the Covenant at Kiriath Yearim in Israel. The Ark is in the centre of the painting with David playing on the harp to its left (2 Samuel 6). The High Priest with a censer of incense bows in reverence on the right. The memorial Name of God, Yahweh, is written between the two cherubim. © Ritmeyer Archaeological Design

Menorah and Roman sword found in Jerusalem

Leen Ritmeyer — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 20:49:32 +0000

Two amazing finds testify to the last days of Jerusalem’s destruction in 70 AD, In a drainage channel that led from the Temple Mount to the Siloam Pool a stone with an inscribed menorah was found, together with a Roman sword. These finds vividly reminds us of the terrible destruction and how some people tried to save their lives by fleeing through the underground drainage channels.

A stone with an inscribed menorah. Photo: Sebastian Scheiner / AP

The full stories are here and here.

Both the menorah and the sword reminded me of similar finds made by Prof. Nahman Avigad in the Jewish Quarter. A sword was found in the Burnt House and a menorah was found inscribed in the wall of one of the priestly houses.

This depiction of the Lampstand (menorah) was found incised on one of the walls of a priestly family home in Jerusalem. Apart from the Lampstand, it shows the Table of Shewbread (bottom right), the Altar of Incense (top right) and the three-stepped stone (bottom left) which the priest would stand on to light the lamps of the Lampstand in the Temple.

HT: Joe Lauer

City of David Conference – Sept 8th, 2011

Leen Ritmeyer — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 20:30:40 +0000

Barnea Levi Selavan sends this program of the upcoming conference in the City of David.

September 8th, 2011

6.30 – Entry
7pm Aharon Horowitz, Yuval Baruch, Evyatar Cohen (two varying options concerning dating of tunnel)

7.15
Y Garfinkel – thoughts about the Kingdom of Judah
R Reich and E Shukron – new look at Shiloach tunnel dating
I Finkelstein- the large stone structure, facts vs yearnings

8.20 – Break

8.40

G Barkay – Bat Paro grave, a new look
Asher Grosberg – south section of Channel II, Shiloach, both of Hezekiah
Shukron and Reich – main Second Temple drainage channel, with completion of the southern section in 2011

HT: Jack Sasson

Have Archaeologists Discovered High Priest’s Bell?

Leen Ritmeyer — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 21:48:05 +0000

Archaeologists have discovered a rare gold bell during an excavation in the City of David National Park in Jerusalem.

by Elad Benari

Archaeologists have discovered a rare gold bell with a small loop at its end. The finding was made during an archaeological excavation in the City of David National Park (near the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem) by the Israel Antiquities Authority in cooperation with the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and the Ir David Foundation.

Rare ancient bell. © IsraelNationalNews

The directors of the excavation on behalf of the Antiquities Authority, archaeologists Eli Shukron and Professor Ronny Reich of Haifa University, said after the finding, “The bell looked as if it was sewn on the garment worn by a man of high authority in Jerusalem at the end of the Second Temple period.

“The bell was exposed in the city’s main drainage channel of that period, between the layers of dirt that had been piled on the floor of the channel,” they continued. “This drainage channel was built and hewn west to the Western Wall of the Temple Mount and drained the rainfall in the different parts of the city, through the City of David and the Shiloah Pool to the Kidron valley.”

The excavation area, above the drain, is located in the main street of Jerusalem which rose from the Shiloah Pool in the City of David. In this street an interchange was built through which people entered the Temple Mount. The remains of this interchange are what is known today as Robinson’s Arch. Archaeologists believe that the eminent man walked the streets of Jerusalem in the area of Robinson’s Arch and lost the golden bell which fell off his outfit into the drain beneath the street.

Jewish sources say that the high priests who served in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem used to hang golden bells on the edges of their coats. The book of Exodus (Shemot), for example, contains a description of the coat of Aaron the high priest in which it is said that coat contains, “bells of gold.”

While it is unknown if the bell belonged to one of the high priests, archaeologists have not ruled out the possibility.

The holy garments of the High Priest are described in Exodus 28 and 39. A golden plate with an inscription "Holy to Yahweh" was fixed to a white head covering. A colourful vest, called the ephod, had the breastplate of judgment with 12 precious stones attached to it. On the shoulders were two onyx stones with the names of the 12 tribes of Israel engraved on them. Under the ephod was a robe of blue and a long white undergarment. Attached to the hem of the blue robe were bells and pomegranates. © Leen Ritmeyer

Israel opens Baptismal site at Bethabara

Leen Ritmeyer — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 21:43:46 +0000

In a previous post we mentioned that the site where Jesus was baptised was open to the public. There was indeed a ceremonial opening at the site on the 18th of January this year, only to close shortly afterwards.

Now, however, the surrounding area has been cleared of landmines and the site is supposed to be open to visitors, according to this AP report.

The Baptismal site, seen from across the Jordan. Photo: Leen Ritmeyer

“Israel hopes the opening of the site will help draw Christian tourists, who have been coming to Israel in growing numbers in recent years. Of the 3.45 million tourists who arrived last year, about 69 percent were Christian, and 38 percent defined their visit as a religious pilgrimage, according to the Tourism Ministry.

Israel renovated the site at a cost of $2.3 million and removed some of the nearby mines, Israeli officials said. Tuesday’s ceremony was attended by Silvan Shalom, the Israeli minister for regional development, and by representatives of Christian denominations in theHoly Land.”

HT: Jack Sasson

Mughrabi Gate bridge renovation plan stopped

Leen Ritmeyer — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 13:56:39 +0000

In a previous post, we reported that is was decided to demolish the Mughrabi Gate bridge and replace it with a new one. That was supposed to have happened two weeks ago.

We have written previously about this bridge and its problems.

The Kingdom of Jordan had earlier agreed to the renovation plans, but they have suddenly changed their minds. The Jerusalem Post reports that Israel is furious with this U-turn in Jordan’s policy regarding the bridge:

Amman files complaint with UNESCO over renovation plans on Mughrabi Gate bridge linking the Western Wall Plaza with the Temple Mount.

You can read the Jerusalem Post’s article here. Joe Lauer comments:

“Based upon earlier reports, the sentence reading “Jordan later said it agreed to the renovations under US pressure.” should more accurately state, “Under US pressure Jordan later admitted that it had agreed to the renovations.”

That Jordan can lie but the UNESCO delegates voted against Israel anyway is just another in a long line of travesties.”