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.
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.
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".
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.”
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.”
In 1990, a tomb with several ossuaries (bone boxes) was discovered in Jerusalem’s Peace Forest. One of them carried the inscription “Yehoseph son of Qafa” (Joseph son of Caiaphas). That was the name of the High Priest that condemned Jesus to death. Cafa (Caiaphas) was his nickname.
Now, the ossuary of Caiaphas’ granddaughter has been found. Three years ago it was turned over to the Israel Antiquities Authority’s Theft Prevention Unit and the result of their research has now been published. The inscription on the ossuary reads: ‘Miriam Daughter of Yeshua Son of Caiaphas, Priests [of] Ma’aziah from Beth ’Imri’.
The ossuary of Caiaphas' granddaughter Miriam. Photo: Boaz Sizzu.
You can read the IAA report here. Todd Bolen also reported on this find.
Barnea Levi Selavah, co-director of the Foundation Stone organisation, reports that the site is not yet open to visitors. He also purchased a book called “Discovering the Solomonic Wall in Jerusalem” by Eilat Mazar. Here are some of his thoughts:
I attended the opening, and purchased the book “Discovering the Solomonic Wall in Jerusalem” by Eilat Mazar.
I am 3/4 of the way through.
It is a fast read, just understanding locations of walls and consequences is a bit of a challenge.
At several points she suggests insights to understandings of verses which have not made it into the news (besides Solomon-Kings and Nehemiah Water Gate).
The book unfolds the stages of discovery, and conclusions. Only this will empower you to discuss it intelligently.
You may want to add reading the reports from the 1986 excavations and related books, and Warren’s sketches and writings.
Do not rely on the news reports or press releases by themselves.
I submit it is must reading. Full of pictures.
Now –
1. The 3500 year old writing- not 3000 as reported in some media- is now in display in the Davidson Center.
It is the room to the right of the bathrooms which has other majestic finds and a second theater.
It has a slide show with enlarged pictures of the piece, an explanatory sign, and the piece itself.
Al Jazeera filmed Curator?IAA archivist Chana Katz as did others, there should be stuff on the web.
2. The area excavated has a wonderful system of stairways and explanatory signs installed.
3. In the park the access requires walking through the area where they are refurbishing the buildings and the ritual baths.
This is not yet finished.
According to the EJDC rep with whom I spoke last week, they hope to finish it by the end of August, no guarantees.
So there is no access now.
Once there is access, this area is done and ready.
4. For the event a gate was opened in a fence from the street; it is not opened now.
5. From the street you can see a lot, and they made a huge wall poster in color easily visible from the street.
6. Continue around the corner leading to the eastern wall, and you are looking at some of the most important walls.
7. If you read the book which is laden with pictures you will be able to give a highly effective tour of the area.
8. See Warren’s sketches from 1867-1870.
9. The question was raised that only one side at a certain point looks like a gate. Eilat deals with this on p. 85-89 or so in her book.
Her grandfather and Leen Ritmeyer came to that conclusion in their 1986 dig. Nachman Avigad disagreed. She raises the different points.
10. Another issue is dating the pottery which was found under the street, thereby dating the structures. She quotes Ami Mazar as reading the pottery to be 10th century; in her talks she allows for those who say it may be 9th.
On our LandMinds program last year Israel Finkelstein said they were 8th century. While since then he has offered revisions of his dating in general based on Megiddo, and other studies (ASOR 2010 and at Ami Mazar’ s retirement conference) I do not know about here.
See the discussion in the book about the black juglet and other pottery.
At any rate, there is no question it is First Temple period construction.
11. Note also the important point that the petrography shows the 3500 year old piece was manufactured locally, which shows some kind of educated society was functioning here at that time. The suggestions of who wrote and what it is saying is under discussion. Remember, this was found in the fill, and does not date the building. It wa only found thanks to wet sifting.
12. I was struck by the extent to which later periods used these structures to support their own.
13. I am wondering perhaps that is the case on Shonei Halachot Street, which is at least 700-900 years old based on some buildings, being built on First Temple period walls between the Israelite Tower and the Temple Mount.
This would be similar to Shekh Rechani Street being built on the water system running from Damascus Gate area to the Temple Mount, which Conrad Schick mapped in 1871, and that Gabai Barkai says is First Temple period; a te’alah, maybe the one mentioned twice in Tanach from the upper pools (1 of 4 current opinions), but not Hasmonean.
Maybe, maybe the buildings Shlomi Wexler Bdolach excavated under the steps down at the Kotel is in this line.
That’s me thinking out loud.
Eilat Mazar hopes more funds will be raised so she can connect this area with areas under and past the road, including under the UNRWA building, which Charles Warren identified, and other structures which she surmises must still be there, since structures were found on either side, and by matching this building to other layouts.
If you know someone who would undertake that, be in touch with her, or with me!
A press release from TravelVideo.tv lists the evocative tours taking place in and around the City of David this summer. These include:
The Archeological Experience at the Emek Tzurim National Park: Discovering the Past Hidden in the Dust: A unique exploration of the Temple Mount’s glorious past, travelers will be able to sift through rubble that originated in ancient buildings atop the Temple Mount while learning about the artifacts from on-site archeologists and guides.
Tour of the biblical City of David: A tour bringing travelers through Jerusalem’s biblical sites and places where the city’s the most stirring, remarkable artifacts were unearthed. Tour guides will lead travelers through an impressive underground world in Warren’s Shaft, the city’s ancient water system, as well as an illuminated walk in the waters of the Gihon Spring that flows through Hezekiah’s Tunnel.
In the footsteps of the Pilgrims – New Discoveries and Revelations from the Second Temple Period: A tour leading travelers in the footsteps of the architects of the city and incorporating recent archeological discoveries as well as the Shiloah Pool and the Herodian Road.
Enchanted Jerusalem-the New Nighttime Experience at the City of David: The new evening tour of the City of David begins at the Hatzofeh lookout point emphasizing the unique, low position of the biblical City of David in comparison with Jerusalem’s Old City walls. The tour will conclude with an innovative light show projected onto various antiquities, telling the story of the City of David through movement and sound.
Twilight at the City of David: A magical three-hour tour in a special nighttime ambiance allowing travelers to view the city through a course of excavations including David’s Palace and Hezekiah’s Tunnel. The tour concludes with harp music under the ancient olive trees in the King’s Garden.
Following the Water to Jerusalem – Hasmonean Aqueduct Tour: A flashlight tour highlighting the two 2,000-year-old aqueducts constructed to bring water from the Pools of Solomon to the Temple Mount and Upper City. Travelers will also witness the incredible views of ancient Jerusalem and the sophisticated water system built by King Herod on 150 BCE.
Kidron Monuments Tour: A tour of the massive, elaborate monuments in the Kidron Valley around the Old City’s original municipal border between the City of David and the Mount of Olives.
