Links to the Past
Interesting Discovery???
THE THRILL OF VICTORY
Learn how the Olympics began
With the Beijing Summer Olympics in full swing, you're no doubt curious about the origins of this 2,700-year-old spectacle. The Biblical Archaeological Society has offered a free booklet, The Olympic Games: How They All Began, that takes you on a journey to ancient Greece with some of the finest scholars of the ancient world. Ranging from the original religious significance of the games to the brutal athletic competitions themselves, the e-book's contributing writers paint a picture of the ancient sports world and its devoted fans. For any follower of the Olympic Games, this entertaining and fascinating read is a must.
To access this e-book, click on the following link - The Olympic Games.
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As with all archaeological discoveries, the legitimacy of the claim needs to be verified by other archaeologists. However, this is one interesting find nonetheless.
Jordan archaeologists unearth 'world's first church'
Archaeologists in Jordan have unearthed what they claim is the world's first church, dating back almost 2,000 years, The Jordan Times reported on Tuesday.
"We have uncovered what we believe to be the first church in the world, dating from 33 AD to 70 AD," the head of Jordan's Rihab Centre for Archaeological Studies, Abdul Qader al-Husan, said.
He said it was uncovered under Saint Georgeous Church, which itself dates back to 230 AD, in Rihab in northern Jordan near the Syrian border.
"We have evidence to believe this church sheltered the early Christians -- the 70 disciples of Jesus Christ," Husan said.
These Christians, who are described in a mosaic as "the 70 beloved by God and Divine," are said to have fled persecution in Jerusalem and founded churches in northern Jordan, Husan added.
He cited historical sources which suggest they both lived and practiced religious rituals in the underground church and only left it after Christianity was embraced by Roman rulers.
The bishop deputy of the Greek Orthodox archdiocese, Archimandrite Nektarious, described the discovery as an "important milestone for Christians all around the world."
Researchers recovered pottery dating back to between the 3rd and 7th centuries, which they say suggests these first Christians and their followers lived in the area until late Roman rule.
Inside the cave there are several stone seats which are believed to have been for the clergy and a circular shaped area, thought to be the apse.
There is also a deep tunnel which is believed to have led to a water source, the archaeologist added.
Rihab is home to a total of 30 churches and Jesus and the Virgin Mary are believed to have passed through the area, Husan said.
To watch a video of this site, click on the following link - Earliest Church?
Unique glass mosaic unveiled after restoration in Caesarea
Haaretz and The Associated Press
Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) has restored a unique 1,400-year-old glass mosaic, which was discovered in 2005 during excavation of the ancient Bird Palace in Caesarea, Haaretz has learned.
Yael Gurin-Rosen, head of the IAA's glass department, said that the mosaic panel is the first of its kind to be excavated in Israel, and due to the quality of its preservation, given its age, and its gleaming, gilded craftsmanship indicating Christian origins, it is most likely the only one in the world.
"It's a unique find, a piece of art," Joseph Patrich, professor of Archaeology at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. "It's in its original state," Patrich said, "because the panel fell face down, protecting its green, blue and gold facade from debris and damage."
"The mosaic is particularly important because the small colored tiles forming it feature two styles of tiling: gold glass and the more traditional multicolored, opaque glass commonly associated with mosaics," he said. The tiles depict two motifs: crosses and eight-petalled rosettes.
The owner and origin of the palace in which the panel was found is unclear - all that is known is that the residents were likely Christian, experts said.
The panel, which probably served as a glass table in the late Byzantine era, is being shown in Caesarea along with other finds from the site.
Archeologists Find Second Temple Quarry
An ancient quarry where King Herod's workers chiseled huge high-quality limestone for the construction of the Second Temple, including the Western Wall, has been uncovered in Jerusalem. The quarry was used 2,000 years ago by dozens of King Herod's workers at the site during the construction of the Second Temple walls. "This unique and sensational find is the first Second Temple quarry ever found," the archaeologist said. Dozens of quarries have previously been uncovered in Jerusalem - including ones larger than the present find - but this is the first one that archeologists have found which they believe was used in the construction of the Temple Mount itself. The quarry's pristine white rock, which resembles marble, and its huge, five-to-seven-ton blocks "are unprecedented and similar to those of the Temple Mount.” The huge stones were likely transported to the area of the Temple Mount by horses, camels, or masses of slaves along an ancient main road to Jerusalem which was recently uncovered just 100 meters from the site of the quarry. The use of these enormous high quality stones during the construction of the Temple Mount compound is what maintained the stability of the structure over thousands of years, without requiring the use of plaster or cement. As a Christian, it is exciting to learn of this discovery, especially realizing that Jesus not only frequented this temple, but also that Paul referred to Jesus as the “chief cornerstone” of the temple…the cornerstone that was quarried at this site!
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One of my favorite movies is “The Great Escape” starring Steve McQueen. How do ever forget the memorable motorcycle ride as he was trying to evade the Germans? However, the most fascinating part of the movie was the tunnel that the prisoners dug to escape from the prisoner camp. Believe it or not, a similar tunnel was recently discovered in Israel dating back to the Roman siege of Jerusalem 2,000 years ago! Enjoy this ancient version of “The Great Escape”.
Ancient Escape Hatch Found in Israel
By AMY TEIBEL
JERUSALEM (AP) — Under threat from Romans ransacking Jerusalem 2,000 years ago, many of the city's Jewish residents crowded into an underground drainage channel to hide and later flee the chaos through Jerusalem's southern end.
The ancient tunnel was recently discovered buried beneath rubble, a monument to one of the great dramatic scenes of the destruction of the Second Temple in the year 70 A.D.
The channel was dug beneath what would become the main road of Jerusalem. The excavators looking for the road happened upon a small drainage channel that led them to the discovery of the massive tunnel two weeks ago.
The discovery of the drainage channel was momentous in itself, a sign of how the city's rulers looked out for the welfare of their citizens by developing an infrastructure that drained the rainfall and prevented flooding. But what makes the channel doubly significant is its role as an escape hatch for Jews desperate to flee the conquering Romans.
As Jerusalem was being conquered by the Romans in 70 A.D., numerous people took shelter in the drainage channel and lived inside it until they fled Jerusalem through its southern end, the historian Josephus Flavius wrote in "The War of the Jews."
About 100 yards of the channel have been uncovered so far. Archaeologists estimate its total length will reach more than a half-mile, stretching north from the Pool of Siloam at Jerusalem's southern end to the disputed holy shrine known to Jews as Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Al Aqsa Mosque compound. The shrine is the site of the two biblical Jewish temples. Archeologists think the tunnel leads to the Kidron River, which empties into the Dead Sea.
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Land of Milk, Honey & Beehives!!
Check out this cool article I ran across this week...
3,000-year-old beehives unearthed in Israel
JERUSALEM (AP) -- Archaeologists digging in northern Israel have discovered evidence of a 3,000-year-old beekeeping industry, including remnants of ancient honeycombs, beeswax and what they believe are the oldest intact beehives ever found.
The findings in the ruins of the city of Rehov this summer include 30 intact hives dating to around 900 B.C., archaeologist Amihai Mazar of Jerusalem's Hebrew University told The Associated Press. He said it offers unique evidence that an advanced honey industry existed in the Holy Land at the time of the Bible.
Beekeeping was widely practiced in the ancient world, where honey used for medicinal and religious purposes as well as for food, and beeswax was used to make molds for metal and to create surfaces to write on. While bees and beekeeping are depicted in ancient artwork, nothing similar to the Rehov hives has ever been found before, Mazar said.
The beehives, made of straw and unbaked clay, have a hole at one end to allow the bees in and out and a lid on the other end to allow beekeepers access to the honeycombs inside. They were found in orderly rows, three high, in a room that could have accommodated around 100 hives, Mazar said.
The Bible repeatedly refers to Israel as a "land of milk and honey," but that's believed to refer to honey made from dates and figs -- there is no mention of honeybee cultivation. But the new find shows that the Holy Land was home to a highly developed beekeeping industry nearly 3,000 years ago.
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Back to School???
Summer is over and it’s back to school!! Even though I’m quite sure all the children are so very excited about going back to school this week, I would bet some of them would even be more excited if they could attend a school in Rome – Gladiator School. I am not kidding!! Travel on the Appian Way a few miles outside Rome and you come to Rome's premier training school for gladiators – the Gruppo Storico Romano. They have a fascinating web site that will let you know everything you need to know about becoming a Roman Gladiator…including class schedules, pictures, techniques, etc. You can check it out at http://www.gsr-roma.com. As they say, thumbs up!!
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Laodicea
The city is located in the Lycus River Valley together with Hierapolis and Colossae. This valley is a natural route of travel from east to west. The city was founded by the Seleucid king Antiochus II and named for his wife Laodice about 260 B.C.
The water piped to Laodicea through aqueducts was rich with calcium which over time would cause the pipes to clog. The engineers designed the aqueducts with vents covered with stones that could be removed periodically for cleaning.
One of the few stadiums preserved from the ancient world, this one at Laodicea was built by Nicostratus and dedicated to Vespasian in 79 A.D. according to an inscription found here. The stadium is circular at both ends and the size of the total complex was 900 feet long. It was used primarily for running races.
This triple-arched gateway was dedicated to Domitian (81-96 AD). Apparently Laodicea received the gospel, not from Paul, but from his helper, Epaphras, during the time Paul was in Ephesus. Paul wrote the church here a letter during his first Roman imprisonment. This letter is not known historically and some have suggested it is the letter now known as Ephesians.
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Philadelphia
The sixth letter of John to the Seven Churches in Revelation was the letter to Philadelphia (modern Alashehir). The city lay along a fault line and was subject to frequent and sometimes powerful earthquakes, making the task of recovering archaeological remains a difficult one.
The city was founded by one of the kings of Pergamum in the second century BC and named after his brother, who through loyalty won the title Philadelphus…thus the name “brotherly love”. The city was handed over to Roman rule in 133 BC on the death of Attalus III. The city may well have been a missionary city from the beginning, founded to promote a certain unity of spirit, customs, and loyalty within the realm.
The city is located about 80 miles east of Smyrna in western Turkey. In New Testament times it was at an important road junction for a major route coming from the east which terminated at Smyrna. In addition it was on a diagonal route that ran from Pergamum to Attalia.
In the ancient sources it was known for housing a number of temples and in 17 AD it was destroyed by a devastating earthquake. In Revelation 3:12 the believer who "overcomes" is compared to a pillar (stability) in the temple of God.
The archaeological remains are very scant. Above are the remaining columns of an ancient Byzantine church.
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Sardis
The fifth of letters to the seven churches in Revelation was addressed to Sardis, one of the greatest cities of the ancient world. Not only was it one of the oldest cities of Asia Minor, it was also an economic stronghold in trade, textiles, and especially gold mined from the nearby river. The population was estimated as large as 120,000 in the time of the Apostle John.
The city consisted of two parts – an acropolis (upper city) and a lower city. The acropolis was built about 1500 feet above the plain and as such, the precipice was difficult to reach and was considered unassailable by an enemy.
The lower city was more accessible and businesses thrived there. Sardis is the place where the first coined money was invented. In addition, Sardis is credited (or is it blamed) for the concept of retailing!! Archaeologists have found numerous structures in Sardis - a Roman gymnasium, many shops and marble colonnades.
The synagogue of Sardis is notable for its size and location. In size it is one of the largest ancient synagogues excavated. In location it is found in the center of the urban center, instead of on the periphery as synagogues typically were located. This attests to the strength and wealth of the Jewish community in the city. The synagogue is also famous for the over eighty inscriptions that have been found there, most to commemorate members of the congregation who contributed the many elements of interior decoration (some things never change!). Archaeologists found a potshard with the name of Jacob inscribed on it noting that he was an elder of the synagogue council.
Artemis was the main goddess of the city and the temple dedicated to her in Sardis was one of the seven largest Greek temples (more than double the size of the Parthenon).
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Thyatira
Thyatira was the fourth of the seven Churches of Asia Minor to receive an epistle from the Apostle John (Rev. 2:18-29). It was an important trade center particularly for the textile industry during the Hellenistic and Roman times.
It was a cultic center to Apollo (the sun god), and apparent home of the wealthy trade guilds. The trade guilds that flourished there included wool workers, garment workers, linen workers, leather workers, dyers (purple), bakers, potters, slave dealers and bronze smiths. Each guild was accompanied by its patron gods and in many cases included immoral practices in participation with the guild members.
The ruins of Thyatira are scant and few. In fact, the entire site is surrounded by the modern city of Akhisar, literally fenced off by a rectangular city block. However, there are ruins of a temple, colonnaded stoa (covered walkway or portico) and other public buildings.
Lydia, converted by Paul in Philippi, was a dealer in purple cloth from Thyatira (Acts 16:11–15). Evidently the purple used to dye the cloth was from the local "madder" plant, and not from the murex shellfish from Phoenicia. This "madder" plant grew in the area of Thyatira and Sardis and was processed for sale throughout the Roman world. Lydia, a convert of Paul in Philippi, was from Thyatira, and was a seller of purple fabrics (Acts 16:14).
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Pergamum
One of the seven churches addressed in Revelation, the city of Pergamum became the center of a large kingdom in the 3rd century B.C. and retained its status as a political and cultural leader into the Byzantine period. The acropolis rises 1300 feet above the lower city located on the plain of the Caicus River.
The god of healing, Aesclepius received worship in cultic centers around the Greek and Roman world. This large complex at Pergamum was originally constructed in the 4th century B.C. and became an official center in the 3rd century. In the 2nd c. A.D., Hadrian further developed the center and it was added to the list of "wonders of the world."
A temple to the ancient Egyptian god of the underworld was erected in the lower city of Pergamum. The Serapis cult was founded by Ptolemy I and was centered in Alexandria. Held to be a god of healing, particularly of blindness, Serapis was one of a number of Egyptian deities worshiped in ancient Greece and Rome.
Some impressive remains of this 2nd c. A.D. marble temple dedicated to the emperor have been restored. It sits next to the library which housed 200,000 volumes and was the second largest in the ancient world after Alexandria. Parchment was invented in Pergamum after relations with Egypt soured and papyrus became difficult to obtain.
This theater is one of the steepest ones preserved in Turkey today. It sits on the edge of the city's acropolis. It was built in the Hellenistic period and altered in the Roman period. Seating capacity of this theater is estimated at 10,000 people.
This white stone at Pergamum with names inscribed reminds of Jesus' words: "And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write...He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it" (Rev 2:12, 17).
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Smyrna
Smyrna was the second city to receive a letter from the apostle John in the book of Revelation. Acts 19:10 suggests that the church there was founded during Paul’s third missionary journey. Due to the fact that the port city of Izmir houses the second largest population in Turkey today, the site of ancient Smyrna has been little excavated. Except for the agora, theater, and sections of the Roman aqueduct, little remains of the ancient city.
Smyrna sat 35 miles north of Ephesus and was built near the ruins of an ancient Greek colony destroyed in the 7th century B.C. Lysimachus, one of Alexander the Great’s generals, rebuilt Smyrna as a new Hellenistic city in the 3rd century B.C. The city was later established as a Roman commercial center with a port on the Aegean Sea. Scholars believe the city grew to about 100,000 by the time of the apostles Paul and John.
This 2nd century A.D. agora, midway between the acropolis and the harbor, was partially excavated by German and Turkish archaeologists from 1932-1941. Porticoes lined the north and west sides of the agora, and an altar to Zeus sat in the center.
The letter in Revelation 2:8-11 is filled with the affection and joy that comes from triumph over hardship and persecution. The church faced strong Jewish opposition in Smyrna. There was a considerable number of Jews in the city from pre-NT times through the Ottoman period. Even today various synagogues are located throughout the modern city.
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Ephesus
The importance of the city of Ephesus cannot be understated. Some scholars estimate the number of people living at Ephesus to have exceeded 250,000 inhabitants, which would make it perhaps the fourth largest of its day behind Rome, Alexandria and Antioch. The city was an economic stronghold in Asia Minor and justified the title supreme metropolis of Asia. In the ancient world, Ephesus was a center of travel and commerce. Situated on the Aegean Sea at the mouth of the Cayster River, the city was one of the greatest seaports of the ancient world. Three major roads led from the seaport: one road went east towards Babylon via Laodicea, another to the north via Smyrna and a third south to the Meander Valley.
The city was home to one the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Temple of Artemis. Only the foundation and one column remains of this temple which once measured 425 ft long, 220 ft wide and 60 ft high. Paul's successful ministry in this city was considered a threat to this very temple (Acts 19:27).
The city also was home to the Library of Celsus. Originally built in 115-25 A.D., this restored facade is a highlight of the ruins today and the style is believed to be the standard architectural form for Roman libraries. The interior measured 70 by 80 feet and held approximately 15,000 scrolls.
The wealth of the city is exemplified in the houses that have been excavated. From the time of Augustus, dwellings of wealthy Ephesians were decorated with beautiful frescoes and mosaics. The houses had luxurious bedrooms, bathrooms, triclinium, and kitchens.
The market area was known as the "Square Agora" because of its dimensions 360 ft square. It arose in the Hellenistic period and was surrounded on all sides by arched shops about 40 ft deep. It is located next to the harbor and was the city's main commercial center. It is quite possible that Paul worked here with Priscilla and Aquila in their tent-making business.
And finally, the highlight of the city was the theater. Originally holding 25,000 people, this theater was built in the Hellenistic period and was renovated by several Roman emperors. Designed for theatrical performances, later alterations allowed gladiatorial contests to be held here. When Paul was accused of hurting the Artemis and her temple, the mob gathered together in this theater (Acts 19:23-41).
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Unless you have been living on a different planet, you have no doubt heard of the Dead Sea Scrolls. You probably also have wondered one of two things: (1) What are the Dead Sea Scrolls?, and (2) Why should I care?. There is a great web site from the Biblical Archaeological Society that helps answer both questions. Called the greatest discovery of all time, the Dead Sea Scrolls comprise some 800 documents, but in many tens of thousands of fragments. The Scrolls date from about 350 B.C. to 68 A.D. and were written in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek; they contain Biblical and apocryphal works, prayers and legal texts and sectarian documents. This priceless collection of ancient manuscripts is invaluable to our understanding of the history of Judaism, the development of the Hebrew Bible, and the beginnings of Christianity. If you would like to learn more about the Dead Sea Scrolls, you can access the site by clicking on the folowing link...Why The Dead Sea Scrolls Matter!
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Tomb of Herod the Great Discovered?
Unless you have been visiting another plant this week, you no doubt heard that the tomb of Herod the Great may have been discovered. Who is Herod the Great? Well, let’s see. How about the most famous (or infamous) Jewish ruler of all time, the “H.B. Zachry” of the ancient world, the builder of the Second Temple, Caesarea and Masada, the killer of the babies in Bethlehem during the time of Jesus, etc. So if this is indeed his tomb, I guess it would qualify as a HUGE discovery.
The place where Herod’s tomb was found is located in one of the palaces that he built for himself. This palace or fortress is located south of Jerusalem and east of Bethlehem in the Judean desert. Herod and his engineers identified a natural hill in the desert, basically chopped the top of the hill off, scooped out the inside of the hill from the top down and constructed a palace fortress inside the hill. Talk about a remodeling project! He then named this palace fortress after himself…the Herodium.
It has long been thought that Herod was buried at the site of the Herodium. In fact, the ancient historian Josephus recounts Herod’s funeral procession from Jerusalem to the Herodium, but he did not give the actual location of the tomb. Ehud Netzer has been digging at the site since 1972 in search for Herod’s tomb, first looking at the base of the Herodium in the small city that Herod built and then at the top of the hill in the palace fortress structure. Then last month, in the tradition of the great pharaohs of Egypt, Herod’s tomb was located halfway up the slope of the hill inside the pyramid-like structure.
Below are some links to very informative articles and pictures of this incredible archaeological discovery. I’m sure my next group to Israel will be visiting the Herodium to see the tomb of one of the most influential and infamous Biblical figures of all time.
www.bib-arch.org/herodium/bswbHerodiumMainPage.asp
www.hunews.huji.ac.il/articles.asp?cat=6&artID=77
http://archaeology.huji.ac.il/news/newfound.asp
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/856808.html
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The Met's New Galleries
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York recently completed extensive renovations in the Greco-Roman wing of the museum. The New York Times highlighted the new wing in a special section that includes panoramic images, details on the space, special audio commentary and a video feature. It is a fascinating piece with some really cool graphics. Since Greek and Roman history impacted the New Testament in such profound ways, you might click on the picture above to immerse yourself in the world of Jesus and Paul. For a link to the Met's web site, click on the picture below.
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How the Pyramids Were Built
Long before Jesus (1st century AD), long before King David (1000 BC), and long before Abraham (1800 BC), the only seven wonder of the ancient world that is still standing was built. Consisting of over 2 million stone blocks weighing an average of 2.5 tons, the Great Pyramid of Giza was built by Pharoah Khufu between 2547-2524 BC. To understand the truly immense scale of this pyramid, when it was finally finished it stood 481 feet high and was the world’s tallest structure for over 3,800 years!
The question that has been on the minds of everyone since then was how in the world did the Egyptians do it? Theories have been all over the map ranging from legitimate theories of ramps and cranes to crazy ones involving space aliens! A new theory has recently been proposed speculating that an external ramp was used to build the lower third of the pyramid and then its blocks taken through an internal ramp for the higher levels of the structure. For more information about this theory, along with some great 3-D images, please click on the following link - www.archaeology.org/0705/etc/pyramid.html.
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Philistines, but Less and Less Philistine
I’m sure you have all heard the word “philistine” before, and hopefully, not in reference to one of your personal traits!! As you know, the word “philistine” has come to be used to describe crude, unrefined and uninformed people, yet the actual Philistines, thanks to recent archaeological excavations, were anything but “philistine”.
Here are some excerpts from a recent article in the New York Times…
In recent years, excavations in Israel established that the Philistines had fine pottery, handsome architecture and cosmopolitan tastes. If anything, they were more refined than the shepherds and farmers in the nearby hills, the Israelites, who slandered them in biblical chapter and verse and rendered their name a synonym for boorish, uncultured people.
Archaeologists have now found that not only were Philistines cultured, they were also literate when they arrived, presumably from the region of the Aegean Sea, and settled the coast of ancient Palestine around 1200 B. C.
At the ruins of a Philistine seaport at Ashkelon in Israel, excavators examined 19 ceramic pieces and determined that their painted inscriptions represent an Aegean form of writing.
Researchers and other scholars said it was not surprising that the Ashkelon inscriptions were in an Aegean type of writing since the biblical Philistines are assumed to have been a group of the mysterious Sea Peoples who probably originated in the Greek islands and migrated to several places on the far eastern shores of the Mediterranean.
The Philistines and Israelites had a complicated relationship from the 12th-10th centuries B.C. At times allies and at times foes, the Philistines are best remembered by their giant of a leader, Goliath, who met his end at the hand of the young shepherd, and soon to be king, David.
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The Jesus Family Tomb
Unless you have been visiting another plant, you have heard about the controversy surrounding the television special claiming that the burial remains of Jesus and his family had been found. Needless to say, I’ve had numerous calls about what I thought about the special…and so I thought I’d give you my take from an archaeological perspective.
First off, here are the facts. In 1980, archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority found 10 limestone burial boxes, known as ossuaries, and 6 of them had had inscriptions on them. The remains were reburied, but the ossuaries were catalogued and stored in a warehouse and mostly ignored until Amos Kloner, an archaeologist, wrote an article in 1996 about the inscriptions on the ossuaries found in the tomb.
The documentary’s case relies on the interpretation of those inscriptions, which the filmmaker translates as Jesus, Mary, Mary Magdalene and Judah, as well as Matthew and Joseph, who, according to the filmmakers, were brothers of Jesus.
A statistical analysis was conducted was done calculating that the odds that all six names would appear together in one tomb are 1 in 600, calculated conservatively — or possibly even as much as one in one million.
Scholars are beginning to react and the comments of academics have been heavily negative. David Mevorah, a curator at the Israel Museum. “Suggesting that this tomb was the tomb of the family of Jesus is a far-fetched suggestion.” Amos Kloner, who oversaw the archeological work at the Talpiot tomb when it was discovered during construction in 1980, states that it is “completely impossible…and nonsense” that Jesus was buried in the tomb. In addition, he states that “there is no likelihood that Jesus and his relatives had a family tomb. They were a Galilee family with no ties in Jerusalem. The Talpiot tomb belonged to a middle class family from the 1st century CE.”
In relation to the names on the ossuary, it is a fact that the names on the ossuaries are very common. For example, 21 percent of all women in that day were named Mary; Joseph and Jesus (Joshua) are among the top four male names. The presence of these names in a tomb would not have been rare. The name Jesus has been found in dozens of tombs over the years and the phrase “Jesus son of Joseph” has been found on three or four ossuaries.
Scientific American has looked into just how strong the statistical claims in the show really are and on the assumptions behind those statistics…and they are not impressed. Also on the Scientific American web site, one scholar who was cited by the program expressed outrage over the way her work was used in the show.
If you want to know more about the burial of Jesus, click on The Burial of Jesus to access a 54 page booklet that discusses some of the following topics: What Did Jesus’ Tomb Look Like?, Did a Rolling Stone Close Jesus’ Tomb?, Does the Holy Sepulchre Mark the Burial Place of Jesus?, The Garden Tomb: Was Jesus Buried Here? and Jerusalem Tombs from the Days of the First Temple. Some of these articles were written by professors and friends of mine and I think you will find them very enlightening!
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The Latest Controversy in Israel!
As many of you know, the repair work and excavation on the earthen ramp leading up to the Temple Mount by the Israelis at the Western Wall in Jerusalem has caused quite a bit of controversy. The Israelis argue that they are simply repairing the ramp that tourists use to visit the Temple Mount and the Muslims counter that the work could damage the El Aksa mosque. A look at the picture below shows you the ramp in question and pretty well casts aspersion on the Muslim claim. 
In addition, the Israelis have set up a 24 hour web camera so you can actually watch the excavation in progress! You may access this web site at www.antiquities.org.il/home_eng.asp. As often is the case in the Middle East, the argument is not about the ramp or the mosque, but about who controls the space around the Temple Mount.
Politics aside, the excavation has revealed some interesting things as the article below reveals. Enjoy!
Discovery of mosaic halts work at Jerusalem walkway
By Donald Macintyre in Jerusalem
15 February 2007
The planned walkway at the centre of the furious dispute over Jerusalem's holiest site could be further delayed by the discovery of a Byzantine mosaic.
The geometric patterned fragment was exposed by archaeological workers yesterday at the bottom of an underground shaft where one of the walkway pillars is intended to go, as The Independent examined excavation work in the area.
"We have a real time discovery," reported Gideon Avni, director of excavations and surveys at the Israel Antiquities Authority.
Dr Avni said further excavations would now be needed to see whether the mosaic, probably from the fifth or sixth century AD, was part of a larger decorated room or house. He said it was too early to say whether the pillar would have to be moved. If the fragment turned out not to extend further, it could possibly be extracted and exhibited.
The discovery was the latest in a series of twists in the conflict over access through the Mugrabi Gate to the compound sacred to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif - noble sanctuary.
Seventeen policemen and 23 Palestinians were injured last Friday during demonstrations against the building of the new walkway, where the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa Mosque - Islam's third holiest site - is located. The work is being carried out close to the Western Wall, the remains of the second Jewish Temple destroyed by the Romans AD70, and most sacred place in Judaism.
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Not So Hot?!?!?
LONDON, England (CNN) -- The beauty of two of history's most famous Valentines, Mark Antony and Cleopatra, was gently debunked this past week by an analysis of an exceptionally well-preserved Roman coin. The bottom line - Antony and Cleopatra, one of history's most romantic couples, were not the great beauties that Hollywood would have us believe.
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Children of Abraham
Many of you who have been to Israel with me have read Walking the Bible or Where God Was Born by Bruce Feiler in preparation for the trip. He has also written a book about Abraham, the common ancestor of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. The story of Abraham spans dramatic territory of the modern world — both physical and spiritual — from southern Iraq to the West Bank city of Hebron. Bruce Feiler went in search of Abraham to understand the crises and possibilities of the 21st-century world and he talks about it on a fantastic radio show on American Public Media entitled Speaking of Faith. If you want to listen to this program, click on the picture above.
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3000 Years in 90 Seconds
This is an absolutely cool web site. It is called 3000 Years in 90 Seconds and it outlines the history of the Middle East (and beyond) with an interactive map showing the various civilizations that have ruled the region from ancient Egypt to modern times. If you have ever been confused about the who's and what's of Middle Eastern history, click on the following link (3,000 Years in 90 Seconds) for a fascinating, and quick, journey.
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I saw this article last week and I thought you might be interested in it.
Invading Romans' greatest obstacle uncovered in Jerusalem
Etgar Lefkovits
Jerusalem Post
January 15, 2007
An immense bedrock cliff uncovered opposite Jerusalem's Temple Mount may help explain why it took the Romans so long to capture what is now known as the Jewish Quarter almost two millenia ago, an Israeli archeologist said Sunday.
The cliff, uncovered during a year-long excavation at the western edge of the Western Wall Plaza, was one of several important finds that include the remains of a colonnaded street called the Eastern Cardo, dating from the Roman-Byzantine period; a section of the Lower Aqueduct that conveyed water from Solomon's Pools to the Temple Mount; and a damaged rock-hewn and plastered Jewish mikve (ritual bath) that dates back to the Second Temple period, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced at a press conference.
The dig, which was conducted in an area that had not been excavated before due to plans for construction, also served to clarify the height of an immense bedrock cliff that separated the Upper City from the Temple Mount area. It in itself is "the most impressive" find, said Shlomit Wexler-Bedolah, the excavation director.
Wexler-Bedolah said the cliff's topography could help explain the slow Roman conquest, noting that it took the Roman army an entire month from the time they destroyed the Temple Mount on the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av until they captured the ground of today's Jewish Quarter on the 10th day of the following month.
"This could have been a natural obstacle for the Roman army," she said.
Jerusalem regional archeologist Jon Seligman focused on the significance of the road that was uncovered at the foot of the cliff - an elaborate colonnaded street known as the Eastern Cardo.
The street, which began at the Damascus Gate, ran the length of the Tyropoeon Valley channel. Sections of the street had previously been uncovered in the northern part of the Old City, on Rehov Ha-Gai and west of the Dung Gate.
Wexler-Bedolah said the current excavation exposed for the first time the full 11-meter width of the original road, which had been paved in the Roman manner with large flagstones set in place diagonally, probably to prevent wagons from slipping. A drainage system had been installed below the flagstones, she said.
A complex of shops and buildings constructed on the spot in the Middle Ages continued to exist through the Ottoman period and constituted part of the Mughrabi Quarter that stood at the site until 1967.
"This excavation allows us to learn an important chapter in thousands of years of history, stage after stage and period after period in the existence of this city," Wexler-Bedolah said.
The newly found remnants of the capital's past will be preserved underneath the new Western Wall Heritage Center, which is slated to be built at the site and whose planning sparked the "rescue (or salvage) dig." The center, whose construction is expected to take several years and is being underwritten by US media mogul Mort Zuckerman, will include an educational center, a video conference room, a VIP lounge and a police station, said Rabbi of the Western Wall Shmuel Rabinovitch.
There have never been any archeological excavations on the Temple Mount itself due to the site's holy status for both Jews and Muslims.
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I saw this article last week and I thought you might be interested in it. Needless to say, I think the jury is still out on whether this is actually Paul's tomb or just a place to commemorate the apostle. I'll keep watching my archaeological journals for any further updates.
St Paul's tomb unearthed in Rome?
BBC News - Rome
Archaeologists working for the Vatican have unearthed a sarcophagus containing what they believe are the remains of St Paul the Apostle. The tomb dates back to at least AD390 and was found in a crypt under a basilica in Rome. It has long been thought that the crypt contained the tomb of St Paul but the altar had hidden it. St Paul was an influential early Christian who travelled widely in the Mediterranean area in the 1st Century. Excavations at the site began in 2002 and were completed last month.
Ancient pilgrims
The basilica of St Paul's Outside the Walls is the largest church in Rome after St Peter's. For the past three years, archaeologists have been excavating underneath the altar to remove two huge slabs of marble and now, for the first time in almost 1,700 years, the sarcophagus of St Paul is on public view. The original inscription on the top reads: Paulo Apostolo Mart - Latin for "Paul Apostle Martyr". The holes through which the ancient pilgrims would have pushed pieces of cloth to touch the relic are clearly visible. "What we can see at the moment through a grating, a new grating that's been put there, is the side of the sarcophagus of Paul which seems to be white marble-like material," said Father Edmund Power, abbot of the nearby Benedictine monastery.
St Paul travelled widely through Asia Minor, Greece and Rome in the 1st Century. His letters to the early churches, found in the Bible's New Testament, are arguably some of the most influential on Christian thinking. St Paul is said to have been beheaded in AD65 by the Roman Emperor Nero. His sarcophagus will be on public view for the foreseeable future but the church is yet to rule out the possibility that one day the interior itself will be opened and examined.
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This past week I was on the radio quite a bit talking about the situation in the Middle East. Since I’ve had a number of people comment on it, I thought you might want to listen to it. It is almost 1 hour long, but we dealt with a wide range of issues. I hope you enjoy it. You can access the audio by clicking on the following link …
http://agonist.org/sean_paul_kelley/20061213/regional_war_looming_in_middle_east
P.S. I have to thank Chris Duel at KTSA for not only having me on the radio quite often, but always mentioned The Fellowship of San Antonio! Thank you Chris!
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I saw this article this week and was fascinated once again about the technological advancement of the ancient world. 
November 30, 2006
Early Astronomical ‘Computer’ Found to Be Technically Complex
By JOHN NOBLE WILFORD
A computer in antiquity would seem to be an anachronism, like Athena ordering takeout on her cellphone.
But a century ago, pieces of a strange mechanism with bronze gears and dials were recovered from an ancient shipwreck off the coast of Greece. Historians of science concluded that this was an instrument that calculated and illustrated astronomical information, particularly phases of the Moon and planetary motions, in the second century B.C.
The instrument, the Antikythera Mechanism, sometimes called the world’s first computer, has now been examined with the latest in high-resolution imaging systems and three-dimensional X-ray tomography. A team of British, Greek and American researchers deciphered inscriptions and reconstructed the gear functions, revealing “an unexpected degree of technical sophistication for the period,” it said.
The researchers, led by the mathematician and filmmaker Tony Freeth and the astronomer Mike G. Edmunds, both of the University of Cardiff, Wales, are reporting their results today in the journal Nature. They said their findings showed that the inscriptions related to lunar-solar motions, and the gears were a representation of the irregularities of the Moon’s orbital course, as theorized by the astronomer Hipparchos. They established the date of the mechanism at 150-100 B.C.
The Roman ship carrying the artifacts sank off the island of Antikythera about 65 B.C. Some evidence suggests it had sailed from Rhodes. The researchers said that Hipparchos, who lived on Rhodes, might have had a hand in designing the device.
In another Nature article, a scholar not involved in the research, François Charette of the University of Munich museum, in Germany, said the new interpretation of the mechanism “is highly seductive and convincing in all of its details.” It is not the last word, he said, “but it does provide a new standard, and a wealth of fresh data, for future research.”
Technology historians say the instrument is technically more complex than any known for at least a millennium afterward. Earlier examinations of the instrument, mainly in the 1970s by Derek J. de Solla Price, a Yale historian who died in 1983, led to similar findings, but they were generally disputed or ignored.
The hand-operated mechanism, presumably used in preparing calendars for planting and harvesting and fixing religious festivals, had at least 30, possibly 37, hand-cut bronze gear-wheels, the researchers said. A pin-and-slot device connecting two gear-wheels induced variations in the representation of lunar motions according to the Hipparchos model of the Moon’s elliptical orbit around Earth.
The numbers of teeth in the gears dictated the functions of the mechanism. The 53-tooth count of certain gears, the team said, was “powerful confirmation of our proposed model of Hipparchos’ lunar theory.” The detailed imaging revealed more than twice the inscriptions recognized earlier. Some of these appeared to relate to planetary and lunar motions. Perhaps, the team said, the mechanism also had gearings to predict the positions of known planets.
Dr. Charette noted that more than 1,000 years elapsed before instruments of such complexity are known to have re-emerged. A few artifacts and some Arabic texts suggest that simpler geared calendrical devices had existed, particularly in Baghdad around A.D. 900.
It seems clear, he said, that “much of the mind-boggling technological sophistication available in some parts of the Hellenistic and Greco-Roman world was simply not transmitted further.” “The gear-wheel, in this case,” he added, “had to be reinvented.”