Posted on 08/06/2013 3:42:01 PM PDT by marshmallow
A huge building which during the Crusader period was the largest hospital in the Middle East has been discovered in the heart of Jerusalem, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced on Monday.
Located in the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, the 1,000-year-old hospital was identified following a decade-long reconstruction operation.
Until a decade or so ago the building served as a bustling and crowded fruit and vegetable market. Since then it stood there desolate, the IAA said in a statement.
According to Renee Forestany and Amit Reem, the IAA excavation directors, the structure, only a small part of which was unearthed in the excavation, spread out over more than 150,000 square feet.
It featured massive pillars, ribbed vaults, rooms, smaller halls and ceilings as high as 20 feet.
The hospital was established between 1099 and 1291, with permission from the Muslim authorities, by a Christian military order called the Kinghts Hospitaller. Its members vowed to care for pilgrims who came to Jerusalem to die.
Weve learned about the hospital from contemporary historical documents, most of which are written in Latin, Reem and Forestany said.
The accounts mentioned a sophisticated structure that was as large and as organized as a modern hospital, the archaeologists said.
Indeed, the building had different wings and departments for patients suffering from different medical conditions. In times of emergency, it could take in up to 2,000 patients from all religions.
There is information about Crusaders who ensured their Jewish patients received kosher food, said the archaeologists.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.discovery.com ...
fyi
Of course the article had to put in a few pro-Muslim plugs. Otherwise though, quite interesting.
Ha!
I thought this was going to be about a NEW hospital!
Wondering how they got that name passed the thought police?
I don’t know much about the crusader period, so I enjoy these things.
The Thought Police think “Crusader” is a negative hateful term for Christian
Ummm, given that the 1st Crusade beseiged and conquored Jerusalem in 1099....I somehow doubt there were any "Muslim authorities" in Jerusalem then to grant any permission to anyone....
Then you’ll enjoy this, 800 Crusaders vs 40,000 mooslums and were able to win against the ragheads defending 3 forts. Not a lot of people knew about this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rubruP9p4i8
When one learns about the REAL history of the crusaders, in spite of all the horendous bloodshed, one cannot but stand in awe of their courage and determination, against absolutely astounding odds.
Cross of the Knights of the Hospital of the Church of St. John the Baptist, Jerusalem:
**Indeed, the building had different wings and departments for patients suffering from different medical conditions. In times of emergency, it could take in up to 2,000 patients from all religions.**
BTTT!
Thanks for posting this, it’s very interesting!
Ping to a friend who might enjoy this article.
Remarkable!
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