Posted on 11/27/2019 12:22:15 PM PST by robowombat
Teens discover 1500-year-old church that redefines Israeli history
The church was discovered near Israels Ramat Beit Shemesh neighbourhood. An excavation, largely completed by teens, unearthed the church which dated back to 543 AD during the time of Emperor Justinian. After three years of detailed digging, archaeologists came across mosaics, pillars, still-intact crypts, and frescoes that at one time came together to form a beautiful church.
An inscription indicated the building was complete thanks to the financial support of the Emperor.
Excavation director Benjamin Storchan, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, told CBN News: Numerous written sources attest to imperial funding for churches in Israel, however, little is known from archaeological evidence such as dedicatory inscriptions like the one found in Beit Shemesh.
Imperial involvement in the buildings expansion is also evoked by the image of a large eagle with outspread wings.
A 1,500-year-old church was found in Israel A 1,500-year-old church was found in Israel (Image: CBN) The church is from the Byzantine era and dates back to 543 AD The church is from the Byzantine era and dates back to 543 AD (Image: CBN) The eagle which appears in one of the mosaics is the symbol of the Byzantine empire.
Mr Storchan added: Thousands of objects were uncovered in the dig, including a baptismal font.
Another inscription discovered, in what would have been the churchs courtyard, says the church was dedicated to a glorious martyr.
The identity of the martyr remains unknown.
The eagle in the mosaic is the symbol of the Byzantine empire The eagle in the mosaic is the symbol of the Byzantine empire (Image: CBN) Mr Storchan said: The martyrs identity is not known, but the exceptional opulence of the structure and its inscriptions indicate that this person was an important figure.
His team also uncovered a fully intact crypt beneath the church.
According to Mr Storchan, only a few churches in Israel have been discovered with a fully intact crypts.
He added: The crypt served as an underground burial chamber that apparently housed the remains of the martyr.
Benjamin Storchan claimed only a few churches discovered in Israel had fully intact crypts Benjamin Storchan claimed only a few churches discovered in Israel had fully intact crypts (Image: CBN) The crypt was accessed via parallel staircases, one leading down into the chamber and the other leading back up into the prayer hall.
This enabled large groups of Christian pilgrims to visit the place.
Thousands of teenagers were invited by the Israel Antiques Authority to help at the site.
The were invited to uncover history through the practice of archaeology.
Most of the excavations were carried out by the teens, who found thousands of objects.
The included glass windows lamps add the baptismal font.
The Bible Lands Museum partnered with the Israeli Antiques Authority to make the project possible.
Museum director Amanda Weiss said: We are proud of our collaboration with the Israel Antiquities Authority bringing to light these important new finds for the thousands of visitors from all faiths ages and nationalities.
Ms Weiss invited visitors to appreciate the rich cultural heritage of the Land of Israel.
Written by: Wesley Hudson
PinGGG!...................
Usually that means some other demographic.
when the left wing msm uses the term teens, they usually mean 30 year old fighting age muslim men/terrorists
Before anybody makes any snarky comments, these are regular teen teens. The type that existed long ago before teens became teens
How does an entire building columns and all get buried like this?
“Thousands of teenagers were invited by the Israel Antiques Authority to help at the site.”
This is not uncommon. Good job teens!
How does an entire building columns and all get buried l
Probably demolished completely when either the Persians in the 6th century or muzzards in any number of church demo campaigns. Then fill dumped and after some time other buildings were constructed.
“How does an entire building columns and all get buried like this?”
The Jihad? 7th century and MO was just around the corner.
-PJ
“How does an entire building columns and all get buried like this?”
Until the late 1700’s, the Sphinx was buried up to its neck in sand.
Two thousand years of geography and climate changes.
Ephesus, in modern day Turkey, used to be on the shores of the Aegean sea. Now it is is several miles inland.
With all the storms throughout those centuries entire CITIES can be buried.
Google: Ephesus was a center of travel and commerce with its one of the greatest seaports of the ancient world.
The port of Ephesus has silted up over the years and Ephesus is now about 6 miles inland from the coast. The area around Ephesus and harbor turned into a swamp.
How does it redefine Israeli history? in the 500s, the holy Land was in Christian hands under the Roman Empire
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