The new stele (The Epoch Times)
Posted on 05/06/2007 6:31:02 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
The Israel Museum unveiled a unique 2,200-year-old stele (inscribed stone block) on May 3 that provides new insight into the dramatic story of Heliodorus and the Temple in Jerusalem, as related in the Second Book of Maccabees... The newly deciphered stele presents new information about Heliodorus, who, according to the Second Book of Maccabees, received orders to seize the treasure in the Temple in Jerusalem, but was driven from the sanctuary by the miraculous appearance of a fearsome horseman accompanied by two mighty youths. This presentation marks the first public display of the Heliodorus stele, which is on extended loan to the Museum from Michael and Judy Steinhardt of New York. The stele documents a correspondence in ancient Greek between Heliodorus and King Seleucus IV, ruler of the Seleucid Empire from 187 to 175 BCE, who was succeeded by Antiochus IV Epiphanes (best known from the story of Hanukkah). In his letter, King Seleucus announces the appointment of an administrator to oversee the sanctuaries within the province that included the Land of Israel.
(Excerpt) Read more at en.epochtimes.com ...
The new stele (The Epoch Times)
Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on or off the
"Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list or GGG weekly digest
-- Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)
So what’s with the crusty covering stuff on the bottom?
They worked on the restoration for years, and finally said, “okay, skroo it, it’s good enough this way.”
LOL That *is* kinda what it looks like. The female in me wants to pick it off. (HS art teacher pointed out that picking & peeling stuff was a chick thing. I think he caught us playin with rubber cement or Elmer’s glue.)
So they found this thing in their basement and decided not to sell it on eBay?
But seriously, I believe that’s where the original surface (and inscription) flaked off over the centuries. Probably has to do with moisture wicking up from the ground. The Dream Stele of Thutmosis IV (found between the paws of the Great Sphinx) has the same problem, and for that reason.
They must have inherited it from some excavator. Or possibly acquired it through legal means before the international antiquities agreement went into force.
If I could see any inscription on the smooth bottom portion, that’s what I’d have assumed had happened & I would have remained mum. The part where you can see inscription looks a lot like the surface of limestone headstones that are much, much newer. Some kinds of stone are more effervescent than others.
Look at the clearness of the bas relief flower on top.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
