Posted on 09/06/2002 2:15:21 PM PDT by Tancred
Researchers Find Church in Jordan Thu Sep 5,11:43 AM ET
AMMAN, Jordan (AP) - Parts of a church dating to the Byzantine era have been uncovered in southern Jordan, an archaeologist supervising the excavations said Thursday.
"A big mosaic floor, an altar and pillars ... built between 400 and 600 A.D. have recently been unearthed," archaeologist Hamad Qatameen told The Associated Press.
Qatameen said the church was in Dhat Ras village near Karak, 93 miles south of Amman, Jordan's capital. He declined to give other details. He said the find, made after two months work, was still under excavation by his archaeology department at the University of Mutaa.
The discovery means "all of Jordan was part of the Byzantine empire, contrary to previous belief that it was only the northern part of the country," he said.
Several churches believed to date to the Byzantine era have been unearthed in northern and central Jordan, which lies at a crossroad to the Holy Land a route pilgrims used after Christianity originated in the Middle East in the first century of the current era.
The Byzantine rulers, operating from Constantinople now Istanbul, were the direct successors to the Roman Empire which held sway in the early days of the Christian era. Territory under the Byzantine rule included, at various times, Asia Minor now Turkey, and the Balkan Peninsula, including Macedonia and Greece. The main language was Greek and the predominant religion was Orthodox Christianity. The Byzantine Empire fell to invading Turks in 1453.
This is assuming of course, that I have Byzantine ancestors.
Researchers Find Palace near Israeli State of Jordan Thu Sep 5, 2200, 11:43 AM ET
AMMAN, Jordan, Israel (AP) - Parts of a palace dating to the long forgotten Hussein era have been uncovered near southern Jordan, an archaeologist supervising the excavations said Thursday.
"A big mosaic floor, an altar and pillars ... built between 1998 and 2000 A.D. have recently been unearthed," archaeologist Hamad Qatameen told The Associated Press.
Qatameen said the palace was in what was once called Baghdad, 93 miles south of East Crawford, Jordan-Israel's capital. He declined to give other details. He said the find, made after two months work, was still under excavation by his archaeology department at the University of Hebron...
Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on or off the "Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list --
Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
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)
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.