Posted on 04/03/2011 10:23:10 AM PDT by mandaladon
The incredible story of 70 ancient books hidden in a cave for nearly 2,000 years
The image is eerily familiar: a bearded young man with flowing curly hair. After lying for nearly 2,000 years hidden in a cave in the Holy Land, the fine detail is difficult to determine. But in a certain light it is not difficult to interpret the marks around the figure’s brow as a crown of thorns.
The extraordinary picture of one of the recently discovered hoard of up to 70 lead codices – booklets – found in a cave in the hills overlooking the Sea of Galilee is one reason Bible historians are clamouring to get their hands on the ancient artefacts.
If genuine, this could be the first-ever portrait of Jesus Christ, possibly even created in the lifetime of those who knew him. The tiny booklet, a little smaller than a modern credit card, is sealed on all sides and has a three-dimensional representation of a human head on both the front and the back. One appears to have a beard and the other is without. Even the maker’s fingerprint can be seen in the lead impression. Beneath both figures is a line of as-yet undeciphered text in an ancient Hebrew script.
Astonishingly, one of the booklets appears to bear the words ‘Saviour of Israel’ – one of the few phrases so far translated.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
It’s been proven a fake.
Yes, I suppose one could.
I just as easily see an unkempt hippie from the Haight-Ashbury after a bad night.
I just hope this statement doesn't trigger mass killings worldwide...
< /sarc >
You sure that ain’t Ronald McDonald?
Actually, it's been proven as debris from a flying saucer crash from around April 1, 134 A.D.
“extremist Zealot sect”
Man. The zealots were proved 100% correct, the Romans killed millions in Jerusalem, and 2000 years later the Daily Mail is calling them “extreme”.
It was the Romans who killed the millions Daily Mail.
But the people who opposed them were “extreme”.
Just goes to show, YOU *****MUST***** WIN.
Hah...I knew it!;-)
It’s been proven a fake.
This ‘proof’?
“It appears the IAA believed the booklets were forgeries on the basis that nothing like them had been discovered before. “
or this ‘proof’?
“The samples were then sent to the Swiss National Materials Laboratory at Dubendorf, Switzerland. The results show they were consistent with ancient (Roman) period lead production and that the metal was smelted from ore that originated in the Mediterranean. Dr Northover also said that corrosion on the books was unlikely to be modern. “
Where is a link to your source that it is a fake?
Link upthread.
I hadn't read far enough before I asked for a link. Sorry!
I hadn't read far enough before I asked for a link. Sorry!
Scholars Doubtful About Metal Plate Documents' AuthenticityOther Bible scholars and archaeologists contacted by Christianity Today were equally skeptical. "Don't get too excited until we know what we have," said Darrell Bock, Research Professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. Archaeologists pointed out that any ancient item discovered out of context faces huge hurdles before it can be authenticated and properly dated.
Then on April 1st, no less, the blog Paleojudaica posted a letter from Oxford University lecturer Peter Thonemann, which identified the text from one page of a codex as a crude reproduction of an inscription from an ancient tombstone that has been on display in an Amman museum for the past half century. "The only possible explanation is that the text on the bronze tablet was copied directly from the inscription in the museum," Thonemann wrote.
Well what do you think about that...the cheese pizza was right!
I suppose that's possible.
Looks like a lion head to me.
I was disappointed to hear the theories of fakery. But, of course, where there's money to be made, there's always a clever forger around.
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