A remarkable stone carving from nearly 1,700 years ago has been unearthed in an area rich with references to the New Testament, reputed to be where Jesus famously walked on water.
Engraved with Greek inscriptions, this volcanic artefact could rewrite aspects of what we know about the Roman Empire’s influence. Found by experts in Upper Galilee at the site of Abel Beth Maacah, it appears the basalt relic marked territory during Rome’s reign.
The slab introduces two unknown towns, Tirathas and Golgol, falling under Roman jurisdiction. With its age identified as 1,720 years, the stone tells tales from the period of Caesar Marcus Aurelius Alexander – the name of one of the key characters in the original Gladiator film.
This piece not only identifies these mysterious communities but also mentions four eminent figures charged with managing Rome’s extensive territories. Professor Uzi of Hebrew University said: “Finding a boundary stone like this not only sheds light on ancient land ownership and taxation but also provides a tangible connection to the lives of individuals who navigated these complex systems nearly two millennia ago.”, reports the Mirror US.
This significant find extends our perception of Rome’s sprawling empire, stretching its dominance from the Italian peninsula to the Middle East, governing over Israel between 63 BC and 135 AD.
Inhabitant traces from ancient times have been etched into the archaeological record, with the discovery of a stone offering scholars an extraordinary window into the lives of historical residents. Researchers assert this stone provides a “unique glimpse into the lives of ancient inhabitants, the pressures they faced and the enduring traces of their communities in the archaeological record.”
Newly discovered names, Tirathas and Golgol, are baffling academics, who’ve drawn linguistic and cultural links between Golgol and significant Biblical locales such as Gilgal and Golgotha.
With Gilgal tied to the Book of Joshua as an important Israelite site and Golgotha being the renowned location of Jesus’ crucifixion, these findings stir considerable interest. There’s speculation that the ruins at Kh.
Turritha, noted in 19th-century accounts on Lebanon’s side of the frontier, could actually represent the lost site of Tirathas.
While scholars probe a prominent hill near Abel Beth Maacah for clues, a concrete archaeological connection is yet to emerge.
Joining a repertoire of over 20 like discoveries, this boundary marker hails from the Hula Valley during Rome’s zenith, serving as a stark reminder of Roman dominion over land and economy.
Situated in Galilee, where Biblical sagas and Roman influence intersected, the relic underscores the melding of ancient cultures, economies, and geographies.
Archaeologists have been left astounded by the discovery of an ancient amulet, believed to protect women and children from “evil spirits”, in the Biblical region of Galilee.
The 1,500 year old talisman, dubbed “Solomon’s Seal”, was unearthed in northern Israel by a local resident of Arbel village some forty years ago.
In a separate remarkable discovery, a religious shrine believed to be sealed by the ancestors of Jesus has been found in the heart of ancient Jerusalem, untouched for almost three millennia. Nestled into the rock on the City of David’s eastern slope, close to Temple Mount, the well-preserved site features eight rooms with an altar and a holy standing stone.
Scholars are intrigued by the possibility that this partially-destroyed sanctuary may have been referenced in the Bible, as its location coincides strikingly with the narrative of Hezekiah – one of Jesus’s paternal grandfathers – known for his iconoclastic actions in line with the Ten Commandments.
