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Magdala stone

January 01, 1970

The Magdala stone is a carved stone block unearthed by archaeologists in the Migdal Synagogue in Israel, dating to before the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in the year 70.

Magdala stone

It is notable for detailed carvings depicting the Second Temple, carvings made while that Temple still stood and therefore assumed to have been made by an artist who had seen the Temple before it was destroyed by the Roman military. Some archaeologists describe the carvings as enabling a new, scholarly understanding of the synagogue conceptualized as a sacred space even during the period while the Temple was still standing. This new understanding would overturn a long-held scholarly consensus that during the period when the Temple still stood, synagogues were merely assembly and study halls, places where the Torah and other sacred books were read aloud and studied, but not sacred spaces in their own right.

The stone is also notable for having the earliest known images of the Temple Menorah to be found in a synagogue.[1]

History edit

The stone was uncovered during the 2009 excavation of the Migdal Synagogue.[2][3][4] Scholars believe that the stone was carved before the Romans destroyed the Second Temple in 70 CE.[5]

In 2017, the stone was displayed in Rome in Menorah: Worship, History, Legend, an exhibition jointly sponsored by the Vatican and the Jewish Museum of Rome.[1]

Carvings edit

The stone is approximately 0.6 m. (24 in.) long, circa 0.5 m. (20 in.) wide and stands 0.4 m. (18 in.) high.[6]

The facade of the stone, on the side that faces Jerusalem, features an arch supported by a pair of pillars. Within the arch a seven-branched menorah sits atop what appears to be a pedestal, flanked by a pair of two-handled jugs which may be sitting on some sort of stands.[6] Dr. Avshalom-Gorni called the discovery "an exciting and unique find."[7] This may be the oldest depiction of a menorah decoration and is the first menorah to be discovered in a Jewish context that dates to the Second Temple period and the beginning of the Early Roman era, the period when the Temple was still standing.[8] "We can assume that the engraving that appears on the stone, which the Israel Antiquities Authority uncovered, was done by an artist who saw the seven-branched menorah with his own eyes in the Temple in Jerusalem".[7][9][10]

However, Mordechai Aviam interprets the object beneath the menorah as an image of the Gold Altar (Inner Altar) that stood in front of the Menorah inside the ancient Temple.[6]

 
Side panel of Magdala stone
 
Top View of Magdala Stone

The stone's side panels are identical; each shows an arcade of four arches. Interpretations of the carvings vary. While some have interpreted the sides as showing three arches filled with sheaves of grain (probably wheat), and a fourth with a hanging object thought to be an oil lamp, others, including Rina Talgam and Mordechai Aviam see it as an architectural image.[6][2] According to Aviam it shows an arcade through which is seen a second arcade of arches which the viewer is meant to understand as the entrance arches of the Holy of Holies.[6]

Placement in the synagogue at Migdal edit

The stone stood in the center of the Migdal Synagogue, and is tall enough to have been used as a reading desk or podium by someone in a seated position.[2] A similar size stone was found in an ancient synagogue dating from the Byzantine period in a dig at nearby Horvat Kur; it is also carved with images of the Temple.[2]

Some scholars suggested that the local Jews saw Jerusalem as their religious center, and their local activities took place under this centrality.[11] Rina Talgam, a professor specializing in the art of the ancient Near East at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the leading scholar of this stone, understands the Magdala Stone as a depiction of the Temple and the implements used in worship, including a depiction of the Holy of Holies by an artist who had actually seen the Temple and was familiar with the Holy of Holies.[2] She understands the stone as intended to lend to this synagogue a sacred aura, making it, "like a lesser Temple", for use in the Galilee, which was a long journey from Jerusalem under the conditions of that pedestrian era, when most people traveled by foot.[2]

Other scholars of the period, including Elchanan Reiner, professor of Jewish history at Tel Aviv University, share her view.[2]

Site edit

The original stone has been removed for safekeeping; a replica is displayed in the ancient synagogue at Magdala, an archaeological site open to the public.[2][12]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Lawrence Schiffman (28 May 2017). "The Magdala Stone" (PDF). Ami. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Kershner, Isabel (8 December 2015). "A Carved Stone Block Upends Assumptions About Ancient Judaism". New York Times. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  3. ^ Mitchell, Andre (20 August 2015). "Synagogue in Mary Magdalene's town where Jesus preached unearthed in Israel". Christian Today. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  4. ^ Bar-Am, Aviva (27 June 2015). "At Magdala by the Kinneret, discoveries that resonate with Jews and Christians". Times of Israel. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  5. ^ Rubalcaba, Jill (2018). Who's who in the Bible?. Washington D.C.: National Geographic Kids. p. 86. ISBN 978-1-4263-3002-5.
  6. ^ a b c d e Aviam, Mordechai (2013). "The Decorated Stone from the Synagogue at Migdal, A Holistic Interpratation and a Glimpse into the Life of Galilean Jews at the Time of Jesus". Novum Testamentum (55): 205. doi:10.1163/15685365-12341433. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  7. ^ a b Staff. "Unique ancient synagogue exposed at Sea of Galilee", Israel Ministry of Tourism, September 14, 2009.
  8. ^ "Earliest Menora Depiction Found". Discovery Channel. 11 February 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  9. ^ Note the carving is correctly described as a relief, not an engraving or intaglio
  10. ^ The large six petal rosette relief atop the stone was a common design in Jewish funerary art during the Second Temple period. Its meaning is as yet unknown, but it is also found among the ruins of Gamla on a lintel stone flanked by two palm trees.
  11. ^ "2nd-Temple-period synagogue found where Gospel's Mary Magdalene was born". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2021-12-12.
  12. ^ "A stroll in the city of Magdala as it was in the time of Jesus". Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land. 2014-06-16. Retrieved 2021-12-12.

January 01, 1970
magdala, stone, carved, stone, block, unearthed, archaeologists, migdal, synagogue, israel, dating, before, destruction, second, temple, jerusalem, year, notable, detailed, carvings, depicting, second, temple, carvings, made, while, that, temple, still, stood,. The Magdala stone is a carved stone block unearthed by archaeologists in the Migdal Synagogue in Israel dating to before the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in the year 70 Magdala stone It is notable for detailed carvings depicting the Second Temple carvings made while that Temple still stood and therefore assumed to have been made by an artist who had seen the Temple before it was destroyed by the Roman military Some archaeologists describe the carvings as enabling a new scholarly understanding of the synagogue conceptualized as a sacred space even during the period while the Temple was still standing This new understanding would overturn a long held scholarly consensus that during the period when the Temple still stood synagogues were merely assembly and study halls places where the Torah and other sacred books were read aloud and studied but not sacred spaces in their own right The stone is also notable for having the earliest known images of the Temple Menorah to be found in a synagogue 1 Contents 1 History 2 Carvings 3 Placement in the synagogue at Migdal 4 Site 5 ReferencesHistory editThe stone was uncovered during the 2009 excavation of the Migdal Synagogue 2 3 4 Scholars believe that the stone was carved before the Romans destroyed the Second Temple in 70 CE 5 In 2017 the stone was displayed in Rome in Menorah Worship History Legend an exhibition jointly sponsored by the Vatican and the Jewish Museum of Rome 1 Carvings editThe stone is approximately 0 6 m 24 in long circa 0 5 m 20 in wide and stands 0 4 m 18 in high 6 The facade of the stone on the side that faces Jerusalem features an arch supported by a pair of pillars Within the arch a seven branched menorah sits atop what appears to be a pedestal flanked by a pair of two handled jugs which may be sitting on some sort of stands 6 Dr Avshalom Gorni called the discovery an exciting and unique find 7 This may be the oldest depiction of a menorah decoration and is the first menorah to be discovered in a Jewish context that dates to the Second Temple period and the beginning of the Early Roman era the period when the Temple was still standing 8 We can assume that the engraving that appears on the stone which the Israel Antiquities Authority uncovered was done by an artist who saw the seven branched menorah with his own eyes in the Temple in Jerusalem 7 9 10 However Mordechai Aviam interprets the object beneath the menorah as an image of the Gold Altar Inner Altar that stood in front of the Menorah inside the ancient Temple 6 nbsp Side panel of Magdala stone nbsp Top View of Magdala Stone The stone s side panels are identical each shows an arcade of four arches Interpretations of the carvings vary While some have interpreted the sides as showing three arches filled with sheaves of grain probably wheat and a fourth with a hanging object thought to be an oil lamp others including Rina Talgam and Mordechai Aviam see it as an architectural image 6 2 According to Aviam it shows an arcade through which is seen a second arcade of arches which the viewer is meant to understand as the entrance arches of the Holy of Holies 6 Placement in the synagogue at Migdal editThe stone stood in the center of the Migdal Synagogue and is tall enough to have been used as a reading desk or podium by someone in a seated position 2 A similar size stone was found in an ancient synagogue dating from the Byzantine period in a dig at nearby Horvat Kur it is also carved with images of the Temple 2 Some scholars suggested that the local Jews saw Jerusalem as their religious center and their local activities took place under this centrality 11 Rina Talgam a professor specializing in the art of the ancient Near East at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the leading scholar of this stone understands the Magdala Stone as a depiction of the Temple and the implements used in worship including a depiction of the Holy of Holies by an artist who had actually seen the Temple and was familiar with the Holy of Holies 2 She understands the stone as intended to lend to this synagogue a sacred aura making it like a lesser Temple for use in the Galilee which was a long journey from Jerusalem under the conditions of that pedestrian era when most people traveled by foot 2 Other scholars of the period including Elchanan Reiner professor of Jewish history at Tel Aviv University share her view 2 Site editThe original stone has been removed for safekeeping a replica is displayed in the ancient synagogue at Magdala an archaeological site open to the public 2 12 References edit a b Lawrence Schiffman 28 May 2017 The Magdala Stone PDF Ami Retrieved 12 June 2017 a b c d e f g h Kershner Isabel 8 December 2015 A Carved Stone Block Upends Assumptions About Ancient Judaism New York Times Retrieved 9 December 2015 Mitchell Andre 20 August 2015 Synagogue in Mary Magdalene s town where Jesus preached unearthed in Israel Christian Today Retrieved 9 December 2015 Bar Am Aviva 27 June 2015 At Magdala by the Kinneret discoveries that resonate with Jews and Christians Times of Israel Retrieved 9 December 2015 Rubalcaba Jill 2018 Who s who in the Bible Washington D C National Geographic Kids p 86 ISBN 978 1 4263 3002 5 a b c d e Aviam Mordechai 2013 The Decorated Stone from the Synagogue at Migdal A Holistic Interpratation and a Glimpse into the Life of Galilean Jews at the Time of Jesus Novum Testamentum 55 205 doi 10 1163 15685365 12341433 Retrieved 9 December 2015 a b Staff Unique ancient synagogue exposed at Sea of Galilee Israel Ministry of Tourism September 14 2009 Earliest Menora Depiction Found Discovery Channel 11 February 2013 Retrieved 9 December 2015 Note the carving is correctly described as a relief not an engraving or intaglio The large six petal rosette relief atop the stone was a common design in Jewish funerary art during the Second Temple period Its meaning is as yet unknown but it is also found among the ruins of Gamla on a lintel stone flanked by two palm trees 2nd Temple period synagogue found where Gospel s Mary Magdalene was born The Jerusalem Post JPost com Retrieved 2021 12 12 A stroll in the city of Magdala as it was in the time of Jesus Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land 2014 06 16 Retrieved 2021 12 12 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Magdala stone amp oldid 1220710461, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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