Archaeologists Find Early Menorah Depiction

JERUSALEM — Israeli archaeologists have uncovered one of the earliest depictions of a menorah, the seven-branched candelabra that has come to symbolize Judaism, the Israel Antiquities Authority said Friday. The menorah was engraved in stone around 2,000 years ago and found in a synagogue recently discovered by the Sea of Galilee.

Pottery, coins and tools found at the site indicate the synagogue dates to the period of the second Jewish temple in Jerusalem, where the actual menorah was kept, said archaeologist Dina Avshalom-Gorni of the Israel Antiquities Authority.

The artist might have seen the menorah during a pilgrimage and then recreated it in the synagogue, she suggested.

A small number of depictions of the menorah have surfaced from the same period, she said, but this one was unique because it was inside a synagogue and far from Jerusalem, illustrating the link between Jews around Jerusalem and in the Galilee to the north.

The menorah, depicted atop a pedestal with a triangular base, is carved on a stone which was placed in the synagogue's central hall.

The temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by Roman legions in 70 A.D.. The Arch of Titus in Rome, erected to mark the Roman victory, depicts troops carrying the menorah from Jerusalem to symbolize the defeat of the Jews. The menorah became a Jewish symbol and is featured today on Israel's official emblem.

Most other depictions of the menorah were made only after the temple's destruction, and if this finding is indeed earlier it could be closer to the original, said Aren Maeir, an archaeology professor at Bar-Ilan University in Israel.

"If you have a depiction of the menorah from the time of the temple, chances are it is more accurate and portrays the actual object than portrayals from after the destruction of the temple, when it was not existent," he said.

The ancient prayer house was discovered in the town of Migdal, usually identified as the birthplace of the New Testament's Mary Magdalene, whose name is thought to be based on the town's.

Comments

[outnow]

Too bad the cross was made of wood or it too could be found and would "prove" something. In any event, I want proof that God exists or existed. Otherwise, I remain sceptical of all the religions. But find this is a very nice artifact from an archelogical standpoint. I do not view it as a deed to the Holy Land as some here might, yet it does provide evidence of the history and does tend to show continuous occupation of the area. Maybe adverse possession confers rights.

[wm1066]

When we are born God touches our heart, fills our lungs, looks us in the eyes and says " Tag Your It!" Then runs away.
Some of us chase him for our whole life, some give up the chase and some don't understand there is a chase. It doesn't matter, we all end up with him in the end. Buts thats my belief ,I don't expect you to agree with it.

[johnmorgan]

It is interesting that Israelis are really only interested in archaeology related to the history of Judaism, not of any other religion or culture.

[CanisLatrans]

Well, yeah, people tend to seek things that have meaning for them.

When's the last time you looked up some ancient Hindu artifact or translated some Sanskrit?

[cliffhammond]

That's not true. Last week they announce the discovery of a wall in Jerusalem built by "pagans" in appx 3000 BC.

[Goefel]

What a great relic. "The decorated stone depicts amphorae (earthenware vessels) on both sides of the Menorah and bears additional decorative motifs on its four sides and its top."

[wm1066]

Okay I have a question for my Jewish friends , Whats the difference between the Temple and a synagogue? There was a Temple in Jerusalem and Alexandria at this time in history, although some people don't count the one in Alexandria as valid for some reason. But now days going to synagogue is the same as going to Temple? Was a synagogue just for prayer and the Temple for prayer and sacrifice? Could you not sacrifice at a synagogue? I know the Temple priests made it a law that every Jew had to go to Temple at least once a year. I realize this is off topoc but I didn't know there were synagogues at this time in history.

[wm1066]

"off topic" not topoc....

[myopinion2]

By the end of the First Kingdom, the priests had restricted sacrifices to only the jERUSALEM TTEMPLE. When the Judeans returned to Judah from Babylonian exile, (550 bc) they rebuilt a Jerusalem temple and again limited sacrifices to just that site. As a result of the Hellenistic influence, the study of Torah and the writing and studying of other religious books was added to the practice of Judaism, The synagogue was established as a local gathering place to undertake those activities. Prayer services as such still did not exist. After the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans, the newly emerged Rabbi class supplanted the Priests as the religious leaders, and initiated an intitutionalized prayer service to take the place of the temple sacrifices.

[wm1066]

Thanks!

[lightningbolt]

Every Jewish home is also considered a synagogue, so gatherings can occur there too. Another special thing about the 1st Jerusalem Temple was that it housed the Ark of the Covenant.

[richnerd]

Right next to it was a clay tablet with the inscription: "David, call your mother, we're having brisket tonight. ...wear something nice."

[ModernTimes1]

old joke.

[Weirdwriter]

Now we know just HOW old.

[ModernTimes1]

"The temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by Roman legions in 70 A.D.. The Arch of Titus in Rome, erected to mark the Roman victory, depicts troops carrying the menorah from Jerusalem to symbolize the defeat of the Jews. The menorah became a Jewish symbol and is featured today on Israel's official emble"

[Macready]

OK . .so it dates from the Roman period

[ModernTimes1]

"The menorah was engraved in stone around 2,000 years ago and found in a synagogue recently discovered by the Kinneret.
"Pottery, coins and tools found at the site indicate the synagogue dates to the period of the second Jewish temple in Jerusalem, where the actual menorah was kept,"

[Macready]

yes, it is Roman date

[RedDogBear]

Hey HuffPo, the "Read the whole story: AP" just points right back to this page, please fix.

[ModernTimes1]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090911/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_ancient_menorah

[RedDogBear]

thanks

[lightningbolt]

This is one more piece of solid proof that can be added to the mountains of evidence that prove that the land of Israel has been inhabited by Jews for thousands of years, long before the Arabs conquered it and colonized it.
No wonder the Muslim Waqf in Israel is against archaeological digging. They are afraid more proof will be found, and that their lies about the Palestinians being the native inhabitants will be exposed.

[Kaviraj]

Lies about Palestine? Read your bible! When the Jews came they had to first kill of the original imhabitants - Jericho a prime example of this. So there lived others long before the Jews. Who is telling lies here?

[jordanispalestine]

They WERE not Muslims...and Palestinians weren't invented until the mid 1960's by the Arab League...when they came up with those 'peaceniks"...the PLO!

[CanisLatrans]

Canaanites. No one knows who they were, ethnically speaking; they have died out eithe rby being killed by the Hebrews or (mor elikely) lost a war with the Hebrews and then gradually subsume dinto their culture by marriage.

It's not such a big surprise; long before modern standards of morality or ethics ancient tribes used to wipe each other out, or breed them into irrelevance, on a regular basis. Do you honestly think the Franks just appeared as the dominant tribe in Gaul one day?