
Archaeologists' discovery 'changes everything' where Jesus walked on water
The basalt stone, discovered in an area steeped with Biblical history, may change our understanding of the Roman Empire's span. It is etched with Ancient Greek characters
An ancient stone, hewn nearly 1,700 years ago and laden with historical significance where Jesus is said to have walked on water, has been uncovered.
Inscribed in Ancient Greek, the volcanic tablet could revolutionise our grasp on the expanse of Roman influence. Experts believe that the basalt relic, unearthed in Upper Galilee's Abel Beth Maacah, marked regional boundaries during Rome's reign.
The artefact highlights two unknown Roman-controlled settlements - Tirathas and Golgol. At 1,720 years old, it testifies to the epoch of Caesar Marcus Aurelius Alexander, whose name might resonate with 'Gladiator' film fans.
Not only does the find identify these towns, but it also mentions four rulers charged with managing the Empire's extensive territories. Professor Uzi from Hebrew University explained: "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."
This revelation augments the vast tapestry of Rome's dominion, stretching from Italy to the Middle East, with Israel under its sway from 63 BC until 135 AD, reports the Mirror US.
The ancient residents of a bygone era have etched their existence into the historical fabric, leaving a stone that researchers say offers a "unique glimpse into the lives of ancient inhabitants, the pressures they faced and the enduring traces of their communities in the archaeological record."
For scholars, the names Tirathas and Golgol are intriguing new discoveries. They've drawn connections between Golgol and momentous Biblical sites such as Gilgal and Golgotha – the latter being the renowned location of Jesus' crucifixion.
Gilgal serves an important role in the Book of Joshua as a major base for the Israelites, while Golgotha stands out as the crucifixion site of Christ. There's speculation that Kh.
Turritha ruins, documented in the late 19th century on the Lebanese border, might represent Tirathas.
A circular mound close to Abel Beth Maacah has piqued the interest of some historians who are chasing archaeological evidence, but nothing concrete has yet tied it to this region.
This boundary marker joins over 20 similar relics uncovered in the northern Hula Valley, all hailing from the Roman Empire's zenith – a period when such stones demarcated land belonging and solidified Roman economic supremacy.
Sitting in Galilee, the crossroads of Biblical narratives and Roman dominance, this artifact underscores the intricate tapestry woven by ancient geographic locations, economic structures, and cultural environments.
Archaeologists in the Biblical region of Galilee have stumbled upon an ancient amulet believed to protect women and children from "evil spirits".
The 1,500 year old relic, dubbed "Solomon's Seal", was unearthed in northern Israel by a local from the village of Arbel some forty years ago.
In a separate remarkable discovery, a religious shrine thought to be sealed by the ancestors of Jesus has been revealed in the historic core of Jerusalem, undisturbed for almost three millennia. Nestled into the rock on the City of David's eastern slope, close to Temple Mount, this well-preserved site features eight chambers with an altar and a holy standing stone.
Scholars are buzzing with the possibility that this site, now partially destroyed, could be linked to biblical tales, particularly resonating with the narrative of Hezekiah – one of Jesus's paternal grandfathers – known for his iconoclastic zeal in line with the Ten Commandments.
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Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Archaeologists' discovery 'changes everything' where Jesus walked on water
The basalt stone, discovered in an area steeped with Biblical history, may change our understanding of the Roman Empire's span. It is etched with Ancient Greek characters An ancient stone, hewn nearly 1,700 years ago and laden with historical significance where Jesus is said to have walked on water, has been uncovered. Inscribed in Ancient Greek, the volcanic tablet could revolutionise our grasp on the expanse of Roman influence. Experts believe that the basalt relic, unearthed in Upper Galilee's Abel Beth Maacah, marked regional boundaries during Rome's reign. The artefact highlights two unknown Roman-controlled settlements - Tirathas and Golgol. At 1,720 years old, it testifies to the epoch of Caesar Marcus Aurelius Alexander, whose name might resonate with 'Gladiator' film fans. Not only does the find identify these towns, but it also mentions four rulers charged with managing the Empire's extensive territories. Professor Uzi from Hebrew University explained: "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." This revelation augments the vast tapestry of Rome's dominion, stretching from Italy to the Middle East, with Israel under its sway from 63 BC until 135 AD, reports the Mirror US. The ancient residents of a bygone era have etched their existence into the historical fabric, leaving a stone that researchers say offers a "unique glimpse into the lives of ancient inhabitants, the pressures they faced and the enduring traces of their communities in the archaeological record." For scholars, the names Tirathas and Golgol are intriguing new discoveries. They've drawn connections between Golgol and momentous Biblical sites such as Gilgal and Golgotha – the latter being the renowned location of Jesus' crucifixion. Gilgal serves an important role in the Book of Joshua as a major base for the Israelites, while Golgotha stands out as the crucifixion site of Christ. There's speculation that Kh. Turritha ruins, documented in the late 19th century on the Lebanese border, might represent Tirathas. A circular mound close to Abel Beth Maacah has piqued the interest of some historians who are chasing archaeological evidence, but nothing concrete has yet tied it to this region. This boundary marker joins over 20 similar relics uncovered in the northern Hula Valley, all hailing from the Roman Empire's zenith – a period when such stones demarcated land belonging and solidified Roman economic supremacy. Sitting in Galilee, the crossroads of Biblical narratives and Roman dominance, this artifact underscores the intricate tapestry woven by ancient geographic locations, economic structures, and cultural environments. Archaeologists in the Biblical region of Galilee have stumbled upon an ancient amulet believed to protect women and children from "evil spirits". The 1,500 year old relic, dubbed "Solomon's Seal", was unearthed in northern Israel by a local from the village of Arbel some forty years ago. In a separate remarkable discovery, a religious shrine thought to be sealed by the ancestors of Jesus has been revealed in the historic core of Jerusalem, undisturbed for almost three millennia. Nestled into the rock on the City of David's eastern slope, close to Temple Mount, this well-preserved site features eight chambers with an altar and a holy standing stone. Scholars are buzzing with the possibility that this site, now partially destroyed, could be linked to biblical tales, particularly resonating with the narrative of Hezekiah – one of Jesus's paternal grandfathers – known for his iconoclastic zeal in line with the Ten Commandments.


Spectator
2 days ago
- Spectator
The Romans wouldn't have put up with Thames Water
It is embarrassing to compare Thames Water's efforts even to the Greeks, let alone the Romans. Most Greek cities got their water from public fountains fed by springs. Doctors new to a district examined the supply to determine likely ailments (one spring was said to make your teeth fall out). A few towns had piped supplies: Athens had one, and Greek Pergamum (in Turkey), from a source 20 miles away. An inscription there ordered wardens to ensure 'fountains are clean and pipes supplying them allow the free flow of water'. But the Romans were the great water engineers, spreading comfort and luxury thereby far down the social scale. Initially they were privately funded benefactions (not 'serious' enough for the state: this changed under the empire). The first (ten-mile) aqueduct – a water-leat, running along the ground and through tunnels – was commissioned in Rome in 312 bc. In the 4th C ad Rome had 11 aqueducts totalling 320 miles in length, the longest stretching for 56 miles, to serve 154 public lavatories, 1,352 water points and 46 brothels. They daily brought into Rome some 1.2 million cubic yards of water, about 25 gallons per inhabitant, per day. Why so much? Because it was needed in the noble cause of human pleasure: the Romans' 856 public baths, their universal means of social relaxation. Plebs and emperors alike used them (though they disgusted Marcus Aurelius – all 'oil, sweat, filth and greasy water'). The rich who had water piped into their homes provided a useful source of revenue. The Roman architect Vitruvius gives rules for checking its cleanliness at source: are the inhabitants there strong, without physical distortions or inflamed eyes? Does the water leave traces when sprinkled over certain alloy vessels? When boiled in a copper pan, does it leave a sludge? Will it cook vegetables quickly? Is it clear, from an untainted source? Vitruvius knew that lead pipes were unhealthy ('observe the lead workers' pallid complexion') but lead poisoning did not cause the fall of the Roman Empire.


Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Man who 'died' for 45 minutes during surgery reveals what he saw... it made him question everything
A man who died on the operating table for 45 minutes during his surgery has claimed he saw Jesus standing over him who showed him heaven. Mike McKinsey, from California in the US, experienced the terrifying near-death experience while undergoing surgery to have his appendix removed. In what doctors described as 'the worst case they'd ever seen, the procedure took an unexpected turn, leaving him temporarily 'dead'. This means a person's heart has stopped beating and they've stopped breathing, but they may still be able to be revived. In Mr McKinsey's case, doctors were forced to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, to restart his heart and bring him back to life, he revealed in a recent viral video posted on the YouTube channel Coming Home. Once 'clinically dead', he said he saw Jesus who he described as looking 'like an Arab man'. Wearing a white robe, the holy figure had 'wavy brown hair' and 'dark greenish-blue eyes', that he said 'looked right into' his soul. When he reached out to take the hand Jesus offered him, he said he was transported to a meadow. He recalled being barefoot in nothing but his surgical gown, standing on 'perfectly manicured' grass—with heightened senses allowing him to take in the moment. Then, as he adjusted his eyes to the white, he said to his right was a bight light which 'all of a sudden starts sending these beams.' 'I felt the surgical room is now replaced with this beautiful warm feeling. All of a sudden somebody is pulling a curtain from my right to my left. 'The white whatever it was—the white fog or veil or the just whiteness gets pulled to the side and now I'm looking at this beautiful scenery.' He described standing on a hill above little flowers with soft petals that moved like they were dancing in the wind—which confused him as there was no wind. 'There's one big gold dome like a capital and there's other smaller gold domes—I mean the city's huge. It is miles apart,' he said. There was 'the most beautiful' sunset he had ever seen and then he noticed one of the tubes 'of white' hit the top of a tree. 'It was like it had a diamond on it because when that thing hit the top of the tree it burst into hundreds of tiny little light streaks. 'Pretty soon the whole mountain is lit with these bursting white beams of light and they kept' which he described as being like 'a big giant firework show. When he looked at the source of the light, he said: 'Jesus says to me "it's the glory of the lord".' This was when he said he knew he couldn't die, and was brought him back to the surgery room. The first thing he remembers is the doctor asking him if he remembered his name or where he was. This was when he realised there were five other people in the room dressed in scrubs and he heard someone say 'he's back'. He realised he must have been resuscitated when he saw a crash cart next to him with one of the resuscitation paddles 'kind of laying aside' and 'chords hanging down'. 'It was obvious somebody had used it. Someone was over there putting them back together—and I thought, oh boy, I did die' he said. He spent 12 days in hospital losing two and a half stone, as he was initially on a liquid diet for six days, before being eventually allowed to eat banana. Mr McKinsey first began to experience health problems in August 2024, when he started to suffer stomach issues while at a wedding, but it wasn't until three days later he went to hospital. It was at the hospital in Ventura, an hour-and-a-half drive to west of Los Angeles, he discovered his appendix had burst—which can be life-threatening. He recalled the medical staff starting the IV, rolling him down the corridor, and saying goodbye to his wife. While, he also doesn't say whether his heart stopped and if so for how long, it is possible to be clinically dead for 45 minutes and survive with a defibrillator. The phenomenon of near-death experiences has fascinated people and experts for millennia, but until recently there had been no scientific explanation. In 2023, Dr Jane Aspell a professor of cognitive neuroscience at Anglia Ruskin University revealed recent research shed light on how the brain generates the experience of one's self—and what happens when it goes wrong. 'There is now strong evidence that out of body experiences, and related experiences, are caused by abnormal functioning in parts of the brain that process and combine signals from our bodies. She explained it may be caused by damage to a vital part of the brain responsible for processing senses and balance. This could explain why those who have come close to death, taken drugs or suffered from a brain injury are among those who have reported out of body experiences. Such accounts have detailed cases of sufferers floating above their body that is lying down beneath them just after a traumatic event or accident. The professor explained recent research shed light on how the brain generates the experience of one's self—and what happens when it goes wrong. The right side of the temporal parietal junction, which sits just above the ear is associated with out of body experiences, Dr Aspell explained. This part of the brain is active during social functions, and needed to process empathy and memory. It also draws on the senses of vision, sound and touch to create a coherent feeling of the self inside the body. Part of the temporal parietal junction, called the vestibular cortex, acts as the balance system in our ears, helping us know where we are in relation to gravity. The vestibular cortex could offer further explanation on out of body experiences, Dr Aspell believes. If this area is not working properly, 'the experience of being one single body might therefore be disrupted,' explained Dr Aspell. If the brain cannot combine information from this balance system with other senses, it can give the feeling of floating above your own body, explained Dr Aspell.