Archaeologists find 'proof' major biblical event happened at Armageddon site
The concept of Armageddon, widely recognised as the ultimate showdown between good and evil in the 'end times', has been further etched into public consciousness by the 1998 blockbuster starring Bruce Willis.
The film depicted a catastrophic asteroid on a collision course with Earth.
For centuries there has been talk of an epic battle involving Judaean King Josiah, who some say was a descendant of Jesus and met his end fighting the forces of Egyptian Pharaoh Necho II at a site called Megiddo.
While this historic clash is referenced in the Bible, concrete evidence had eluded historians until now. A new study in the Scandinavian Journal of the Old Testament presents findings that suggest Ancient Egyptians were indeed present at Tel Megiddo in Northern Israel.
Dr Assaf Kleiman, an archaeologist and co-author of the study, revealed: "We have found high quantities of crude and straw-tempered pottery vessels imported from Egypt, as well as a few East Greek vessels."
He, along with Dr Israel Finkelstein of the University of Haifa and Tel Aviv University, suggests that these Greek pots indicate the presence of mercenaries from that region in the Egyptian military.
"This scenario may be linked to the biblical account about the killing of King Josiah of Judah by Pharaoh Necho at Megiddo in 609 BC," Finkelstein remarked. "The Bible recounts the death of Josiah at Megiddo in two places.", reports the Mirror US.
"He's killed by Necho during an encounter at Megiddo in the Book of Kings, and killed in a battle with the Egyptians in the Book of Chronicles. On this background, the new evidence for an Egyptian garrison, possibly with Greek mercenaries, at Megiddo in the late seventh century BC, may provide the background to the event."
Lad Bible reports that the term Armageddon is mentioned in the Book of Revelation as follows: "And they (demons) gathered the kings and armies of the world together at the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon (Armageddon)."
An early Greek Bible translation reveals 'Har-Magedon' as the site where King Josiah is believed to have met his end. His demise is also recorded in the preceding Book of Kings, and over time, Armageddon has become synonymous with cataclysmic battles in common parlance.
The clash and subsequent death of King Josiah were monumental at the time and could explain why Tel Megiddo is shrouded in apocalyptic lore.
Finkelstein asserted to LiveScience that Josiah was viewed as a devout leader and the notion of an Armageddon event only emerged posthumously. The scientist posits that this naturally progressed into a belief in a climactic showdown between good and evil at the site where the king met his end at the hands of the Egyptians.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
17 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
How long until the Fortnite live event? Countdown and what to expect during the tentacle fight
Fortnite players are currently being treated to a wealth of content in the game, with a steady flow of live events serving as the icing on the cake. It's not been long since Fortnite was experiencing a lull in live events, but Epic Games has more than made up for it, staging some thrilling Fortnite live events to round off seasons in Battle Royale mode. Just last week, OG Fortnite players were given their own live event with the Blast Off throwback, and now Battle Royale players are set for the Super Showdown live event scheduled for today, Saturday, 2 August. However, neither of these Fortnite live events are signalling the start of a new season; Fortnite OG Chapter 4 concludes next week, and Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3 wraps up on the same day. We're only hours away now, so here's how long we have until the Fortnite live event starts, and all the leaks so far. When does the Fortnite live event start? The Super Showdown Fortnite live event kicks off at 11.30am PDT / 2.30pm EDT / 7.30pm BST today, Saturday, 2 August. To ensure players have ample time to join a game for the kaiju showdown, Epic Games is opening lobby doors half an hour earlier, so you can jump in any time from 11am PDT / 2pm EDT / 7pm BST. We're counting down below so you know how much time is left until the Fortnite live event starts. Make sure you load up the game at the 30-minute mark or less; but don't leave it too late! As the Fortnite live event is about to kick off, a host of leakers and dataminers have been dropping hints throughout the week. So, if you're keen on avoiding any potential spoilers, it's best to stop reading now. Fortnite live event leaks Aside from the official teaser that gave us a fleeting look at the massive tentacle - part of the monster Daigo was attempting to unleash on the island - and the fact that it'll take place at Demon's Domain, the game's social media channels have remained relatively silent about what will transpire during today's Fortnite live event. However, some details have slipped through the net. Here's what to anticipate: A 'JuniorHerosVictory' sequence is set to happen during the event Player quest to investigate the tentacle new Daigo NPC will be added after the event indicating he might be saved from the Spirit Realm (via @Egyptian_Leaker) Superman will appear during the fight as shown in the trailer and destroy some spires Superman is marked as the 'Main Hero' in the game's files, the rest are 'Junior Heros' (via @Egyptian_Leaker) The portal will have three phases before the event, with phase three having the monster tentacle sound Like the Doom event, all Battle Pass characters will join the event to fight, and they can all be eliminated (via @Egyptian_Leaker) Short comic book sequence featuring the heroes before the tentacle fight (via @Wensoing) Tentable boss abilities: Electric Blast, Energy Blast, Launch, Ground Slam, Explosion. There'll also be a triple tentacle wave (via @Wensoing) There will live-event-specific quests leading up to it, as well as after it ends (via @Egyptian_Leaker) That's pretty much all we have for now, but it should be enough to give you an idea of what the tentacle is up to and start building some hype before the Fortnite live event kicks off!
Time Out
a day ago
- Time Out
Is a 3am cup of free chicken soup worth the wait at NYC's most iconic speakeasy worth staying out for?
If you were around the West Village last weekend around 2am on Saturday, you may have just spotted me standing outside in a queuing line, waiting to be let inside a bar. But despite the hour, I wasn't in a drunken state, charting a bar crawl of my own making. In fact, my purpose was a simple one: to score a soup that was only served at closing time. You see, more often than not, when bars flick on the lights and the sign flips from open to closed, those who were once patrons become parasites. In an instant, hospitality is all but lost as staff hurriedly shoo clientele out the door in attempts to close as soon as possible. Most parting words are barked by towering bouncers or said lackadaisically from the bar staff, smile included—if you are lucky. Food is usually on the onus of the drunken, as they stumble the streets in search of pizza slices and bodega burgers, or wander into one of New York's many 24-hour eateries. But one New York speakeasy ensures that the final goodbye is a memorable one. For if you stay until the closing hour at Employees Only, the reward is a cup of soup on the house. Back in 2004, founders Bill Gilroy, Igor Hadzismajlovic, Jason Kosmas, Henry Lafargue and Dushan Zaric decided to open a bar, intended to attract fellow barflies over well-made cocktails in a semi-secretive space that didn't take itself too seriously. Twenty years later, and folks still line up to seek the pseudo-psychic stand that hides this West Village speakeasy, vying for a future read with good tidings and, hopefully, good booze. But with such strong roots in hospitality, even the final send-off at Employees Only is taken with care. Instilling a tradition taken from Greek nightclubs, the bar passes out warm cups of soup to each guest as a way to say thank you. Curious about it all, I decided to stay up well past my bedtime, dragging a friend along with promises of revelry and, hopefully, good soup. After willing myself to stay awake, making a pit stop at a friend's small get-together in Brooklyn, I made my way over to the West Village. Arriving at 2am, I found that a line was already forming outside. It wasn't particularly long, and was mainly filled with twenty-somethings who looked nearly dressed for the club as short skirts and dresses were sported with sneakers and cowboy boots. But I wasn't too worried as I had a reservation, or so I thought. To be fully transparent, I had reached out to the press team about booking a late-night table, confirming one at 2am. So I beelined it to the bouncer to check in for my table. But he brushed me off rather quickly, saying that the last reservation ended at 11pm and pointing to the line behind me. Panic set in as I tried to explain that I had made a reservation with the team just for him to reiterate the same. As I thumbed through my phone for the confirmation, I timidly responded, 'I know I have one.' He snapped back, 'You think you know better than me, and it's my bar?' Not exactly the hospitality I envisioned. I was flustered but stayed calm as I showed him my credentials and revealed the purpose of my visit. He didn't waver but said he would at least check with the general manager inside. Returning a beat later and a touch sweeter, the story was still the same. Ironically, once rejected and standing at the back of the line, I looked up the bar's Instagram and found they had just shared our article on the best bars in New York, which featured them. I waited, as if to be let into a Miami club rather than a bar that prides itself on "hospitable ambiance." However, within 15 minutes of waiting, the same bouncer who rejected us flagged my friend and me to the front. I can't really tell what changed, but he checked our IDs and sent us inside with a hollow, "Have a good time." Sadly, that bad taste in my mouth was quickly replaced by another. Because just beyond the red velvet curtain lay a literal wall of people singing, yelling and cocktailing. Of course, it was 2am, but to say that the bar was packed was an understatement. Immediately, I had to play my least favorite game, 'where f*** do I stand?' as bodies fully pressed up against mine, everyone shifting to the whims of those coming and going. From the front, the only oasis for breathing room looked to be in the back of the bar. Yet as I pressed my way through, I found it was closed off for reservations, of which I was told there were none. I attempted one last time to ask about a table, flagging a server at the expo station. She said I should ask their general manager, turning on her heels down the hallway behind the bar. I thought she walked away to go find one, but it turns out she left because our conversation was apparently over. The next few hours were spent shoulder to shoulder with strangers, gripping my drink for fear of spillage. Yet the younger and drunker-than-me horde didn't really seem to mind. While the crowd leaned heavily with GenZers, the playlist leaned more into my generation as patrons sang along to 'American Girl' by Kanye West and basically fell out when 'Mr. Brightside' blared over the speakers. The playing of 'Viva La Vida' by Coldplay was damn near a production, as bartenders flicked the bar lights on and off and slammed shakers to the beat. One barman armed with a bubble gun, stood on the counter and sprayed the crowd to much glee. By then, I was able to rangle a seat at the bar, finally able to enjoy it all a bit more from my perch. As soon as the clock struck 3:30am, the lights turned on and the music that had once moved the crowd was immediately cut. Almost instantly, I could smell what I had been waiting for this entire time: soup. Carried around on metal trays were small white mugs of the stuff, as hands politely grabbed cups one by one. Inside it was a light chicken soup, but really just a ladle of it, with small chunks of carrot, celery, and onion floating around plus a single strand of the chicken itself. Was it a lot? No, of course not, but even I appreciated the gesture. Plus, it was relatively funny that the same mouths who were just belting out 'Purple Rain' hushed as the sounds of clinking spoons and slurping took over the room. I swirled the rest of my cup and made my way outside while bouncers counted down to closing time. Now, do I think waiting until 3:30 in the morning for some soup is worth it? No, not at all. To be honest, I didn't think it would be. Exploring this bar's longstanding late-night tradition seemed like fun. All in all, the experience was a rough sell, even if the night hadn't started with a power-tripped bouncer. Yes, the bar can still make a mean cocktail at any time of night, as the Ash On My Tomatoes, a clarified mezcal drink with rhubarb and tomato, was light, vegetal, and had a nice pat of blackened salt on the glass to balance it all. But with a party so packed, it basically guarantees that a portion of your $20 cocktail will end up sloshed on your feet or your neighbors. Thinking back to the Zillennials and Gen Zers around me—happily huddled in a tight squeeze, belting out the stuff that populated my iPod—I realize the soup was never going to be worth it, at least for me. But if you happen to be there and it happens to be 3am, you might as well stay for the soup. It may be the only modicum of hospitality you'll get at that hour of the night anyway.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Princess Diana's look-a-like niece announces engagement after lavish proposal
Princess Diana's niece Lady Eliza Spencer has revealed she is engaged (Image: Eliza Spencer/Instagram) Princess Diana's glamorous niece Lady Eliza Spencer has announced her engagement after a lavish proposal. Eliza, who is a cousin of both Prince William and Prince Harry, took to Instagram to reveal the happy news and show off her new ring after long-term boyfriend Channing Millerd popped the question on the Greek island of Santorini. The 33-year-old, whose father is Diana's brother Charles Spencer, has enjoyed a 10-year romance with Channing, whom she met at a dinner party in South Africa. The news comes as it was reported that Prince Harry will 'never be forgiven' by two major royals despite reconciliation hope . READ MORE: Meghan Markle's ex-pal 'splits with her husband after 16 years of marriage' READ MORE: Zara and Mike Tindall's surprise relative who was 'dead against' their marriage Eliza with fiance Channing Millerd (Image: Eliza Spencer/Instagram) In the post announcing her engagement, one picture shows Eliza embracing her new fiancé while showing off her new diamond engagement ring. Another captures the moment Channing went down on one knee, while a third shows the romantic setting in Santorini where the proposal took place. Among those who rushed to congratulate her was twin sister Lady Amelia Spencer, who wrote: "The best news ever. I couldn't be happier for you both!" Meanwhile, older sister Lady Kitty Spencer, 34, who married 66-year-old businessman Michael Lewis in a lavish ceremony in Italy in 2021, added: "So happy for you and love you both very much @elizavspencer @channingmillerd." Lady Eliza Spencer, Lady Kitty Spencer and Lady Amelia Spencer - Diana's glamorous nieces (Image: Getty) Eliza previously told Hello!: "We have such a strong, loving and supportive relationship. He truly is my best friend. We understand each other so well, and no matter what life brings, we're always there for one another." She added: "I absolutely believe he's The One – our bond is built on so much trust, laughter and shared values." Eliza and twin Amelia, as well as older sister Kitty, are all models. They, along with older brother Louis, are the children of Earl Spencer and his first wife, Victoria Lockwood. The twins were born in 1992, grew up in South Africa and were just five when their late aunt Diana died. Eliza as a child with siblings Amelia, Kitty and Louis and dad Earl Spencer (Image: Getty Images) In 2021, they gave a rare joint interview to Tatler where they shared fond memories of their "incredibly warm, maternal and loving" aunt. Speaking about Diana's death in 1997, Eliza said: "As a child, I realised the enormity of the loss for my father and family. It was only later that I came to understand the significance of the loss of her as a figure in the world." In 2023, Amelia married her long-term boyfriend Greg Mallett in a mountain-top ceremony in Cape Town, surrounded by her siblings. And last year, the twins turned out to support older cousin William at a fundraiser for the London Air Ambulance. Meanwhile, Kitty read psychology at the University of Cape Town and has modelled for brands including Dolce & Gabbana, for which she has been a muse, and Bvlgari. She also scored invites to the wedding of her cousins William and Harry, and her Instagram account shows her at fashion shows in cities such as London and Milan. WHATSAPP GROUP: Be first to get the biggest royal bombshells and exclusives to your phone by joining our Royal WhatsApp here. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. NEWSLETTER: Or sign up to the Mirror's Royal newsletter here to get all the biggest royal news and exclusive pictures, straight to your inbox.
