Latest news with #BookofLuke
Daily Mirror
28-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
House where Jesus' Last Supper took place 'close to being discovered'
Has the site of the Last Supper been found? (Image: Getty Images) The house where the Last Supper may have taken place is still standing in Jerusalem 2,000 years later, according to archaeologists. They believe the Biblical event took place in the 'Upper Room' of a two-storey house with limestone walls and a red, sloping roof that remarkably still stands in the city after two millennia. The room is briefly mentioned in the Book of Luke 22:11-13, when Jesus Christ asked for a large, furnished upper room where he and his disciples could eat their Passover meal. The Bible recounts the story of the Last Supper in 33 AD, when Jesus sat with his 12 apostles and revealed that one among them would betray him - identifying that man as Judas Iscariot. He also told his followers that his death was near and Jesus was crucified by the Romans shortly after being arrested. According to The Daily Mail, the location has been depicted in several artworks dating back to at least the fourth century AD - which was also when Christians first started visiting the room to honour Christ's last moments of freedom before his crucifixion - thousands of people still visit the Upper Room every year, reports the Mirror US. Experts believe the house it was held in is still standing (Image: Getty Images) In the story, Jesus blessed the bread and wine, and explained it symbolised his body that would be broken and the blood he would shed for the forgiveness of their sins - it is still referenced symbolically today during Christian services incorporating the eucharist sacrament. The Upper Room, believed by archaeologists to be the site of the Last Supper, also known as the Cenacle, was originally a prayer room capable of accommodating over 120 people. This location is briefly mentioned in the Book of Luke 22:11-13, where Jesus asks for a large, furnished upper room where he and his disciples could share their Passover meal. This two-storey house is situated in Jerusalem's old city on Mount Zion, positioned above the southern gate. It was built with large, branching columns that supported a vaulted ceiling and a sloping red roof that remains visible today. However, due to the lack of archaeological excavations at the site, it remains unconfirmed whether the building existed during Jesus' time. In 1884, while constructing a new church in Madaba, Jordan, Greek Orthodox Christians discovered what is thought to be the earliest map of Jerusalem, dating back to 560 AD. The map was created as a depiction of the Holy Land, showcasing the Cardo Maximus (main street) and two sacred structures at the southern end, identifiable by their red roofs. They say they're close to locating it (Image: Getty Images) However, it wasn't until 2017 that David Christian Clausen, an adjunct lecturer in Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina, noticed something unusual. He was drawn to a building with the same red, sloped roof as the Cenacle, located in the exact same spot. Scholars were stunned when they stumbled upon a drawing from sixth-century Italy in 1846 that portrays Jesus ambling through Jerusalem's southern gates on a donkey, with what could potentially be the site of the Last Supper, known as the Cenacle, in the background. The discovery gives gravitas to the narrative found in the Book of Matthew, depicting Jesus' entry into Jerusalem as a fulfilment of Zechariah's prophecy; this prophesy anticipated a 'Second coming of Jesus Christ' and the revival of the dead. Adding depth to this story is the citation: "Tell the city of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you! He is humble and rides on a donkey and on a colt, the foal of a donkey." Another clue emerged in 1585 AD with the find of a fourth-century sculpture that seemingly shows Jesus post-resurrection, standing before Mary Magdalene with a structure sporting a distinctive slanted roof behind him. However, the Book of John suggests Jesus ventured back to the Upper Room after his resurrection, a detail that might connect the depiction with the gospel narrative, although not every expert is on board. There are dissenting opinions suggesting the image may actually depict Christ with an unnamed kneeling woman pleading for healing, as opposed to alluding to his triumph over death. A depiction of Jesus at the Last Supper (Image: THE CHOSEN) In an epic project reminiscent of a Dan Brown thriller, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) launched a trailblazing examination of the Cenacle in 2019, using cutting-edge laser scanning and high-definition photographic techniques to peel back layers of history and uncover the original appearance of the site believed by many to have hosted the Last Supper. "I felt like I was in the book by Dan Brown, 'The Da Vinci Code'," said Jerusalem district archaeologist Amit Re'em, sharing his intrigue with Fox News. "We needed to decipher the ancient symbols." Carefully surveying every nook and cranny, the researchers crafted 'create accurate models of the space', unveiling unusual characteristics including 'obscure' artwork featuring Agnus Dei or 'Lamb of God' emblems, alongside the Lion of Judah iconography on the ceiling. "The lion was the symbol of King David," Re'em highlighted to Fox, with a nod to historical texts that align Jesus as a scion of King David. The veracity of the Cenacle as the true venue for the Last Supper has yet to be pinned down, pointed out Re'em, citing a lack of concrete archaeological proof. The dilapidated state, poor lighting, and numerous renovations at the site have long stood in the way of a thorough investigation, according to the IAA. "From time to time, when we have an opportunity, we're continuing to document other parts of the holy complex," explained Re'em to Fox. "I hope that maybe, in the future, we will have the opportunity to conduct a small-scale classical archaeological investigation."
Irish Daily Mirror
28-05-2025
- General
- Irish Daily Mirror
Room where Jesus held Last Supper for disciples 'close to being found'
The house where the Last Supper may have taken place is still standing in Jerusalem, 2,000 years on, according to archaeologists. They suggest that this significant Biblical event took place in the 'Upper Room' of a two-storey house with limestone walls and a red sloping roof, which remarkably remains intact in the city after two millennia. The room is briefly mentioned in the Book of Luke 22:11-13, when Jesus Christ asked for a large, furnished upper room where he and his disciples could partake in their Passover meal. The Bible recounts the story of the Last Supper in 33 AD, where Jesus sat with his 12 apostles and revealed that one among them would betray him - identifying Judas Iscariot as the traitor. He also forewarned his followers about his impending death, and not long after, Jesus was crucified by the Romans. As per The Daily Mail, the location has been depicted in numerous artworks dating back to at least the fourth century AD, around the time when Christians first began visiting the room to commemorate Christ's final moments of freedom before his crucifixion. Thousands continue to visit the Upper Room each year. In the narrative, Jesus blessed the bread and wine, explaining that they symbolised his body that would be broken and the blood he would shed for the forgiveness of sins. This act is still symbolically referenced in Christian services today through the Eucharist sacrament, reports the Mirror US. The Upper Room, where it's believed the Last Supper took place - also known as the Cenacle - was originally a prayer room with capacity for over 120 people. Its location is briefly mentioned in the Book of Luke 22:11-13, when Jesus asked for a large, furnished upper room where he and his disciples could share their Passover meal. This two-storey house is situated in Jerusalem's old city on Mount Zion, positioned above the southern gate. It was built with expansive, branching columns supporting a vaulted ceiling and a sloping red roof that remains visible today. However, due to the lack of archaeological excavations at the site, it's unconfirmed whether the building existed during Jesus' time. In 1884, Greek Orthodox Christians unearthed what's thought to be the earliest map of Jerusalem while constructing a new church in Madaba, Jordan, dating back to 560 AD. This map was designed as a depiction of the Holy Land, showcasing the Cardo Maximus (main street) and two sacred structures at the southern end, identifiable by their red roofs. It wasn't until 2017 that David Christian Clausen, an adjunct lecturer in Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina, noticed something unusual. His attention was drawn to a building featuring the same red, sloped roof as the Cenacle, located in the exact same spot. Researchers were intrigued, knowing they needed additional evidence to confirm the site as the true location of the Last Supper. A sixth-century illustration found in Italy back in 1846 depicted Jesus entering the southern gates of the city on a donkey, with the Cenacle visible in the backdrop. This scene resonates with the narrative in the Book of Matthew, which describes Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, fulfilling Zechariah's prophecy that foretold the 'Second coming of Jesus Christ' and the resurrection of the dead. The story goes on to say: "Tell the city of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you! He is humble and rides on a donkey and on a colt, the foal of a donkey." Another ancient portrayal of the locale emerged in 1585 AD when a fourth-century carving was discovered, showing Jesus before Mary Magdalene post-resurrection, with a structure featuring a distinctive slanted roof in the distance. According to the Book of John, Jesus made his way back to the Upper Room following his resurrection. This imagery aligns the meeting of him with Mary Magdalene to the scriptural account; however, not all archaeologists are persuaded. Some contend that the sculpture portrays Christ before an unnamed woman who kneels before him seeking healing, rather than signifying his return from the dead. In 2019, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) embarked on a mission to peel back centuries of modifications to the Cenacle using cutting-edge laser technology and advanced photographic imaging, aiming to uncover its original state during the time of the Last Supper. "I felt like I was in the book by Dan Brown, 'The Da Vinci Code'," shared Amit Re'em, Jerusalem district archaeologist for the IAA, with Fox News. "We needed to decipher the ancient symbols." The experts meticulously scanned every inch of the room to 'create accurate models of the space', which led to the discovery of previously unnoticed features within the Cenacle. The detailed imagery brought to light 'obscure' artwork, including depictions of the Agnus Dei, or 'Lamb of God,' and the Lion of Judah adorning the ceiling. "The lion was the symbol of King David," Re'em elaborated to Fox, noting that: "According to ancient scriptures, Jesus was a descendent of King David." Despite these findings, Re'em emphasised the need for further research to confirm the site's historical significance, acknowledging the lack of archaeological proof that the Cenacle hosted the Last Supper. The IAA has previously cited challenges such as inadequate lighting, worn walls, and numerous renovations as obstacles to more extensive investigation of the site. "From time to time, when we have an opportunity, we're continuing to document other parts of the holy complex," Re'em mentioned in his conversation with Fox. "I hope that maybe, in the future, we will have the opportunity to conduct a small-scale classical archaeological investigation."
