First century Jewish site near Sea of Galilee described by Josephus Flavius reveals synagogue, ruins and artifacts from Roman period.
By NICOLE JANSEZIANruins 311(photo credit: Courtesy Travelujah)Nicole Jansezian writes for Travelujah.com, the only Christian social network focused on travel to the Holy Land; www.travelujah.comA new guesthouse, an adjoining archeological site and a uniquely written Catholic mass are poised to bring back to life the New Testament times of Jesus and his followers in the Galilee.The Magdala Center, planned by the Notre Dame Pontifical Institute, is being built on the western shoreline of the Sea of Galilee and will spotlight a series of historical features which peer back into the first century. Even though the Gospels barely mention the city, Magdala (or Migdal) played a central role in that era, as is revealed in the ongoing archeological digs on the site.The entire archeological area uncovered so far is exclusively first century, which is a rarity. Most sites, even those nearby, usually show an overlap of periods. But this one is purely Roman era.Father Juan Maria Solana, charge of the Holy See at Notre Dame in Jerusalem, is the visionary behind this ambitious project. Solana spoke about Notre Dame’s plans to continue uncovering the ancient city on the grounds while building the 130-room guesthouse, called Notre Dame of the Galilee.
He listed some of the impressive findings in the excavations, including a first-century synagogue, a marketplace, a villa, a perfectly preserved mosaic, rooms paved with well-cut stones, and three arches, one of which is still standing. The synagogue contains mosaics, a carved stone menorah and frescoes. Some scholars think Jesus likely preached there.The excavations have also revealed that the Jewish community located there was likely very wealthy. Another key find is the port of Magdala, some 50 meters inland from the current shoreline and near the marketplace.With a villa, a marketplace and a port, Magdala could possibly have been more of a leading town than Capernaum, previously thought of as the “capital” of the Galilee.“For people, especially Christian pilgrims, looking to understand the time of Jesus, we have the time of Jesus seen here, very pure,” Solana said.Solana has been consulting with biblical scholars to see if there is a link between Magdala and Jairus, the synagogue patron whose daughter Jesus raised from the dead.Magdala was one of the larger cities in the Galilee at the time of Jesus.According to Jewish historian Josephus Flavius, it had a population of 40,000 at the time of the first Jewish revolt (66-70 CE).Perhaps the most special prospect though is the wooden altar, built in the shape of a first century boat, which Solana designed especially for the site. Located on the shoreline itself, the altar will be used for openair masses which can be said with a special missal written by Solana specifically for Magdala.Solana has spent his spare time over the past two years composing a mass for the site, drawing from Gospel passages regarding Magdala, Jesus, the Galilee, Mary Magdalene, and the calling of the first disciples along the lake’s shores. The mass has been approved by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.Solana hopes to inaugurate the hotel in December 2012. The site is located at the foot of Mount Arbel, between the city of Tiberias and Kibbutz Ginossar (just south of the new Galilean Resort featured in the April issue of The Christian Edition).
Related TagsTiberias
if(catID != 151){
var cont = `Take Israel home with the new Jerusalem Post Store
