THE EARLY CENTURIES Jewish Believers “JESUS OSKAR SKARSAUNE and REIDAR HVALVIK, saitors i HENDRICKSON PUBLISHERS=e oo 22 Archaeological Evidence of Jewish Believers? James F Strange 1. Previous Studies (One ofthe fst mares to gin international rengriton fr eeterch ino a ‘haeologial remains understood to be “Jewish Chrtian’” was that of Cha ‘Gertmon-Gennene. in 1853 Ckrmoot-Gannens published «bie aril oe Rene Archéolpique on the dscovery of inectbed caus ftom the Hil ef Offence (itn c-Howa) infers. These ores wee insted with rope names in Hebrew and Grask (eg. Yehuda, Sinton Yeshua Shlonton, Hee eso, ef), but some vere als inscribed with equal stm cross Clermont ‘Gunmen ineprted the eine ax evidence tata ancien Twi amy had ‘embraced Cristian. Hen Leer poplin this interptetitin ong any schol inthe Dictonnave d'rclog crevene ede Line (1937 “The sbjet matter continued to Tee tention fom few scholars om time to tine For example in 1919 K. Smale wrote a description of he sced ‘aves of Bethlehem (bt), Nezarth youth, and Jerse burl) asec, ‘them wit the earliest Christian (Jewish) generations Albrecht At sported on {an insrpion fom Tatas across the Jordan in 1929 which mentoned as s0gue). cing it "s monument of Judeo-Christinsy?™ Others conruted ‘ties of cetsin archaeological remains, such as Ten- Rape Pe in the Cor it inscription udaicaron, but wahoo connecting them explicitly wi omthing alld "Fish Crit °C, Gesmont ‘he tomb complex The only ems tht might signal eaty Chestanty ee ‘ree rose ci nto the rock tothe lef of the entrance of tomb ore — hove the dor of tb Xi, and one above the door of tom which eds ‘he cenl chamber Thee yt no stsfictory expansion forthe ona, fn even a Christan explanation se he lesley onthe grounds tha whey ‘we Jw of the development of the cross as «Christian symbol to date wuld teem to pecdethisconlavon, otha: Rashid accepts the ces as Chl tan, nt of Byaanrne hers, but of early "Hebrew Crisis” “aly Cine, descendant of ew wf Tob Va Xan ‘a josesion of ie-oedohected bom the eer, hi be bate ‘ny tom hath wo (or more, ow bleed by wesdhrng] eset ee of poral of Tab Xan Ute or more) Heber Cine wee {atta heme mes) fin sth eof ths tmb- cea ns hee os wis ced inthe cet of ego s Tmte il and Val liom ve ‘seeped by Neo: Chane A858 which oroberees yep ede ‘om where owed pices foal metal reno a eek? (On the other hand they may alo be Byeatine Chin adios Is, how ate wet interpret the? How wosld Byzantine Chriians know where mark cower? What would be the purpose in Goings? 222. Dominus Fvit “This aensve Roman and Byzantine cemetery delivered up about S00 burial paces, The eating, atrangement and lack of decoration of thee tomb ace Ally what one would expert of tombs ofthe period anywhere in ease, The ‘aly data that might sugges evish Chetan ae the name and ornament {ound on some ofthe ousaies (eabovs) 423 Dtihage “he fnd t Kfar et-Tur onthe east flank ofthe Mount of Cis, eerie yaoen as Bethghageinclee much more than the coe toenb mentioned above. a {about en tombs have been reported fom the Francisca propery, and there a ey oer. The tombs represent oar type all epee nthe repertory fobs rom Jerse the Dene-tye (one tomb) the stor flier thee to) che ough-grave or sngle-intumation graves cit ta tearoom. tach of which original had 2 sone cover sk examples), and the shaft reve bch ao bore asane ab cover (hse graves together) | ‘Asin the ese ofthe tombs found st Dominus Fei the ctng and a rangement of these tombs ate precy what ane would expect of tombs oF ‘he petiod ampere in Frwsalem. The data that Saller and Tests reported Jews Christan were the graft found in tom 21 (oe below), Other ames J sad ornaments found on some ofthe osuares were aso suggestive to them ipe above)” 224 Getemane ‘The Tomb ofthe Virgin Marya st boll and ebuit oer many generations, \eatains ome tobe whith pousbl dtetothe fist cenary 2 Theeryt of the ‘modern chatch enclose ck et chamber sme 17 meters ong chiles ‘nzlly thre benches fom a putative Bt cantor tomb, Inthe de ofthe ‘eyps north wall is an entrance into another tomb thats ikely fom the ist ‘entry also. That heist oi was oat nthe enter ofthe Byesatine eypt ‘Spe that Chrisins fom the oar or fh cenary hada local teton of Abeba of Mary (or of Mary) that seord well with the achaeoogicl erie P dence of st century tombs Yet thet nothing in the meoepboogy ofthe ord ths sogests carer Chusan Yeneration. On the othe and, thee nothing ‘hecating or arangement ofthe tora that orbit with te tadon 225, The Picad Too he Moun of Oes a 1974 municipal worker on the Mount of Olives scidetaly opened an ascooliumtype tomb that was plastered and pated. There i ite to sey of ‘he form and function ofthe tome, which was completely ordinary. The plot= ing also, which fenured realistically modeled birds in colo were rltively ‘common in painted tombs. On the other han, one desertion seemed to here to cosse. This presence Jad Bagh to atinte these of ths tomb evih Chsane 5 atm Road The Tob of Sanhedrin” PQ St (9505: 23-38 ssprieaa ; 2 thn Rati “Te Tem of Sanbea? PQ 6 (1954) 1 (Cone on om Xana pv (soon om ll) aed 18 ‘Wace, "Te Tom Serer (1954) 20, ‘stor ote sh tombs in free Saad 2 Gren, The Aaa Tom: Poe url Caer he to Vly frie Dern: ee ARS Athen 536 “Se ge Th esa Sorin ofthe Shine Boge _sbalsming But Nove zope al Tor dl Verge» Geman Libr Ayman 2 (192) 28639 sod chew; al In Tos Chats and te Hay Fee 202-5 “Helrmine Sage “Rivera di un emis ptcata lle? tier Armas 974 17087,‘The cross depicted ae indeed enigmatic and do notbetry these sil ig ‘ution do the birds and floral moti For example in Ggure 3 the pacts ‘blower and eae sore oles expert exes with fie brah bate adowlke feature withthe css is aplied wit abroad broth and no spec The part ros abowehas eve less to commmendit aestetcally tis temp to inepret these oughly vertal and horaontal trkes a more like pag ew de ay of ppc | igre The Purative Cross fom the Pined Tomb onthe "Mount of ies, bom Finegan, 1978. Buin ms, Amulets, and the Bethphage Graffiti ‘his ety mie the curious stadae or sone amulets fom Khicbet Kiki ‘eh ecemly have been reputed o beast = Irnssiptions "Te inscription fom Tals in southern Syria hasbeen mentioned sleady ove Alt opined tat the insription dated fom the founding of synagogue ob and Samuel an Clematos, hel fater, eit [hin ymagagoe’ Toxo {USeuoiniog vot Kiqudos navi avnv sv every obese) noted thatthe fathers nae, Clematis, conta with the genie ames ofthe sons Clemstios ceed ea bea Byantine Gres name bat lt "Simon Grin and Hay Places 12-36. Salt ner a Fose, et decom lenge (197) 4. lsd wat powgraph or ogalgerue pra "en Deana $oeve append nfl ch palatine Coppa (20,04 Arohasig! Eide of och elves sgched that the athe began the ulin and he sans completed rahe ie {Be geoeraon ofthe intcpion of Theodot i Jerulem, The bulng oy wl ave been used by ewith Gran beease Tl ony 20k south of Se ah which Epipbanus kaew ran Foionte village (Pan 30.2 and 18, 6 41806, 166) The Eoiooites were known to cll heir assemble "oynagoges” and 90¢ tharches"™ Ths construction maybe borne by the dats but tient reuied 42 Fay J The ite of Fy inthe Golan Heights has provided researchers wih seer Pit of dats indenting occupation by Christians an Jems bxt not eseiy Jew Christians. Dauphin has interpreted te epigeaphc remains o mean tht ow ved in Far and ht ews and Chritan polation interpenerted di Jngthe ety Byeantne period. Infact she wonders wheter the Chistian mit pe been descendants of the Jes hat rat ocrapied the village” Tao, he igure Four Menorahs om Far inthe Golan Heights, om Tor, 1993. ‘A "En Dent 9 PN levih ini Pom he of te Nw ‘ame! erie is aap ne ech Cer PE ota Ba "ECM, Dap, fh and Crs Communi AS ofevoncerom A= chop Srv #8 114 980) 1384/0 Me Deupin aa Sehondla See ‘pet ihe Rosana atin ede ote Calan gh: relay Reps on ‘Three Seasons ure (198-181) 1238 (193): 18-206. Dap Faeee ee ee eperlaetae tene aes ire een referee el tet fe oe ee ees sinker memnnt ner ste ond cn etnies arte oenen rears ee eee cas ie eee ee Sort a seen See soe ee ee pele a pe oy rere ye rere ene ee ee cae eben cauaae Rete Easter een 3.3 Iscspon rom East of he oda Mancini hae summarized some of the seserch by Franciscans and othe who have understood cera inserptons to be fodeo-Chrisen For expe he teconds am scription om Kerk sn Jordan which records theft Lie st de ig nd. Chreea rch Orin Chri (1984): 23-45 Dain te apn Theta forse Cocumction 25 Deohineispreation sed ‘iar Comments on sh na Chess Commer in anaes’ 7S firtisesssiuat “Flor Cicin ond Hoy ce, Diath reso besnd ne Gross word the oor"? “Dauphin pt out tt. Shumacher pat 1808 ons mena hr suet tat a gs lund nea eb» hnoonal er bow he branch ‘ton top Se She The le Saree rth Gera Ssy othe ‘of he ly Land Londo, 1s Sehemchw seaport of meno ‘ihre us tp cred on 2 iat rom Khe anak 18 ‘ERC Gree an ian ows, Fegan an Cut he Glo ihe Gra ‘ed Ot acon fhe Bama oe yamine Bar ot ae Sas Pre {Soop et ‘egg and Urman fens, Pagans ond Csi, 29 Arhaslogie Evidence of Joh ative? fons ENYTOA, tn other rds, a ose Upson was nd i he tide ofthe fx le which ar of the Gres word etter “hee? The secon that br tow hh kn he pao mold snd Gastinn cos siraling that the ceed wos «Chisum, Aecoting we Nex |G oe of he reo he spop the nsetan ofan nes fey ca tthe tet proper, ht nh aan et ena Power” aces) these engable od rekon ing® Reng theese inthe weds ra upon opr nepteaan ‘Fieters sn mb wich oe ao ee) ta tase a segs fresiat oon of place. That woud em eee orn schol we Subs id inowdge 4 Lamallae o Laine a Amulet amelie ot Laminae thin sheets of copper, veo gold upon which one ote magical formulas and sybase wel knoe in the ancient waa They ‘erm magical amulet aginst dsease and har, to keep avay el spirit td Invoke the Dewings of angels demons, or God onthe beeer A few suet of ths pe have appeared inthe literate ced a archacologicl materia in Sp put ofthe fudeo Cha hyphens For example, an istanct in ser is known fom Macabean Emmaus (amas) and published in 1908 Vincent cased this amulet swish In a ae sadyE. Testa dentifed it sposbyJewsh Cristian onthe grounds that the amolet protects the bearer fom the snare of he demoa “Shamadel” ust 23. {nthe later Roman Rite one prayed for protection fom the soars of demons * Asother mult inser found in Aleppo and inscribe in Aramaic isocsted in {he Fagetion Museum in Jerusalem. Bape pots out, lowing Tes, that ine entions thie seal, that of Bl (that of Hay (>), ad that of eae (7) seems to fall for Bags that there anes estab the Jesh Chie ‘an characte ofthe amet. ‘The est example of sch Jc Chrsan amulet a us cording to the pulser i ser sheet pon whidh the to appear in Arama in Pepa ‘ehnige,Accorng tothe Bedouin who found une fmm te desert sth of fuser and was found with Herodin amps, which may mae it ist ot sc end century CE Thi amulet opens wth words rans a “the Ol of Faith oe in, acl rier 32-33. Mancini cies A Canora hon’ ‘mort prc vel pace di Mec (Samia su Gee snc tae ‘isin Ponts nut aces {ut The Chk fos te Creme 2 and 16 Ta, Simblime de Caden . Mancini fd enn, 72-7. Oe ebay ding ae ges msm =“Oil ofthe Fil” (ro) Thelin hati eal or interpreting he sccerding to Teta ine 8. Thien contains fom ft torts gate “F and an TH (which must be read Eom lel ight cOMEAy 10 the Te mul, which rad fom right I} a5 ain of monogram, ad Bal ‘The rea is +4114. Teta bleves that the onogtam and the two sal sma crue etal that Jest Chri under dacasion In his commen Devel the + a “eruclorm tau” and explains the ita the “al OF Mahe sslopted by Christians fam the saving tu of Fake 9.4 ‘A alerative reading ofthe central monogram of line 8 is +4. Tat, wl it ay bear the interpretation of Gree fots and Ei, 8 nota pace Interpretiton. Tas isan Aramaic amulet, ad we expect deed explana that takes ito atcount a Avance monoya in an Aramaic duet tea ‘of Greek monogram inan Aramaic docament.® 35. Graf Cerin putative Jewish Christian remains have aeady been mensoned st Bethpage, Bethpage tomb 2 contain sicteen grafic into th all neat the entrance Thee contain our examples ofthe + sigh twa exampes of he sig. wo palm leaves the Grekletes Py and several comport sigs ln ston fone ses row of Greek Uni eters that ied no Sense: @YOTX wth te. ‘nd rw underneath: NIH, which also yields no sent. Thee ia wel sign that resembles the Figure, sgn tht may be formed of T and together pee haps re, and a hatch formed of four horzatl line and ire verte oes (Testa eds this sane with eve guar ora "Dadcae” om p88, Bat he ‘etograph on 9.91 shows 16 squares) "Tota interprets ces gn, eters and iatre este evidence for Fei CChrsianigy>Theteraure he uses to suppor his argument however conc = [ME tsa, Uh a Fon CO de male ar ane ate er le (a Sp Ene en: aan Ping Bg The Cha fon ‘Pra hue de 39-4 Le wep epee 94g {ovata ue rtertion cone ssc anges eerste Le Nom LH eprogt ‘eee ae ae gu asopres en citer cst ce sao tg, Asay of he Ne Teme 2 ir schlare mained onion eth Crh oteprention this auc IT Mi "Une Ame Judeoaramteane” i 8 (19672 8-81 ‘Sc "Le tmple sateen de Kast Tanna. 4 propos dua lve ne B27 (Goa 27:40 Ot center ren Ror Katy “en nub ov Ar ‘mae Arles fom Jee (1991-2678, 8 orp Nah" Ane AE (ta Moder rege? C00 6 982 NE tena, Eecurar The Gait of Tc 2a eighagin The Arisa Sine he Sine Spgs Slit sod Ee frne Hence Png Preside) e119 Tage nate. The same mate] spear Tal, Chitin ond he Hy Pius, ArchaolgielEvidence of levish Beers? psn of ancient polemics ofthe church fathers pains gnostic nterpettons, fot oecsarily evish Chistian, Taylor has pointed out Altiough et ut fe ancient mallenaria views rom 2(Shaonle) Enoch, ome emacs ost others these do ot demonsteat a uniquely Jewish Crisis view Furth Dore hi isterpetaions of other sign sce ta be mete specltion more than “ating ese and agen eaies the question of method, Final there nohing ine gatu that ae dtnetve cep the Old Hebrew “youth Cook whch esa sea slight” (9) Thats not enough o conclude wish Christianity in spit ne + Sans Architectural Remains: Nazareth, Capernaum, Beth Ha-Shittah 41 Nexareth ‘Probably some of the most hoy debated architectural sermains aged tobe rcated «> lewish believers are tose from Nazareth, special he ro- ae, wal and cut Bedrock from benesth the modern Latin Chu of the foauaciation. pure 5: Niareth Remains, Suggesed Raconsructon, From Bagat 190, “Sp, iris te Hey aes ‘eter “Encarta th mien: Tl, Chitin and the ay aces 8“The figure presents proposed econtraction ofthe for pin ofthe ‘century basilica unearthed at Neath, which wae part of monastery! te Teter designations inthe vatous rooms low Baga. The proposed estan, speculation, but enlarges on Bagats interpretation of certain rersinn, he north ylBate was not found inthe excavations, but ite pobably no sci thatthe stance begins atthe east-west line fom the north end of the ae ‘which was found. The three door rom the stom cinto the ne and sate ‘the basilica ae Based on parallels * The worchip space ofthe nave messue, 5.2136 mor about 886. meters. “co tans of sped intrest in he plan fe the cavel tthe north incrp. ‘ated ino the noch ale The agro he two ty tered the “Shin fe Aamancition” and the smaller called simply “the lite goto No. 29° tthe ‘maryiam The waren of the act aie ofthe church icaled "The Chap of the Angel” One can ee that prof the bedrock was hewn amy to incomporse g hil and its two caves ino th nrc aie of 2 aslicachorch ofthe fh Cony ‘Theeract outlines ofthe hews bedrock re teday unclear onthe west orth and as side as the ste yas dturbed by exensve rock eating fv « Crowder (Church ofthe Annunciation, which obscured mach of he eal eine The floor ofthe nave ofthe church was formed fei masa of which ‘only sal part reins. That small pur inca wteth fo lack tere \ehidk the exavtor elle a “crown” within which eoss monogsam let ‘monogrammatic rss) formed ofthe Grek eter P anda superimpoed Greek ‘The same monogram appears at least seven times in the foos ofthe th century church at Een north of Acc, but without the enctling wren yt ‘inte A large cout in the Boor ie known fot he sth centucy Byzantine ‘huh at Shave Zion nee Bvt, but not cross monogramn Howes whats ‘more interesting that the monogram ie not centeredon the nave on ster ax batts top points ort toward astacase down tothe caesin the north sen side the ale of the two exes or the matyium northwest ofthe Moai of {Conon ie small, square moss. The sme monogrim apes i this mea ‘inside and aso points ine west of nar * That, the orientation of thee ‘at Fm he Baining Tl he XU Conary xan i a re Jee Fanccen Pring Pree 199) For ea of Reps ere Suet Coutaonl yeaa" "ER Srnge The Emerece of he Corsi Bain inte Fourth Cry 0 Isreal Susi Forman Crna ua 20, "SV ai "he Grek serpents he Fay Cian Couch oe” Enter Be ono supp ie A sammy fee Carson sprain Mh As toah chur Te Nw Ea varies ‘ut Eros they Candle. Sets rem 988) 1310 "Bou Prarie MA Yah and brag uv tae om: Te ‘ly Chin Church, Repo te Eesha Carnaby the tel egret ‘Arete and Msc Roe 195) Bagt, Een Nar 17,6. Archaeol Evidence of evish Believer? tes shows thatthe ovetation ofthe worshipper to the north who the fares atthe objets of veneration. Boga unearthed mosses inthesouth aide ofthe church () andsooms di, znd Bedding for messi lo appeared in roots kre and This suggests hat ‘Beother rooms of the "conven? wera sity pave, Bap ems rom Hpac” on the model of other Byzzncine convents Hesleosgset that fooms@ and gay hate een prt of clots sincr onthe southside of 0m fata the foundations were enforced West ofthe western al fata ¢ eos sal ragrent ofa mos of very large etree. Bag als the moss agen “the agment ofthe ister Beneath the mosis of the south ale as o0m were ound eins ofthe fourth od ih century C2 coin he de ofthe bulding fom potery eran, Baga epored that ids of masble aa aed imestone architec fg meats fom tne time have gen an de of ome ofthe aru ofthe chase, ‘Thm ince cours bss an Deanne capa with ose ares ince ‘ante echines, small marble pos forthe altar, marble chance screens stall, ‘api fora cchuma 26cm in diameter, and «smal column 22am. in amet sth right fing fo €0 cn then spiral ting or more tan 37am (bee ‘ole, pecaps fom an lr and gmente cart, Gres ncrptions ‘Baga noticed hat there were paren ec wll o-aed inthe Bsa Sine church. This is particlay the south syabste, which separates the nave from thesoah ile Arached othe wall e-ed sea stylobate war aval toring orth at the juncture ofthe ter apse Anothe short agent of pre Byeantne ‘eal pened wile excavating room a Finally acomne ofa poe Bysatine oom ‘orstroctare appeared in sium Furthermore, beneath the mosses of rom ih were found ais of ar sbixectoa fregments hat appear to pre-date the Beatin church. In form they ‘esenblefepments rom saagogueSeuctres ofthe second tothe fourth cnt 1esC The agmenteincuded sic colum dre about 54-57 cm. in dames, ‘ve colamn Bases wih plinth 55-60 em. in ameter (vo of then ated for seen or transennae,Cwo capitals nd 4 min ameter a the botorn (but ith scot plae of oruses below the aaa), three imports or springer for ‘ches wth 2 span of about 224 m, rounded and square comics, 09 ths ds four door ad evra mousing nd buldig sence © Some of these srcitecturl fragments featured graft in Greek and one in unreadable Arte ‘aan, One small marble agment bears Aramaic words on bath side Other a9 Fit Sho Sth oa "AE Tot, Nr hen Crisiana: Ri ison Snel (Ilo: acing es 1965) 70110 Targa ii 19 ee lg poe eatuegavie)‘sdomments onthe stones wer crosses, a igure of man in profi sd Sue ‘of 2 man sanding with pea or standard and wearing scale aot Bagg, took the architectural agents and grat az evidence hata Jewsh Chis synagogue once stood on this st, which was mole by the Byaatine ag ees to bul the church Bogart agued tha the bullers of the pre-Byzantiae bulldng hed in ‘Jewish Christians in part because a square basin fund benezt the macs, nave a The asin messures 200% 1.98 mands about 16m. dep. A saiane Five steps inside the basin descends rom the souteart. Two mot sep appets ‘on the outside ofthe basin, which suggests thatthe ancient ground lee mas shout 20m, higher than the top of bedrock at the im ofthe sn. On the or ‘ute the basin and nent tothe wall stood a heap af plaster apron many of ‘which contained ral seratcednto edo grem pat Other rl pea ‘on paste fin the basin, Presumably chee ple fragments found th way herein the destruction ofthe presdurehsrcties bythe Byzantine bilan “The gat are writen tainly a Gree, but three are in Syria In adson were found representations of bouts ladders, posible net, and other shapes which “esta interpreted as without doubt Jewish Casan® Bagat therefore iter preted ths basin a a Jewish Christian baptismal bin “Tylor has argued that thisbain mos stisfactrly interpreted a vat for sqcezing grapes She points out hat Baga found «kf fo pape hareting ‘ma niche onthe north ie ofthe bas, Sach Rae are moe economical ine ‘erpeed as simple agncutual instruments not of cute charter, On the ‘tberhand one searches the published ests in vin fran ol vt wine ak into which a sai has ben ct.?™ The Sst century c= synagogue eich san Ins ital bath equipped sith an oer or collating at ons south side. The ool ented asa mig or ial bath has a narrow stairway down on the och de Theres ain the vat wed for callecton ofan wes the eer” Wi therforenot ou ofthe question stall ht thi pool ound beneath fhe mo- Si ofthe Byzantine chur and the rmiarobe found beneath the Cher of St Joseph in Nazae sine itl bath ‘ig nurpetd sw ob the Bap: Bap Boatin in Nae Tayo ener rao a man sale on Ton Gta Doping a heap are" PQ 19 Io) Te, Sha oan ener ‘tag Been Nasr 13. Tate, Neue Gd Cishn $678 {tain Cesta nd he Hy Bz, 24033, ga Enon ach i ane, Win an Pingu i ira an Ot Mere oun Journ oh iy af OTe Ameena Sle Onl Re ‘each Moog Se 0 heat: Spel ade 198), "sae te ln in Neer “Le Sepete so Pula di ode dn 147 os Ardell Evidence of lewih ative? es rue tat the ra ate x0 Sagmentary and dicult w dvipher tht they hardy bare definitive readings Fr example the fous graftio XE MAPIA {nw ins may be scratched by two diferent hands. [19 then XE may be ead pinsbiyas an abrevation "Chit" [Xpioe) not "Had", ‘On the oer hand we must give an account of the aehitecturefagmens > that esembl hase fom smagogues and the mabe fament with Azate on bh sides Tha these tems ane be vate are fagmenteo he vith aerial al turf Neca bard seems necessary t del. ‘When Feria (381-384 C1) spoke of "big and very spend cave in wich Ease] lived” at Nezreth she mentions no bulding, sor the Feds ofthe > ihabiants She may have Been speskng of todays “Shrine of tbe Any sition” In ike manner oe cannot easy dedace he egos identify of those who visited the caves cut nt Bedrock before the advent ofthe monks and thet Sain pogram nthe fit century C= Ise pore, but not ecesry con: © chsion tha they were Judo: Christians. $2. Copeman geri epoted also, "Moreover, in Capernaum the howe ofthe prince of > tne apeteshas ben made into church, witht orignal walls etl sanding” "eappeacs that her statement tends to be corroborated bythe excisions of = Gatbo and others beneath the Boor of the octagonal church at Capemau, which appears to hae been bul atthe same ime se the bali church andthe ‘monasey st Nevaeh, “The Spare show the plan of the re-Byzansne statue of tase at Cepernaum as adaped frm Corbo, that the our century building” The gue shows vertical hatching ovr the prt tht this eeostrction proposes tohave been roofed ané fellows Corb’ terminology the "Venetatet Room” ft One secs that this isa roughly eqeare area enclowed bya thick wall, One {teed either from the north door o south doos and proceeded tothe tus fa building which bore eo tries over room I (also called the “dorms ee $8" andthe “Venerated Room"). Room | was comerted to public wage fom | an elier room. The builders added an arch resting on two added pitt to the north and south sides of room I so that it Beate a high at two store, ‘Te interior was plastered wih a hick, white planter Arts then plod he Dlastered walls with red panels, lowers, and other figures, Frequent visions ‘catch names and othe brit graft manly in Geek and Syne, bat so in tatn and Hebrew. "Sl Walon, Epo Tc he Hat Land (Londons SECK, 397) 18, ‘ur though tee asap aa oe oe cae aod hat Marys We ova ewe ‘Wilkinson pois et oul contaion with be ping mt St Cis Char han. geri vl Vigo Corb afr Gl Bf! Dela Cina (Poleadons of the dion ‘hea Fencsenum 8; ruses France Prt Pes, 1975), VIL‘Figure 6: Plan ofthe “Domus Ecclesia” at Capernaum i its Precinct, from Corb, 175, north dor one trned est to walk between room 15 andthe ruin balding. One then trned into extance “and found hime in ‘tra which the bilder had added t the erie oom mentioned above, The pilgrim or worshipper then waled through rooms 4nd to gett room which occupied 378 4q, meter. From room 1 the pilgrim had exty i Untoted space $nd the “South Court which was abou 255. miter aes, 8, apd 20 This sneary seven times ger tan the orginal oom |. Room in as fourth century configuration, therefore ls than half he space of he ne ofthe Neareth church of 65 9 meters. Tnche figure we sc that Inu ae rconstrcted here, fetus 2 very gt 00m Room I, o he “enersted room) which i the parties room eon Strate 2 church inthe out catury- Tis room messes abost 606.7 = fr shout 41g. meter. Thi equi large by ancient standard, but others there til to diingish tis partials room or ths st of rooms fromm Sof bothers at Capernaum ® Roig for the oom st mow ealyreconsrted ae Room ar nae tr of aa ke int en pacer patel” oxatener of windows tins rong wal Th oon gure meesaiog 67 tm orabot #754 eter. Corb, Clem Archaeol Evidence of eve Beeers? so Middle Eastern Ot roof formed of log cot het ping the whole pen which were ad Bundles of reds andthe whole covered eal with « tsar oflime pater and cay—mot plaster han cay The agument tat the howe war Peters Howse is based mainly pon an repetation ofthe graft found in oom I afer construction ofthe dorm sn” Yet there are two othe archaeological discoveries to consider: 1) the pot ry ware Ia the hose changed fom normal Route was (ooking pots pats {2p hols pitchers, jules ps, an jas} 4 primary storage. 2) The stole room 1 was proved by plastering the oon was and cen The two Changes ccc inthe second half fhe ft century cand cmbine to oggest ‘Ba teu ofthe cm changed fom tht ofa Orinary house to «public se rts for aserbls ifs ts not anzeasonble to hypothe that his ay be san sanctary kaon fer he eu movement ad hat tei F deslove ben of leis Chsianoage A 3 ss Bes ‘Figure 7 Reconstruction of Capernaum, insula I view to north, ‘coures of The Viel Bibl, Ine. Used with praision, repigay cath adsey. _ "Corot araen depos om date cntent om he ple for, which be cll "bese ine" ors tas deer Corba, Cray 99-9. gus\Wenow turn to the painted plaster egment found in roe andthe pa fi incised upon ther. The excavators chose Emmansele Testa 10 wit the ‘volume on the waft whieh appeared in 19727" A deta review appeared in BASOR in 1977 and another in Bile that same year Joan E.Tiplr se considered all the evidence for the Fancacan excavations a Copetnatnn 1990and Ine “There seems tobe strong eidence thatthe ite of the church ofthe fourth century was an objeto pgrmage, even rome ofthe grin rock ate ery fragmentary and dificult eo comme into sense nits, But one, fo examples tains an ordinary Byzantine Greek ivoction (na 89): “Lor esos Chis, bp Inour servant... ion and Zi." (KEE XE BOHEI/TON SOTAON ZY), TON KAI ZI.) Another Greek prayer, No 88, read, "Chr hive mete (XPISTE EAEHE{ON).One gatos fascinating a2 pose allusion to ea, ‘amey, No. 85, which appens to reads clashing cymbal” (KYMB[AAON EAATAAZON, sie dahon, a phrase tht appears in Corinne 131 Fur thermore na. a7 appear to mention a certain Peer ia the Genitive ee TIETPOY. (6 thea prayer addresed to Petr the Apolo a visor named Peet The gente cae implies the ter) “The graft in Syriac appear inthe Estangelo alphabet, but they ate quite tngmatc and dificult to decipher No. 110i four Une yee ie sna, line 3 iin the garden" (go) and line 4 ead "the sp” (rut) No 105 apps to be the word for “eer (pay. That Syixespeakng Christians wee a (Caperaum asplsimsis no surprise, as varios anceatauthor mention Syrian (Cristian on pgrinage,nlading geri: “tate province ae some ool who now both Get and ye but oes ‘ow ony oe athe thes The bishop map know Sac bathe never oe Hes worsens Grek an as sy se hin who ras he Gres i Seco ta eejonecanundeand what be means Sly heleson sed rch ane ob tad in Get be te als sometne in atendane ae Imo Stas that he peope ener {Bat ime for my bee ihe our center CE dete the doen fy [eget of Heodian lamps found nth plaster Csr nd the ly Plas, 2225 Ta rene I per at en per hae gu tha nn nes wep ound erent tise thn dale "SE Tena, Carne He poi dala cat de Pr (Pabon fhe a ‘ign Fancheaqa 1 Feral: Fanaa Pit Pre 17) SITE Stange "The Cerin ad Heed Puen Pate 11° BASOR 226 asr7i6s73 RR Dison tapers i 3979) 9 “a Teepe Cins 8 Rea of he ‘nit Escarsions? Blas of he Aol ral rnp Scie 1 1980-81 ‘slam Teor "The atv and eel ehh cn “ep Remains an 1 0990126 Coan a ho Pla, 96 Tins. Danl 46 (7-0, L Archos Bsidenceof Jewish Beles? More tothe point ate the few words in Hebrew fetes. Testa understood hese tobe Arama even when they were quotations from the Hebe Bible For eal Testa reds No. 103 a8 "Come neat and] may teh yo" (279), Gen 27-2. Other words may dently the origin of «plain exc 2 No 100, bch denies someone as "Sepphorean reas) Tylor dismiss most of the Aramaic s misread Grek: Tate posbiytue—maybe even etainh ue [bsvey fe cases bt not for Nos 200 and 103 ‘One must ask why Hebrew eters appear al Te simplest responce fs that taese area ew people for whom Hebrew and perhaps Acie ste rather tongues The presence of Hebrew or Aram galt teas confit the hy pottes of Jewish Christian presence among the pilgrims st Capers ‘Theriot i seems premature to reject the Bypotese thc lewish Chins inne pivimage to Caper in the Byeatine period 4. Beth Heine 1 1952 Ielarchacologists discovered Byrantine arial instllion ¢Hibburz Beh Ha Shit west of Beth Shean woof the ht chambers of te instalation were paved with mosis. Inthe published plan one entered all, ‘esol on ts nartow side This oes measred only 4x49 mand ws paved ‘wth mosic showing ed Geek rosin cle ciliate escort and ‘tthe inthe wes showed designs: an ght pointed aril () andsometing {ndaipherable Four smal comes adorned the comers This oom opened fo he ‘oaths ino «second room 325.49 m, in eet Thi oot vas frnihed| ‘ith moshc 28 3.8m. divided ino agri of quay, ven inthe natn di ‘meson and ea in the long dimension for otal of seventy squares. The al ‘square contsned simple gtometic designs sucha (8, O, an %, concn ues, and so forth. The two margins on opposite ende ofthe mdse in duded signs and symbol. One sguate contained Grek eters KO-E, which Bogut understood to bean abereviation for kipte own (Lord, Savor -Otber squires contained the Jeers I, Mand perhaps a soperimposton of Land C. ‘These he undesiod wo be abbreviations for rvebua (Spit), Mapia (Mary), ‘yoo Jest) and Koweds (Chest) Is posible, of nares that hee ere sent other Grek wards “Teta interpreted the whole in terms of "ssze ladder” represemting ten Isvensand even squares fo each bene, Teta eed the Acenson of ah he “ST, Cian onde Ha Pass 24-88 whee se ent he gra Pan, Wea Maia. "OY Alcon “actos Benita” Balin of te re! Esplin Sc sy (oF 1 95a 088 Abn peste nee ho eth cet CF “ah nteshe omer the Aah conus M AY, "Chinn cology ‘nei, 1968-54" Acs Compr onan dolig ston acer ‘Prenc 1319 spore 195 (Std aie esta 2; The Ween oss ‘stu diacheolg cian, 1957), 12‘Tesament of Levi the Second Book of Booch, the Thind Book of Barus, Trenaeus, Clement of lesan, nother at sources er is interprettions He also ppeiied ro certain wepresenations in Mesopotamian art ‘Asone may realy sen whether this most Noo ews Chistian” or nop depends onthe cree itepetation ofthe ambos in the Mex Thetis te ingin the architecture to help in the aterprecation. Furthermore a ye there tv geen apn mathodaogy fr inerpreting seh nds The Abe map ep Sent ny numberof magia als thet were tepreested inthe Byeantine hts tin word. Magical practices in the aature of the case borrowed fom ety snathr and borrowing from the Jewish world would act be npossibl tall On the otherhand, noo ofthese sytels re anambiguusiFevieh No Hebrew or Aremaie words appearin the Noo. 5.*Venerated Caves" in Nazareth and Bethany Bagat and Tes both tke the poston that Jevih Chri ke to en ge in rial in caver or “gotos"™ This undestod tobe 2 continaton oa Jewish raion, fr example, praying at the grave te of aage ox sit Since certain scholars adc a great elf achaelogcal evidence to suppor this. othe ses appropriate review some ofthe evidence here 5. Nazareth ‘We have alrendy sean that caves pla an important olen the Sings st Nae rah. The Byzantine Chistian community weat to some touble to ince he ‘avewithin th pla ofthe basso the th entry eis asoreasoncleto a Se tht these caves were oatd for veneration befor het peiod I needs be sid that nothing inthe architecture bait around the ves nor anything ‘he cating ofthe caves suggest Jewsh Christan pretence Tht although Bagat thought thatthe decoration on two marble columns found neat the Byrantine convent evened ewish Christen mot, nowhere doe he uriysich spinterprention ‘rast de Girton 2482. Teya fr Bath Huta ono dotnae ewe fee in or Ton Cran he al Par 0 Sele Verde Sssmany, “The eh cates Mamie Fle A New Feta be Otel Stn eon "Si Mae. sant Mae Wassnges 9: Dabartoy Oaks 195 Tn Le pot mish det Sane €or Stet ie A 12 (asens5-tr Tent" dei Miter ade etn Lier Aran 1960: St Bap: Chink ro te Comes 13836 ‘ht SeaneArchodagy nd he Repon of oii Paeng” ANEW IL (4535 Tipo, Csi te lap Places 18165 ‘tine Meyers and ames Sunes rhea he Rabi nd Barly Chri ‘anise Tea Abeden. 19811538 ‘Pangat,Ecuionv Nareh 1 Tl Chis and te Hey lacs 257, Archos Biden of levish Beier? ‘The smal cave, the “maryrum” or No 29 was ft excavated snd planed ‘p, Mlaminck in 910° Baga ietrpretd the cave ata martyr dicated ‘ememory othe Canon ofthe “Mostic of Cano just outside cave No.29 The sac contains a Greek inscription at the entrance tothe cave No. 29 which Frets Gif) of Conon, Deleon] of frsalem” Bagat undertod this Conon Bo be citer someone named forthe early Martyr ov the Martyr of Nasreth ‘msl Bognsmetiod of interpretation ofthe cave was to examine the ga Bin he several oats of plaster on the west and est walle He wa abet shone Fa paris visited the ste very ragulcy and someimes incised or painted > Grek grat on some ofthe xx coat of plate. Figure Plan of Gave 9 ofthe Shrine of the Annunciation, from Bag 1968, ‘The cars coat of plaster vas painted with flowers on the est wall A Geek dipint ins oceuped the canter ofthe Bower, Test called the owes aan; Es in Naar 2 note ces Vaick Report ofthe Reset scorn oh Epon Contd a Sane of Nets (she, 1) {Satgbrt ole pps ote andre of data "Raat xenon Nae 188-95, 718 Tarik Nasr eg ‘nay hare ow up bets of ato i Canon in Aan the eis of hesxpreentation of Paradine™® The inscription contains» Gresk cose wth eg [AD twin ine 3. Otherwise contains atypia formu i lines 4-5: “Long (Chris ave your s(evnlt Valera" (KYP XP EEXEON (TON) AO[TAO)N EO. COTAEPIAN fllowsdby more words dic wo decipher, at neading “Tse {MTA} Baga thought Valeria as the one who but the original eve” Line teas "And give er aveadale)(KALSOE ATTH@A ONO). Ieeos ith the Sbbrevisted words Wb Cast an 2aa5 Amen XPL2 AMIN?” “otheright ofthe fowers and plans ofthe “Paradise” sa wreath ne and ‘ack to hele of which re raft cathe int the plaster "Jes Crt Son ‘of God elp Genoe and Elpros, sve] the servant of feu. and Reman © (HSOT XPICTE TIE GEOY BOHEO TENOT KAl EATUISOY (2020N) BOTAOTE TOF [IJHROTM KAI MNHEOHT ....) Personal names flow a ‘his pint, fur of which canbe ead Aches, Flpidiss, Pauls, nd Antoni "The elie plaster was covered by three more coat in successive eenovatons, The tite cont ooiined scan of Constants I 0 tat partis com could not have ben applied before 387 co™® “These Greseinerptons eval o particular intrest in Fish Christi, nordotheybringte expression [ish motifsor dss The cave el sengmate tbs and bas been interpreted varioaly ae 2omih” a memorial to the mary Conan?" and the tomb of May.” Tal repr that Daniel the Abbot ened the cave ete tomb of Joseph, but contrautes no interpettion of er ew “Therefore it seems spat to interpre the eave ad is paintings ae ga as ements of a Gentile Chisian prim presence, pechaps of the est our century oats at ast in ts poblbed fom. [Gastapiews of erin Hepes ans nciptin. Tr, hrs nd te ops 2. Tr Nee Gi Criang 112-23 iil earn ‘Diese ion oo: Tea, Nene Gude Crisis, 5-70, Bat scene in aad 9p Chas nb ly la, 208. Te ‘Thesis mori dace hor 4 ingype(E4 meanest is damon: olers Roman oncemention), Tester hws head ng ahi ‘oslo, The rere some Vicor setng ie Bagel read he sah ef voc Seti season in Eanes reh. 210 though he ened ee. ongo! Conran Taian Cian a ey Places 25. "Sfhe rom for dn more bodes tothe wt hemos Boe of eee ih crop south heal edo oto wht ited ot Sa ey aoe 0 ar tyr herrea ‘*Chmen pp, Te Holy Pls fhe Gop (aR, Wl: NewYork er, vss cees "no, isin a ey Place 25. "A pone ypethesss at Conon gee et nthe os at Dears his me bot alo the monic ide cave 2nd poss iss platering and deceton. Archaic! Evan of oish elves ‘The other major cave at Nace isthe “Sine ofthe Annan other se ignated No.31 (efi 5) Ibert ul purpose by an apse co ato fe besrock on seas wall The whole measures about 614m, ong an about Side acon orbcely 18.5 2 The fll with of the caves 5, fm not 10 outh The cling is quite igh at about 38. Rewvery ofthe mrgology ofthe cave and certainty decoration i 4 pater Nighy compliwel by te ensratine 9 he Byntine, Comer ‘modern pesiods. We can probbly hypothesize with tome veuriy thatthe Spann form ofthe cave nuded an apse with mos ar Vanek repored Betdoes he mean thatthe Byzantines nal mostcn the Moo. or atally a © rica sna within the apr ul” His post seems ambiguous fn any case eels erento tht te whole war paste and bobble hat ‘ick serps and perhaps eter mots adored the wal A hat ean be SrShow OE in chal on te novt and anced Xen heh four Er pase nowt ede ay more than he pil fo fe ave wast e-cntngf un undrroa orgy ot for odin oma Tipe Peseaby be Byte Chane weet eto eat and pst [Getne hee eno aces conted Jv Chao psec. | 52 Beery 1.1951 Benoit and Board published cistern fom Bethany which had been eu some Kind of cli siti the Byzantine period. According: ‘Bova and Boiamard the istlaton was a st spl alge, underground oy forthe storage of water messing about 40252 m. The lor was Bt, thuthecollngeended upwards sbout 32m, Sometime in the ery Byzantine rid workmen cat avy the broad saizte tated down othe botom in ve Fteps ftom the door. This necessated removing net seven cubic meters of fimenone Visors tothe ave lef their names ae Byzantine Christan ioc tins sereched int the plaster onthe interior, Some af the insexptions are Spinto red pa Benoit and Boismaré carded sixty-seven Geek graf In adtion they r= corded iL omen Site and ane they could not ead, but guessed twas ary Arico Syriac. Pera dhe most sggetve was ound onthe noth wal, in Greck and yids the flowing English: "Lord God, who mised Lazarus fom the dead, thin of your servant Aepos and yoor {fama servant Chionion” (KE 0 OF O ENIPAE TON AAZAPON EK NEKPON .ANHEOMT TOT | AOTAOF 20% AEKAEIIIOY KE XIONIOY THE SOTAHE 307). The other ‘ames a dened fromm Grok, Arabic, Aramaic and perhaps Sag bt he TSP, Beoi sal WE Boma "Un alent ante sbi & Behan KB (9s) 200351. jou Ting Te kan Cv: A ewsh-Cartan Cl Se” 97 aso} as8 6s.refeencoto Lnars suggest that thi might be the Laarom known by Egciig the ate fourth century tobe atthe second mertone fom rule “er the morphology ofthe cai resembles tht fs Jeni ital bath) niga these were two dors side 6 side which sogens that one was fro sce and theater for ges (2) An original aitese 4m. broad beneath eter line ok up sven cubic meters beter dedicated owt fhe cavity es Intended to bea ctrn (9) Thor wea low divides onthe sa eee Side rom the other exactly ar one would expect ns mipch but nokia tees (4) There was no hole he rot ofthe putative cistern fr lowering «vey Aip out wate. (5) There was small decanting basin ae the tps tit aad dean water nt the saicase. And (6) this water rgiated incite some leven meters othe outer which was connected othe decanting base by somal canal exact a equi. "igor 9 Plan and Section of the Bethany Cave Adapted fom Beno and| Boismard, 1951, with coretons from Tala, 1987, and Pine, 199, this cavity at Beshany were a situa bath or might, would end 10 p- port he Jewish Christan hypothesis That the mater installstion was oi los, Eris Tae, 6, mPuen Wae Meas B-18 Archaeological Biden of ewith ative? F aly simply Jewish, and eventually may have come into Jewish Chitin ands. Overtime the ste was pased toa lealy Byzantine Grek, Christian community whete it was altered for plgim sige, Aker ths period # wat aadoned, perhaps afer the Muslin entry io 610 ce This sceeaiopotsoys potest local memory or oral tradition connecting tht migeh to the gospel otis of Bethany (Mark 1:11, 12 = Matt 2117 ef. Lake 1999: Mark 143 = Mat 266, fob I-49; Joha (21-8), 6. Jerusalem’s “Essene Quarter” and Mt. Zion Amor advance nthe discussion of archacolglcal eins tht might com ct ith Jewish Christianity came with the publications of Brg Pines te ‘ofthe Dormition Abbey in Jeuslem. Pier was mre open othe sales of Bate ala but nota skeptical as Tivo On the other hand Piener peste controled cic method and had some Bld experience in rebocstoy. Yet smuchof Pine’ contibuin are hypthees tha can an wil be propery teed ‘eld accheslogy and teal soe, 1n 196 Pine published an exay onthe posit of an Esene Quarter on ‘Mt Zion in Jerse. This essay appeared pan in Sight revised version ia | 3891. Pierced ona well lnown parsgraph in Jovephs thet theve Wat see Gate in Jerusalem (5.145) "But we go he other way wot (rom the west closer of the temple i (the fst wal] began a he sme place, | and extended through aplacecaled"Dtheo tothe gat ofthe Benes [E56 ‘09 Byo00 xahouutwovgpow kacacivew ext rv Bao The wall ‘ootinued to the Bool of Soa, Pazmer appa the Dead Sen Srl specii+ ‘lly o 209" 2:1-4 10 show thatthe Eseoes had 2 strong lve er Zion ot ‘sl. In ation he noted that CD 12 frbidea man oe with woman in he “Maly City." Ths an che phrase in 1Q345.10 (the Congzeaton of erase) mpi that sees ved inthe ety of Jerusalem, Sach hypothe tens tobe enema, he bleeds by 1 Ex. 261-8 and 271-3, whic leates “holy oun. ‘sin atthe center of the earth therefore in erulem.™” In any eae the archatlogel evidence he wishes to addce se tat ofthe ‘ssene Gate” isa gate is excvatd by Bland Dickey betesn 1894-18971 ayes the foot of he southweser il of Jerualzakaown today "Mt ea ort archaeologists a °Zion 3 Biss and Dicey reported that ths pte had out 22 Pe An Bene Quareon Me Zion?in Sud aboot of Stale _Hwotbitoninonared Sern age Stadion iu Fanon ce som mor salem een rting Py 970), 26-8, "Pon eg deren 180-297 panes Wied Mea 15, The “hy ont" wou toys MU Zeno ‘Sesoathwatil offen teste fowl ato catahhethes heSioehthresholds or sil one upon the other, ad each corresponded to spec periog lnitshitory The hres carer resold were et, 1 ince! wide (2.48 mot To incher (254 ern] wider than ee let threshold Payer pint ou tat Aheeshold isalmostenzlly nine Roman fet ong” Figure 10 Fan of Mt Zion and te "Fnene Gate rom Poen, 191, nd Conder, 175, In 1977 Pine eeceved permission toe exavate hi gt. Pines with. Marga ad D. Cen and founda tower and the gate acy 2s ls and Dich had reported t Furthermore they were able excvate those esate filer the gate that corresponded to the several theshols Inthe eats ett assisted wit hounding ofthe neath ower they found lon 2 pottery. Th faethe fit occuption ofthis part ofthe hil othe 6-7 entre BCE, eaps during the seign of Heskish. The ees occupation corsesponded © the founding of the wall, which founding contained Hasmanean pottery. The pied of the fist threshold they und tobe vecorey dated by Herodian poten. Fring the date ofthe is threshold to the period 37 hes to 70 cn! Phe at tbrehold was of Byaastne dts WEB and A.C Dik Acai te ofthe Pls Eaplorain Fund 898 "hPa gee Mesa 9 Pre Chan nS Map," Mou Zn: The Gate he Be Ree ‘te? ZDPYL05 (1988 8595, ph 1; Pane Weg de Mera 88-97 Thao rule 18941897 London Coma Archaeal Bidens of ewith Balers? Pixs had also noticed shat at lest thee stl baths were oe found on Zio. Two of them at foundbeseath the omer just south of he extension of the Heroin set found beneath the Dormation Abbe. The ater stay cov- aed bya sel, roofed structure just west of that set in the Grek Orthodox rt south ofthe Donmiton. The presence ofthese tal ats, the fo ff which resemble those found at Qumran, tends wo con in Pmt view, ‘Bat Mt Zion was an Esene quarter inthe Herodlan Pesto" Pier bee! thatthe “Beto” in Wars W145 quoted above refs to an Essen tlt but on F the vals that human waste fl ouside the wall (therefore outside the holy ty. Conder reported Fined einer or gockcit,ectngulr trough about © hue igre 9 san artow pontng tthe “Roman city wall” Pine found this Ferue sain nit own exploration Finally, Pener Sees thatthe fest three columns of the Copper Scroll indicate an Esene olective element the ‘outhwes yal of Jeri ‘Lethe reader beaware hatin the Bible the ates of erotalem were medi arlene ays (1) forthe commodity sald there, (2) fr ear fete and (3) fr the eventual destination wehen exiting the cy Fer gates named for the commodity one reads ofthe Fh Gate (2 Che 38:14 Neh 3:3 1238; Zeph 0), the Sheep Gate (Neb i, 22; 1239; John 52), and the Horse Gate (2 Che 2315; Jer 10) For getes named fora neubyfstate, we rend ofthe Val Gate (2 Che 268; Neh 213,15) the Wate Gate (Neh 3:25, 61,5: 1237), the Corer Gate (2 ge 1613,2 Che 25:23; 265; Jer 1:3 Zech 14:1) the Dang Gate (Neb 213, {$131 12:3) and he Founatin Gate (Neh 2:4; 3:15 12:37) Foe gates named ‘or the eventual dsinaton ofthe teaser fom Jrule we find the Gate of "Ephraim (2 Kg 1:13;2 Che 2523; Nek 816, 1238) and che Gate of Beniarin {Ger3:1% 387; Zach 1410). On analogy with the Gate of Sprain athe Gate of Besjemin, may be aged tat the gat excavated by Ble and Dicle and ‘hen by Paes ed to Essenes ouside eusulem "The possibly ofan Estene Quarter on Nt, Zion ly he groundwork for contertaizing several apostolic evens a persons According Pint hey ae tw be placed on Mt Zion, that in Esene Judaism. Thee spostolie perons ‘vents ar the four “pious men cited by Take (Simeon in Lake 225, those who Pepa nso he Ean te el Sie "Archaeol iy 16587 es ¥ as New ee: le ‘iy Pen tore "Bene Wied Mes, 197-208. Th id mig ho publi panty Inwledge nbs Benepe pec wos the Gc Gren hry eth proper "Ske We des Mn 208 C.. Cones,“ Rac Spo Zn” ein Booraton Fund Quarry Suter (15) 8 Pate propos te "Beha of ops corepenn to eee “ete anna Hose of Fish "Pier ge dare 98:Te vet e Bding pce ofthe Copper Seal) ‘acinus a elewhe seeped ay anes in he erate GW The Compe Da Se Sr ngs Nek Ale 197), S84buried Steven in Acts 82, Ananis of Damatas in Act 2212, nd te Few semble in eruslem er Fenecos in Acts 25); the events f Acts 2-4 the {ul suctue ofthe erly congregation in Acts 248 and 435 andthe oben: rests added to ther aumberin Acts 67." ‘Av one can ex sx, these interpretations might plus Gtinto the tex ‘ual evidence of Acts nd Lake, btn no way isch acontentaliation ina hy Domne Fstene quarerrequted.Fsners aguraete re pets teste Eapotheses in some instances, and may be tae frterexcaraton or chance ‘nds may tend to confirm such bypthess. In any case, Pener anaes te pre ‘soeatie and eal for farther invention, “Othe ideas of Pxser cl for free excavation and testing of his pote. ‘esi he eld For example, Pine as proposed that "Bethany beyond the r= lan is toe located in Jordan ner the Wad Yai and ancient Kokab 3 steck ohn the Bape’ activity. Furthermore he proposes that todays Tomb of David on Mt. Zon was an ancient sasgopueof Judeo-Christian wage, and ht the madions ofa Christian presence oa MU Zion canbe traced with some pla siiitytsposolictimes Hisargumentsfar too detailed toueat Beebe Inany case Pinner’ publications are rich in deta and provocative in terms oftheir acceptance by 2 wider schol commit, 7.Conelusion: The Problem of Method “The mos vexing problem to fice the escent eld ethane pretin. By what rtvion™or by whatet of extra does one enti ane ‘ent of material tre or archacloiealcidence a an instr for Jews Christiane? One way would bet idea sgns and symbols wel known om the fourth century oF lt: and aempt to work backwards chronologically race their ancestors inthe achaclopcal evidence. The diiclty with this ‘method isthat thee sno continuity no chain of aeration nthe tris cle ture a5 one works Baloo fat no one cas yet lw With etsy hat “ie Nigede Mein 38-3 Parag ldo ex ‘wow ath strane on aie? es at widen Share pabniy he ies om the Aa re bean Te ae "ur pole goupe wor tke dete Ban Ean Gel eye cea te Panto eer sbomnon ofthe “nee Que he Se Rone sos ‘Banners Unesco Gule dos Ga rset eta a, Ss Wig ds Mein, 166-78 Rie Rinne, Behn ed Beyond rn (io 128 Topotapy, Thess Her ine Fourth Col: ae Bea ene 26 1 Pine "abla "hg ds Mei, 287-26. So alo Brg Pines, 1 Be ‘chrngn sum fon Entries od oat Urges Cpa nd Gre Goma 8 ge epg oa ots, 908113 Archaclgiel Evidence of Jenish iver? Christian ithe in its aly Gene arms os eh rms, developed ars qiable lomography before he fourth entry” "There bas been a paral problem in entifing certain remuneae being er or not. lothscasewe are fortunate tha there vs Kind f inchoate conser orth tual baths and carved stone vl inhouse app 0 ideny he its Jewish, In this ate "Jews simply means those who pace il wesbing uo Mugyath and who practice stat panty with stone ves Bus, ace we have iene family as practicing few, hve do we then Find those | ho were dented withthe new Jewish movernnt? Theres single answe ‘Ope can se tht itis probaly no accident hat the etches i the 19708 © and 1980s tuned insertion, rai and sible asthe most ttle x pression of evsh Christianity. Yet the building of conensas mong schlaewas or success ab canbe san om pensil ofthe erature. For aml a ough ames Jesus, ade (Jada) Josep, Mary, Marth, Lara ‘on occr inthe New Testament, theres nothing he names eotded on fre thet makes them unambiguously the sae people asthe New Testament personages Thats why cera sbolrshave turned symbole and other mate ‘ossares to provide evidence that the est flowers af Jesus of Jems birth ‘Scatehed indicators for thefamlyin ain othe name These indicator were symbols or monograms or some other ign known other an ltr ecopnieble {evi Christian, most otceaby various Kinds of roses Yet, when presented [With thesgns and symbols that bate ben adc ae surely hone ey racks, ‘per examination presents ws wi wo optins ether they mean something ‘he or is impose to dedsce precy what they mes ‘On the oter hand thee ae evidences that Byantine Christians developed shrines and ees churches on sites where iol ths have Ben found. Ti tio at Nizaeth an Bethpage and perhaps cewhere, Thee alo the che of Ceperaaumandts Hebrew gai, though no sul baths were covered there, In thse cases wearelet with working hypotheses more than developed theories stent in pat beeuee ofthe fale four methods in interpreting he ene, ‘On the other hand that there sa contnuty of veneration by Byzztine and ely Gentle Christians ates with recognizably Jvc emsne of the elise ‘ares suggest thatthe hypothened continuity of veneration tends co be ‘confined. This cnt to say that we ave Hashed tein he ypotheses 2 ia the fature moze work wil be done Its peably xt tex the bypass Borg Pane inthe eld fst. GE Sapdes Ans Pc cali Biden of Charch Lee Connie (cg, Gaba 168; ed. 20) "Of court both awe ae volurinas ancien references to but rises intend eta sin the Mina, Pace Mit