Inventions; Science; Technology -- Social aspects; Technology and civilization
Most of the incidents at Capernaum mentioned in the Bible were connected
with the synagogue, the ruins of which have just been uncovered. The
centurion who came to plead with Jesus about the servant was the man
who built the synagogue (Luke VII:1-10). In the synagogue, Jesus healed
the man with the unclean spirit (Mark I:21-27). In this synagogue, the
man with the withered hand received health on the Sabbath Day (Matthew
XII:10-13). Jairus, whose daughter was raised from the dead, was a
ruler of the synagogue (Luke VIII:3) and it was in this same synagogue
of Capernaum that Jesus preached the discourse on the bread of life
(John VI:26-59). The hill near Capernaum where Jesus fed the multitude
with five loaves and two fishes is also identified.
The stoning of St. Stephen and the conversion of St. Paul are two great
events of the New Testament which lend additional interest to the
explorations now being carried on at the ancient City of Damascus.
Damascus lays claim to being the most ancient city in the world and
its appearance sustains the claim. Unlike Jerusalem and many other
ancient cities, it has never been completely destroyed by a conqueror.
The Assyrian monarch, Tiglath Pileser, swept down on it, 2,700 years
ago, but he did not succeed in wiping it out. Other cities came into
being long after Damascus, they flourished, faded and passed away; but
Damascus still remains much the same as in the early time. Among the
famous places which have been identified in this ancient city is the
house of Ananias the priest and the place in the wall where Paul was
let down by a basket is pointed out. The scene of the conversion of
St. Paul is shown and also the "Street called Straight" referred to
in Acts IX:II.
Jerusalem, birthplace and cradle of Christianity, offers a vast and
interesting field to the archaeologist. One of the most remarkable of
recent discoveries relates to the building known as David's castle.
Major Conder, a British engineer in charge of the Palestine survey,
has proved that this building is actually a part of the palace of King
Herod who ordered the Massacre of the Innocents in order to encompass
the destruction of the Infant Saviour.
The tomb of Hiram is another relic discovered at the village of Hunaneh
on the road from Safed to Tyre; it recalls the days of David. Hiram
was King of Tyre in the time of David. The tomb is a limestone structure
of extraordinary massiveness Unfortunately the Mosque of Omar stands
on the site of Solomon's Temple and there is no hope of digging there.
As for the palace of Solomon, it should be easy to find the foundations,
for Jerusalem has been rebuilt several times upon the ruins of earlier
periods and vast ancient remains must be still buried there. The work
is being pushed vigorously at present and the future should bring to
light many interesting relics. At last the real site of the Crucifixion
may be found with many mementoes of the Saviour, and the Apostles.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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