Israelis Uncover Mansion Linked to Queen

Thu Dec 6, 2007 4:22 PM EST
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JERUSALEM — Israeli archaeologists uncovered a 2,000-year-old mansion believed to have been home to Queen Helene of Adiabene, whose clan ruled a region now in Iraq.

The remains of the building were unearthed just outside the walls of Jerusalem's Old City, underneath layers of a more recent settlement that was hidden until recently under the asphalt of a small parking lot in east Jerusalem.

Israel captured east Jerusalem from Jordan in the 1967 Mideast War. Palestinians see the eastern part of the city as capital of a future state.

The dig site is in the Arab neighborhood of Silwan, built on a slope that houses the most ancient remnants of settlement in Jerusalem and is known to scholars as the City of David.

The building, which includes storerooms, living quarters and ritual baths, is by far the largest and most elaborate structure discovered by archaeologists in the City of David area, which was home 2,000 years ago almost exclusively to the city's poor.

Jewish historian Josephus Flavius mentions just one wealthy family living there — the family of Queen Helene.

There is a "high probability" the mansion belonged to Helene's family, Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologist Doron Ben-Ami told reporters Wednesday.

"This amazing structure was destroyed with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.," Ben-Ami said.

Built when Jerusalem was capital of the Roman-ruled territory of Judea, the building was destroyed along with the temple and the rest of the city when Roman legions quelled a Jewish revolt nearly two millennia ago, he said.

Diggers at the site said the massive stones of the second floor were toppled onto the arches of the first, causing the house to collapse. In the ruins they found ceramic shards and coins dating to the time of the Jewish revolt against Rome.

The queen came from a royal clan that ruled Adiabene, a region now in northern Iraq, and converted along with her family to Judaism. They came to Jerusalem in the first half of the first century A.D.

In texts she was praised for her generosity to Jerusalem's poor, and for making contributions to the Second Temple, the center of the Jewish faith, near her house. She was buried in an elaborate tomb not far away.

Today she has a downtown Jerusalem street named for her.

© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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{"commentId":1248433,"authorDomain":"srs-1"}
Rick Schmidt USA 503 875 4679

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FROM srs@originalgospel.com

ORIGINAL GOSPEL DISCOVERED

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL- FOR OVER 2,000 YEARS WE HAVE SEEN DOZENS OF SO CALLED "CHRISTIAN DENOMINATIONS" ALL CLAIMING TO BE REPRESENTING THE ONE GOSPEL ALL TEACHING A SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT GOSPEL. HOW WAS THE ''ORIGINAL GOSPEL'' PRESENTED.

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WAS ORIGINALLY TAUGHT OVER 2,000 YEARS AGO BY CHRIST HIMSELF.

__________________________________________________

MATTHEW 13 34 All these things he spake unto the multitude in Parables; and without a Parable spake he not unto them: 35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in Parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

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LUKE 8 9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this Parable be? 10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in Parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

MARK 4 9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. 11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in Parables: 12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. 13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this Parable? and how then will ye know all Parables?

MATTHEW 13 10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

Rick Schmidt Founder and Producer email srs@originalgospel.com

{"commentId":1248433,"threadId":"185972","contentId":"1146531","authorDomain":"srs-1"}
    Reply#1 - Thu Dec 6, 2007 8:39 PM EST
    {"commentId":1248568,"authorDomain":"dbe928"}
    DBE928

    Very interesting archeological find.

    {"commentId":1248568,"threadId":"185972","contentId":"1146531","authorDomain":"dbe928"}
    • 1 vote
    Reply#2 - Thu Dec 6, 2007 9:44 PM EST
    {"commentId":1248607,"authorDomain":"SAdams"}
    Samuel Adams

    This article title is a great example of how news sources mislead people with headlines. Come on, does that title really lead one to think archeology?

    {"commentId":1248607,"threadId":"185972","contentId":"1146531","authorDomain":"SAdams"}
      Reply#3 - Thu Dec 6, 2007 10:03 PM EST
      {"commentId":1248925,"authorDomain":"collin"}
      Collin

      very nice find.

      {"commentId":1248925,"threadId":"185972","contentId":"1146531","authorDomain":"collin"}
      • 1 vote
      Reply#4 - Fri Dec 7, 2007 12:42 AM EST
      {"canLink":false,"threadId":"185972","isPrivate":false}
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