Pagan altar unearthed at Ashkelon - construction site Israel

Sat May 22, 2010 11:15 am » by **Kingz**

Pagan altar unearthed at Ashkelon hospital construction site
May, 21 2010 - Haaretz

Archeologists say discovery proves hotly contested cemetery at site slated for hospital ER is pagan, not Jewish.

Israeli archaeologists say workers have uncovered an ancient pagan altar while clearing ground for construction of a hotly disputed hospital emergency room in Ashkelon.

They say the discovery proves an ancient cemetery at the site that has been at the center of protests by ultra-Orthodox Jews does not contain the graves of Jews.

Protesters claim an emergency room extension at Barzilai Hospital in the city of Ashkelon is being built on an ancient Jewish cemetery. They demonstrated there when officials began removing graves this week, and rioting erupted in ultra-Orthodox areas of Jerusalem.

The Israel Antiquities Authority said Thursday the discovery of the 2,000-year-old incense altar, along with the nature of the graves, shows the cemetery was pagan.

Sat May 22, 2010 6:36 pm » by **Lucidlemondrop**

It is interesting to me how the value of life, or the remains of the dead are valued by the religion of the peoples rather than based upon inherent value.

So if the cemetery holds the deceased Jewish Peoples they are very upset but to deem the cemetery to be Pagan then it is no longer of consequence.

Well, Okay then. :badair:

Sat May 22, 2010 6:51 pm » by **Proto**

no lemon actually they started to move the graves even before they knew it was a pagan site ,
a small group of ultra orthodox religious Jews (about 200 people) started a riot over it ,
they do it in many archeological sites . there view is that even if the graves are not jewish
the people that got buried there might have been jewish that converted out of outside pressure .

Jerusalem: Haredim riot, block main road

Some 200 ultra-Orthodox demonstrators made their way to Sabbath Square in Jerusalem Monday, torching trash cans and blocking the main road into the city.

Police reported that they were also throwing stones at officers who deployed in the area in preparation for violent riots.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340 ... 21,00.html

A total of 47 haredim were arrested on Sunday after rioting and protesting against the removal of the graves, 17 of whom were brought for a remand hearing in the Kiryat Gat Magistrate's Court.

During the hearing the detainees turned their back to the judge and all but one refused to identify themselves. Some will face remand hearings on Monday while others will be released on Sunday night under restrictions.

Also on Sunday, Ashdod police prevented some 20 haredim from renting out a boat from the city's marina and sailing to Ashkelon to protest the relocation of graves. They were removed from the boat and told to return home, but were not arrested .

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340 ... 22,00.html

Sat May 22, 2010 6:57 pm » by **Lucidlemondrop**

proto wrote:no lemon actually they started to move the graves even before they knew it was a pagan site ,
a small group of ultra orthodox religious Jews (about 200 people) started a riot over it ,
they do it in many archeological sites . there view is that even if the graves are not jewish
the people that got buried there might have been jewish that converted out of outside pressure .

Jerusalem: Haredim riot, block main road

Some 200 ultra-Orthodox demonstrators made their way to Sabbath Square in Jerusalem Monday, torching trash cans and blocking the main road into the city.

Police reported that they were also throwing stones at officers who deployed in the area in preparation for violent riots.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340 ... 21,00.html

Thanks Proto for some clarification.

I generally stay out of these types of discussions as they can be pretty complicated.

Sat May 22, 2010 7:20 pm » by **Eaganthorn**

Ditto thanks on the clarification.

Rather difficult to do any construction in that area without running into someones grave. Glad to hear it is being treated with respect.

Sat May 29, 2010 3:59 am » by **Kingz**

More on A Magnificent Pagan Altar was Exposed at the Barzilai Hospital Compound
May, 27 2010 - Art Daily

The development work for the construction of a fortified emergency room at Barzilai Hospital, which is being conducted by a contractor carefully supervised by the Israel Antiquities Authority, has unearthed a new and impressive find: a magnificent pagan altar dating to the Roman period (first second centuries CE) made of granite and adorned with bulls' heads and a laurel wreaths. The altar stood in the middle of the ancient burial field.

According to Dr. Yigal Israel, Ashkelon District Archaeologist of the Israel Antiquities Authority, "The discovery further corroborates the assertion that we are dealing with a pagan cemetery. It is an impressive find that has survived 2,000 years. The altar is c. 60 centimeters tall and it is decorated with bulls' heads, from which dangle laurels wreaths. There is a strap in the middle of each floral wreath and bull's head. The laurel wreaths are decorated with grape clusters and leaves. This kind of altar is known as an "incense altar". Such altars usually stood in Roman temples and visitors to the temple used to burn incense in them, particularly myrrh and frankincense, while praying to their idols. We can still see the burnt marks on the altar that remain from the fire. The altar was probably donated by one of the families who brought it to the cemetery from the city of Ashkelon".

Dr. Israel adds that during the archaeological supervision of the development work burial structures were discovered, which served as family tombs, and cist tombs that were used for interring individuals. In addition a large limestone sarcophagus (stone coffin) with a decorated lid was also found. The sarcophagus stands 80 centimeters high is 60 centimeters wide and is 2 meters long. Part of the stone in the sarcophagus was left rather high in the spot where the head of the deceased was placed and resembles a kind of pillow.

http://www.archaeologydaily.com/news/20 ... pound.html

Sat May 29, 2010 4:05 am » by **Emeraldtruth**

The Irish harp has Israeli origins. Connection?

History is written by the victor?

Sat May 29, 2010 4:13 am » by **Kingz**

emeraldtruth wrote:The Irish harp has Israeli origins. Connection?

History is written by the victor?

or the other way around....

Part 1/60

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