The Mystery at Magdala

I finally got to go to Magdala with a tour guide, and wow, this place is even more incredible than I first realized! 

Obviously nothing beats the fact that Jesus was there, in that first century B.C. synagogue—one of only 7 that have been discovered. If fact, it boggles my mind to even think about it. 

But what I didn't know is why this site is so well preserved, and why the main street next to it is barricaded with broken columns.

My tour guide pointed out to us that there is only 1 column still partially standing in the ruins of the synagogue. And how does this correlate with the blocked main street? Why?

The answer lies in the Great Revolt of 67 AD, around the same time that Gamla fell. Magdala was one of the few cities that stood up to the Romans as they made their campaign from the north through the south—all the way to Jerusalem. At some point, the inhabitants made a previously unthinkable decision. To protect their town, and the synagogue, they removed the columns from the synagogue and used them to barricade the entrance to their town. They also covered over the synagogue to keep it from being destroyed by the Romans.

Magdala was destroyed, but because of the forethought of the Madgalenes, the synagogue was preserved until 2009 AD, when its remains were discovered just 30 centimeters below the surface. 

WOW!!!

But that's not the mystery I wanted to share with you. The mystery is this:

While a replica of the Magdala stone is in the synagogue, the original is in the lobby of the hotel. (AMAZING!!!) Because this synagogue is from 1st Century AD, before the destruction of the 2nd Temple, we know that its decoration was fashioned after the Temple. This is one of the earliest known depictions of the menorah from the Temple. Here it stands on a base, which matches the image of the Menorah on the Arch of Titus in Rome.

(picture mine)

This is intriguing, because other images of the menorah don't show a base, but a 3-point stand. For instance, here is one from the Talmudic village of ancient Katzrin in the Golan:

And here, from the Museum in Katzrin. This relief also dates back to the Talmudic (Byzantine) era:

These carvings are from only a few centuries after Jesus. So which is correct? There has appeared to be a discrepancy between the Arch of Titus and the earliest depictions of the menorah that have been found—until the Magdala stone. The fact that it has a base might not be creative license; it might be a carving of the actual menorah, which is the ancient symbol for Israel (not the Star of David).

Which is correct?

Could it be that the menorah for the Temple is in Rome (the Vatican) after all? What do you think?

Is this where Jesus overturned the tables? (Part 2 of 3)

After leaving the ancient steps, I went to a place that took my breath away.

There, along the Wall, an ancient street. And rubble. Massive rock piled up on top of each other as if they’d been flipped and left with no stone on top of the other: remains from the destruction of the Second Temple in AD 70.

It was too much for me; I had to sit down.

Down that street, Yeshua and thousands of others- millions even- would have walked, passing vendors in the market stalls (that are partially still there!). This, right here, evidence of stone cold, recorded history.

Is this where Yeshua overturned the tables of the money changers?

These stones are bigger than I can describe. They reached above my head, and had to weigh literal tons. And, they are only a small portion of the original walls. When Roman soldiers destroyed everything in AD 70, they literally left no stone unturned (sounds like Matthew 24 here?). That's because fire would first of all weaken the limestone and make it like dust. It also would melt the gold filigree and any gold between the stones—and the Romans wanted to take it ALL.

According to Josephus, they spared the Western Wall so that the soldiers could rest there. Everything else was destroyed.

Streets where Yeshua walked.

Steps that millions climbed to go to worship.

Can you see it? All at the foot of the Mount of Olives, in the heart of Jerusalem.

But, we're not done with Jersualem Archeological Park yet! Come back next week for Part 3 of this series!