Workers looking to build a nursery came across something much more interesting.
An ancient Jewish ritual bath unveils strange symbols. Unusual are the ways of the world. After two thousand years undisturbed, a cave in Jerusalem was uncovered by workers looking to build a nursery. Inside it, they found a ritual bath that is said to be as old as Christianity.
Literally. The contents of the bath have been dated by the Israel Antiquities Authority, or the IAA, as being as old as Jesus. That’s two thousand years old, from the first century A.D. The walls were actually covered by ancient plaster, one of the treatments used in that time for isolation.
But the most interesting parts about this discovery are the weird symbols and writings that were found on the walls.
Although you may think that a twelve year old might have gotten in there and painted the walls with his hand in an effort to confuse those who would discover the mikve, or ritual bath, chances are that the people from the IAA know what they are doing.
Still the kid would’ve had all that he needed. The research shows that the inscriptions were made with a mud solution, soot and even carved into the stone walls in some areas. But they seem far too complicated, and it is unlikely that the little fictional character here would have known Aramaic.
Yes. That’s right. The writings are in Aramaic. If you don’t quite remember what Aramaic is, let me remind you. It was the language used during the time of Jesus. But no, this is no text written by the redeemer himself.
The Second Temple period in Jewish history lasted from 530 BC to 70 AD, when the Romans came and destroyed said temple. Subsequently, it became customary for the Jewish script to be used for texts in Aramaic as well. This is the case in the newfound bath as well, so the text is clearly from after that period.
Also, Jesus was probably accustomed to the fact that it was forbidden to draw a menorah on anything, especially on a wall. Yes, there is a menorah drawn on the wall. Besides the Jewish traditional seven pointed candle, there is also a boat drawing and a few palm trees.
Researchers don’t yet know what to make of this discovery and say that it could’ve been a drawing made by someone wishing to stand out, as well as some very important religious drawing with a deep spiritual meaning.
Image source: lost-history.com