The stone with the earliest lamp relief dates back to where it was in the Galilee

In 2009, a large stone was discovered in the excavations of the Old City of Migdal, with the earliest menorah relief found in a synagogue.

After a conservation process, today the 2000-year-old stone "returned" to its residence at the Migdala site on the shores of the Sea of ​​Galilee

Eli Ashkenazi

26/06/2022

Sunday, 26 June 2022, 17:10 Updated: 17:37

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The original Ibn Magdala returns to Mishkan, June 26, 2002 (Photo: Eli Ashkenazi)

"The Stone from the Tower", one of the most important and exciting archeological finds found in the north, returned today to the place where it was uncovered.

The stone, which dates to the 1st century AD, was found in 2009 in the center of an ancient synagogue that was discovered in rescue excavations near Migdal, prior to the construction of the Migdala tourist center.

The earliest lamp relief found in a synagogue was discovered on the stone.

Following the important and unusual findings discovered in the excavation, the construction plans of the Tower Center were changed, and the construction process was delayed.

As the excavations progressed, a tower stone was transferred to the Israel Antiquities Authority for further research and conservation.

The late Shuka Dorfman, then the director general of the Israel Antiquities Authority, promised that the stone would be displayed on the site, temporarily, when the construction of the center is completed.

Since then, the stone has been exhibited around the world in major exhibitions between them: in 2017 in a joint exhibition of the Jewish Museum in Rome and the Vatican Museum entitled: "Lamp: Sect, History and Myth", as part of the Middle East Exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in 2018 and as part of the Sanhedrin Trail. "At Yigal Alon's house in Ginosar in 2021.

Today the stone was placed in the Magdala Hotel, only 20 meters from the original place where it lived for almost 2000 years.

A replica of the original stone is now placed where the stone was exposed.

"The stone is a unique item that is unparalleled in the world," said Professor Moti Aviam of the Kinneret Institute of Galilee Archeology at Kinneret College.

According to Aviam, "the stone is decorated with symbolic ornaments depicting the Temple in Jerusalem."

In an article he wrote about the find, he defined the synagogue in the "Temple of Jerusalem in the Galilee" tower.

"The decorated stone from the synagogue in the tower opens before us for the first time a new, unusual and special look at the world of faith and mysticism of the Jews of Galilee in the days of the Second Temple, their inner world, the artistic way different from what we have known so far." The Temple and Jerusalem. "

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"Decorated with symbolic decorations depicting the Temple in Jerusalem."

The original Magdalen stone from the 1st century AD (Photo: Walla !, Eli Ashkenazi)

A copy of Ibn Magdala that has so far replaced the original (Photo: Walla !, Eli Ashkenazi)

The oldest and most preserved synagogue in the Galilee

During the rescue excavations conducted at the site 13 years ago, surprising archeological finds were discovered: an entire fishing village has been preserved almost in its entirety and contains a synagogue from the first century.

It is the oldest and most preserved synagogue in the Galilee and one of about ten synagogues of the period, next to the remains of the city of Migdalah, which is believed to be the hometown of Mary Magdalene, is Miriam the Tower.

During the excavations of the Israel Antiquities Authority, led by Dina Avshalom-Gurni, a unique stone was uncovered in the center of the synagogue;

It is a rectangular box made of limestone, with four legs.

It is decorated with schematic reliefs depicting the temple and according to scholars has been used as furniture related to reading the Torah.

On the front is a lamp, which is the earliest found in a synagogue.

Some believe that it represents the Temple and the vessels used in worship, and seems to have been made by an artist who saw the Temple in his life.

The stone indicates the deep connection between the Jews of the Galilee and the Temple in Jerusalem.

The important excavations in the tower and the finds found during them made the site an international landmark in Israel, which is a center of attraction for thousands of visitors every year and is today identified as a "historic Judeo-Christian junction."

In late 2019, the construction of the Migdal Hotel was completed and on the occasion of its opening, the hotel management contacted the Antiquities Authority regarding its promise to return the stone to its original location.

Honored in the original stone Shabbat ceremony for the synagogue in Magdala, today (Photo: Walla !, Eli Ashkenazi)

"Anyone can come here and see the original stone"

Today the stone came back to the tower, for a temporary display of several years apparently.

In the future, it will probably be on display at the Israel Museum.

The chief archaeologist of the complex, Marcella Zapta from Anhok University, noted: "The fact that the stone returns to its original place is of historical and religious importance. This is a unique and one of the most important finds found in the Land of Israel. , Helping to understand the Jewish identity of Migdalah as well as the way in which the residents of Migdalah preserved their Judaism and their connection to the Temple in Jerusalem. ".

Aviam also saw in the presentation of the stone in the place something special: "Everyone can come here and see the original stone, it is a special, interesting and emotional connection when the stone returns to where the stone was found, for the pilgrim tourists who will come here. Tourists will eat breakfast near the synagogue where Jesus "Maybe he came to read the Torah and maybe Miriam the Tower and this stone is close to them, there is an emotional and successful connection here, even though in the end the stone should probably be displayed in the National Museum."

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• The Sea of ​​Galilee

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