Toto

Behold! Jerusalem dig turns up priestly bathtub from Jesus' time

yalla

I presume the mansion is near to John the Baptist's cave.

Sheshbazzar

The existence of a literal and historical Caiaphas or Annas, is NOT any evidence for any earthly existence of the mythological 'Christ', or of any historical 'condemnation' of any such mythological being.
The NT tales still remain highly improbable religious fictions showing all indications of having been fabricated.

Stuart

I have to agree with Yaron Eliav who places Jerusalem south of Aelia Capitolina (aka, the old city), and place the temple on the smaller hill where Gihon Springs are above the pool of Siloam. The temple required running water and that simply isn't available on the temple mount where the Golden Dome is today. Zion is where Herod's temple was supposedly located, so finding baths there is no shock, as that would be part of the upper city, where you would expect to find something like that.

Glad to see them finally looking closer to the right places.

Sheshbazzar

I can hardly wait for one of these archaeologist's to discover 'Jesus of Nazareth's' tomb and bones. :Cheeky:

Toto

Er, that is in fact about what James Tabor claims. Check out the Cannes Festival thread and the links to bibliobloggers' posts.

Stuart

ROFL,

My view on looking in the right place is that I find it hilarious that tourists are marched through Aelia Capitolina and told this is where Jesus carried his cross, and Jews are wailing at a wall that is very likely not close to where the old temple actually was. Keep the money rolling ! :devil1:

Solo

Well, it looks like Tabor may have soon enough artifacts to populate a Haunted House ride in Disneyworld Jerusalem.

Best,
Jiri

DCHindley

Yes, if it is a real memorial tomb found more or less in situ, then the names and interrelationships between names on the ossuaries it contained require a much closer examination, as the likelihood that they have something to do with Jesus' family rise dramatically!

That being said, the authenticity of the memorial tomb and the ossuaries it contained does not automatically mean that the ossuaries are actually those of Jesus' family members themselves. I've long been attracted to the idea that in the 4th and 5th centuries CE, there was a rather vibrant tourist industry catering to Imperial officials and their families who identified themselves as Christians (Constantine's family in particular, wife, concubines, key generals, ass kissers, etc).

However, assuming that this memorial tomb does have something to do with Jesus's actual physical family, would require a serious re-appraisal of what we think we know about Jesus. The implication of the family memorial tomb being found in Jerusalem and not in the Galilee, would force a reasonable person to question their assumptions about his social status, etc.

DCH

Minimalist

Is there some graffiti on the tub saying "I nailed up jesus today. <signed> Caiaphas. Bring me a glass of wine."