Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #israelantiquitiesauthority, aggregated by home.social.
Israel returns 22 illegally removed antiquities to Greece in first repatriation
Israel on Tuesday returned a collection of 22 artifacts illegally removed from Greece, in the first repatriation of…
#Israel #News #antiquities #archaeology #Athens #greece #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #Israel-Greece #jerusalem
https://www.europesays.com/3309305/
Israel returns 22 illegally removed antiquities to Greece in first repatriation
Israel on Tuesday returned a collection of 22 artifacts illegally removed from Greece, in the first repatriation of…
#EuropeSays #Headlines #News #Europe #Europa #EU #Israel #antiquities #archaeology #Athens #Greece #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #Israel-Greece
https://www.europesays.com/iran/328186/
https://www.europesays.com/3309305/ Israel returns 22 illegally removed antiquities to Greece in first repatriation #antiquities #archaeology #Athens #greece #Israel #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #IsraelGreece #jerusalem
https://www.europesays.com/iran/328186/ Israel returns 22 illegally removed antiquities to Greece in first repatriation #antiquities #archaeology #Athens #Greece #Israel #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #IsraelGreece
Israel unearths 2,000-year-old section of Jerusalem aqueduct
A 300-meter-long section of Jerusalem’s Lower Aqueduct, originally constructed in the Hasmonean period, was recently unearthed south of…
#EuropeSays #Headlines #News #Europe #Europa #EU #Israel #ArchaeologicalSite #archaeology #hasmonean #hasmoneanperiod #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #jerusalemarchaeology #TempleMount #water
https://www.europesays.com/iran/325182/
https://www.europesays.com/iran/325182/ Israel unearths 2,000-year-old section of Jerusalem aqueduct #ArchaeologicalSite #archaeology #hasmonean #HasmoneanPeriod #Israel #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #JerusalemArchaeology #TempleMount #water
EU connives in Israel's theft of Dead Sea Scrolls
EU connives in Israel's theft of Dead Sea Scrolls
How Tell Qana’s excavation site creates community out of archaeology
The Tell Qana Archaeological Project is about more than archaeology and excavations, Excavation Directors Dr. Amit Dagan and…
#EuropeSays #Headlines #News #Europe #Europa #EU #Israel #AncientEgypt #ArchaeologicalSite #archaeology #Bar-IlanUniversity #BronzeAge #Excavations #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #Philistines #ptsd #WWI
https://www.europesays.com/iran/270168/
https://www.europesays.com/iran/270168/ How Tell Qana’s excavation site creates community out of archaeology #AncientEgypt #ArchaeologicalSite #archaeology #BarIlanUniversity #BronzeAge #Excavations #Israel #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #Philistines #ptsd #WWI
Israel discovers 1,300-year-old shopping center in central Israel
A 1,300-year-old industrial and commercial complex was uncovered during excavations over the past few months in the Winter…
#EuropeSays #Headlines #News #Europe #Europa #EU #Israel #antiquities #ArchaeologicalSite #archaeology #crusades #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #RamatGan
https://www.europesays.com/iran/251449/
https://www.europesays.com/iran/251449/ Israel discovers 1,300-year-old shopping center in central Israel #antiquities #ArchaeologicalSite #archaeology #crusades #Israel #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #RamatGan
Great Synagogue of Vilna: Central Bimah Fully Unearthed in Landmark Archaeological Discovery
The Great Synagogue of Vilna, once the spiritual heart of Lithuanian Jewry, is gradually revealing its history once again. Archaeologists have now fully uncovered the synagogue’s monumental central bimah, together with new sections of the prayer hall and remarkable evidence of the vibrant Jewish community that flourished here for centuries before the building’s destruction during the twentieth century.
Aerial view of the excavation area and the Great Synagogue of Vilna. Photo: Rytis Tamulynas, Vilna Great Synagogue and Shulhoyf Research Project.The heart of the synagogue revealed
The excavations, carried out by the Israel Antiquities Authority in partnership with Lithuania’s Kultūros paveldo išsaugojimo pajėgos, focused on the remains of the Great Synagogue of Vilna, closely associated with the renowned Vilna Gaon.
Destroyed first by the Nazi regime and later demolished under Soviet rule, the synagogue remained hidden beneath a school building for decades. Its recent removal has allowed archaeologists, for the first time, to expose extensive portions of the building’s central spaces.
The colorful decorated floor of the synagogue’s bimah. Photo: Jon Seligman, Vilna Great Synagogue and Shulhoyf Research Project e Israel Antiquities Authority.Among the most significant discoveries are the monumental bimah, the main prayer hall, the women’s gallery, and beautifully preserved terrazzo floors decorated with geometric and floral motifs.
The façade of the Great Synagogue of Vilna in a historical photograph. Photographer unknown; Wikimedia Commons, public domainThe interior of the Great Synagogue of Vilna in a historical photograph. Photographer unknown; from the Brockhaus and Efron Jewish Encyclopedia, Wikimedia Commons, public domainVirtual reconstruction of the synagogue’s bimah. Visualization: Inlusion NetformsReconstruction of the prayer hall. Plaques bearing the names of worshippers were uncovered during the excavation. Visualization: Inlusion Netforms
Cleaning and conservation work on the bimah of the Great Synagogue of Vilna. Photo: Jon Seligman, Vilna Great Synagogue and Shulhoyf Research Project e Israel Antiquities Authority.
📽️VIDEO
The names of worshippers preserved
One of the excavation’s most moving discoveries consists of dozens of inscribed seating plaques identifying the permanent places reserved for worshippers.
Some belonged to women who prayed in the ezrat nashim, while others identified male worshippers and members of important charitable societies responsible for administering the Jewish community of Vilna.
Particularly noteworthy is a plaque commemorating a seat donated by Gitel Klachek, wife of the late Yechezkel, who served as the city’s shamash, or synagogue sexton responsible for practical and communal affairs. Historical records indicate that the Klachek family was among the city’s prominent Jewish families.
A seat plaque bearing the inscription: “Gitel Klachek, wife of the late Yechezkel, Shamash d’Mata.” Photo: Jon Seligman, Vilna Great Synagogue and Shulhoyf Research Project and the Israel Antiquities AuthorityEvidence of centuries of religious life
Excavators also uncovered a small metal plaque engraved with the Ten Commandments, together with additional artefacts illustrating the religious and communal life that once centred on the synagogue and the surrounding Shulhoyf complex.
A fragment of the Ten Commandments plaque discovered at the Great Synagogue of Vilna. Photo: Jon Seligman, Vilna Great Synagogue and Shulhoyf Research Project and the Israel Antiquities AuthorityArchaeological investigations at the site began in 2011 and have now reached their sixth excavation season. The long-term project aims to preserve the synagogue’s remains, make them accessible to visitors, and safeguard one of Europe’s most important Jewish heritage sites.
According to the excavation directors, the newly exposed remains provide an almost personal connection with the generations of men and women who gathered here in prayer over several centuries.
Recovering a lost cultural landmark
The complete exposure of the central bimah marks a major milestone in the restoration and interpretation of the Great Synagogue of Vilna. Beyond its archaeological importance, the discovery represents a powerful act of historical remembrance, restoring part of the cultural identity of a Jewish community that was nearly erased during the Holocaust and the Soviet era.
As excavation and conservation continue, the site is expected to become an important place of memory, education and public engagement, preserving one of Eastern Europe’s most significant Jewish monuments.
📘 Source ✅
Jerusalem: first-ever mould for First Temple period figurine faces discovered
An exceptional discovery in Jerusalem. During archaeological excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority at the Kishle, within the grounds of the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum, a rare mould used for casting the face of a female figurine has come to light, dating to the First Temple period. The find emerged while sifting soil from fills and accumulations of that era. The excavations, ongoing for several years as part of the construction of the museum’s new Schulich Wing for Archaeology, Art and Innovation, have already revealed a continuous sequence of Jerusalem’s history, from the days of the Kings of Judah through to the British Mandate.
General view of the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum complex, where the archaeological excavations were conducted. Credit: Tower of David Jerusalem MuseumFrom soil to a reconstructed face
Following its discovery, the mould was handed to ceramics conservation specialist Tamar Gonen, who carefully cleaned away every grain of soil, revealing the delicate detail impressed within it. Conservator Sviatoslav Klindukhov then created a full cast from the mould, producing a complete reconstruction of the figurine’s face: clearly defined features and an elaborate curly hairstyle.
First Temple figurines: a debate that remains open
Clay figurines of this kind are known from almost every excavation conducted in Jerusalem and throughout Judah, dating between the 8th and 6th centuries BCE. Standing roughly 10 to 20 centimetres tall, they were made in two stages: the head and body were shaped by hand, while only the face was formed using a mould — which explains why most surviving examples are found broken at the neck. Archaeologists recognise three main types from the period: female figurines, known as Judean Pillar Figurines, typically shown with elaborate hairstyles and hands positioned beneath the breasts; horse-and-rider figurines; and zoomorphic figurines, mostly depicting horses. All were coated with a white slip and, according to surviving traces of pigment, originally painted in yellow, red and black.
Israel Antiquities Authority conservator Sviatoslav Klindukhov with the reconstructed figurine he produced from the rare mold. Credit: Emil Aladjem, Israel Antiquities AuthorityUntil now, no production mould for these figurines had ever been found in Jerusalem, leaving open the question of whether they were made locally or imported. “The discovery of this mould at the Kishle is therefore the first of its kind in Jerusalem, providing direct evidence that at least some of these figurines were produced within the city itself,” explains Dr Amit Re’em, one of the excavation directors.
Female figurines generally measured between approximately 10 and 20 cm in height. In most cases, they were found broken at the neck, reflecting the manufacturing technique in which the body and the head were made separately by hand, while only the head was formed in a mold. Credit: Emil Aladjem, Israel Antiquities AuthorityHousehold amulets or images of a goddess?
The meaning and function of these figurines remain a matter of scholarly debate. As Debbi Ben-Ami, Curator of the Iron Age at the Israel Antiquities Authority, notes, the fact that they have been found in almost every household, as well as in streets and tombs, suggests they were objects of everyday use. They have previously been interpreted as representations of a fertility goddess — possibly Asherah — while others have suggested they were simply children’s toys. A further reading sees them as household amulets, intended to bring blessing, protection and good fortune. Researchers hope the newly discovered mould will help shed further light on these long-standing questions.
Soil-sifting activity from the Kishle excavation at the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum. Credit: Riki Rachman, Tower of David Jerusalem MuseumA dig open to the public
Eilat Lieber, Director and Chief Curator of the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum, described the excitement the find has generated among the team, noting that this summer visitors will be able to take part directly in the research by sifting soil from the Kishle excavations themselves.
📽️ VIDEO: Jerusalem: first-ever mould for First Temple period figurine faces discovered
Source: Israel Antiquities Authority
#archaeology #biblicalArchaeology #EnglishNews #FirstTemple #IronAge #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #Jerusalem #JudeanPillarFigurines #Kishle #TowerOfDavid
https://www.europesays.com/3157165/ Archaeologists find rare First Temple mold in Tower of David #archaeology #BiblicalArchaeology #Israel #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #jerusalem #JerusalemArchaeology #OldCityJerusalem #temple #TowerOfDavidMuseum
https://www.europesays.com/3157165/ Archaeologists find rare First Temple mold in Tower of David #archaeology #BiblicalArchaeology #Israel #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #jerusalem #JerusalemArchaeology #OldCityJerusalem #temple #TowerOfDavidMuseum
Archaeologists find rare First Temple mold in Tower of David
A rare Judean Pillar Figurine mold dating to the First Temple period was recently found during archaeological excavations…
#Israel #News #archaeology #Biblicalarchaeology #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #jerusalem #jerusalemarchaeology #oldcityjerusalem #temple #TowerofDavidMuseum
https://www.europesays.com/3157165/
Ancient Cyprus meets Israel: Rare silver coin found on Ashdod beach
An ancient Cypriot silver Siglos coin dating to the mid-5th century BCE was found at one of Ashdod’s…
#EuropeSays #Headlines #News #Europe #Europa #EU #Israel #antiquities #archaeology #Ashdod #coins #Cyprus #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #MediterraneanSea #RabbiAmichaiEliyahu #Silver
https://www.europesays.com/iran/224278/
https://www.europesays.com/iran/224278/ Ancient Cyprus meets Israel: Rare silver coin found on Ashdod beach #antiquities #archaeology #Ashdod #coins #Cyprus #Israel #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #MediterraneanSea #RabbiAmichaiEliyahu #Silver
Burnt Wooden Beams from Jerusalem’s First Temple Destruction Unearthed in the City of David
Archaeologists have uncovered a remarkable set of charred wooden beams dating to the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BCE during excavations at the Givati Parking Lot in the City of David, within the Jerusalem Walls National Park. The discovery, made by the Israel Antiquities Authority and Tel Aviv University, provides rare physical evidence of one of the most significant events in the history of the ancient city: the destruction of the First Temple.
8. Israel Antiquities Authority excavations in the City of David. Photo Reut Vilf, City of David.The massive timbers were found inside a First Temple period building that collapsed during the devastating fire that accompanied the Babylonian conquest. According to archaeologists, their extraordinary preservation was made possible by an unusual combination of circumstances. As the building burned, wall plaster melted and flowed over the collapsed beams, sealing the charred wood beneath it and protecting it from decay for approximately 2,600 years.
A roof structure frozen in time
Excavation director Efrat Bocher believes the beams originally supported the roof of an inner courtyard within the building. When the structure was destroyed by fire, the roof collapsed onto the floor, where the timbers remained buried beneath layers of debris.
Wood rarely survives for millennia in the climate of the southern Levant, making the discovery particularly significant. The find offers archaeologists an exceptionally well-preserved glimpse into the architecture and construction techniques of Jerusalem during the late Iron Age.
A breakthrough for dendrochronological research
One of the most important aspects of the discovery is the unusually high number of tree rings preserved in the beams. According to Dr. Johanna Regev of the Israel Antiquities Authority, the timbers provide an unprecedented opportunity for dendrochronological analysis.
4. The growth rings of the wooden beams discovered in the City of David. Photo Efrat Bocher.Until now, wooden remains from the region have generally allowed dating within broad chronological ranges spanning centuries. These newly discovered beams, however, contain enough growth rings to potentially narrow dating to within a decade, offering a level of precision rarely achieved for archaeological contexts from the First Temple period.
A landscape shaped by memory
The excavation team also suggests that Jerusalem’s inhabitants, after returning to rebuild the city, may have intentionally left portions of the destruction untouched. According to Dr. Yiftah Shalev, who co-directs the excavation with Prof. Yuval Gadot, preserving the ruined remains may have served as a deliberate act of collective remembrance.
5. Destruction remains discovered during the Israel Antiquities Authority excavations in the City of David. Photo Reut Vilf, City of David.This concept, often described as a “landscape of memory,” is known from other ancient societies, where visible traces of catastrophe were intentionally retained to commemorate dramatic historical events. In Jerusalem, the archaeological evidence appears to reflect a conscious decision to build a new city while preserving material evidence of its destruction beneath later occupation layers.
Announced shortly before Tisha B’Av, the annual Jewish fast commemorating the destruction of both the First and Second Temples, the discovery carries particular historical and symbolic significance. For the excavation team, these charred beams represent a direct and deeply moving witness to the moment when ancient Jerusalem was consumed by fire.
Opening image: 3. The burnt wooden beams discovered in the City of David. Photo Reut Vilf, City of David
Source: IAA – Israel Antiquities Authority
#ancientJerusalem #archaeology #BabylonianConquest #biblicalArchaeology #CityOfDavid #dendrochronology #FirstTemple #IronAge #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #Jerusalem #TelAvivUniversity #TishaBAv
Israel cave spared from construction reveals pre-Neanderthal camp life dating back 400,000 years
Before development work could disrupt a cave near Fureidis in northern Israel, archaeologists examined the site and found…
#EuropeSays #Headlines #News #Europe #Europa #EU #Israel #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #KobiVardi #NorthernIsrael #Researchers #RonShimelmitz
https://www.europesays.com/iran/190978/
https://www.europesays.com/iran/190978/ Israel cave spared from construction reveals pre-Neanderthal camp life dating back 400,000 years #Israel #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #KobiVardi #NorthernIsrael #Researchers #RonShimelmitz
Archaeologists uncover two 1,700-year-old marble statues hidden face down in a Roman wine pit
During excavations near Binyamina, Israel, archaeologists unearthed a pair of marble bust statues from the Roman era, estimated at around 1,…
#dining #cooking #diet #food #Wine #archaeologists #ArchaeologyMagazine #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #portraitsculptures #statues
https://www.diningandcooking.com/2693682/archaeologists-uncover-two-1700-year-old-marble-statues-hidden-face-down-in-a-roman-wine-pit/
West Bank, Gaza antiquities bill raises international law concerns
The controversial bill seeking to establish a new civilian authority to oversee antiquities and heritage sites within the…
#Israel #News #archeology #internationallaw #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #israelarcheology #israeliknesset #jerusalem #Knesset
https://www.europesays.com/3015354/
https://www.europesays.com/3015354/ West Bank, Gaza antiquities bill raises international law concerns #archeology #InternationalLaw #Israel #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #IsraelArcheology #IsraeliKnesset #jerusalem #Knesset
West Bank, Gaza antiquities bill raises international law concerns
The controversial bill seeking to establish a new civilian authority to oversee antiquities and heritage sites within the…
#NewsBeep #News #BreakingNews #archeology #breakingnews #InternationalLaw #Israel #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #israelarcheology #israeliknesset #Knesset
https://www.newsbeep.com/556046/
Mysterious tunnel discovered in Jerusalem may be thousands of years old
A newly uncovered tunnel near Jerusalem is drawing attention after archaeologists said they still cannot say exactly when…
#Israel #News #archaeologicalsurveys #Archaeologists #Buildingprojects #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #jerusalem #RamatRachel #theTimesofIsrael
https://www.europesays.com/2999364/
https://www.europesays.com/2999364/ Mysterious tunnel discovered in Jerusalem may be thousands of years old #ArchaeologicalSurveys #Archaeologists #BuildingProjects #Israel #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #jerusalem #RamatRachel #TheTimesOfIsrael
Two ancient coins repatriated from US to Israel after antiquities theft probe
Two rare and ancient coins allegedly smuggled from Israel were returned to the country by the United States…
#EuropeSays #Headlines #News #Europe #Europa #EU #Israel #archaeology #coins #hasmonean #hasmoneanperiod #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #jerusalemarchaeology #Smuggling #UnitedStates
https://www.europesays.com/iran/111401/
https://www.europesays.com/iran/111401/ Two ancient coins repatriated from US to Israel after antiquities theft probe #archaeology #coins #hasmonean #HasmoneanPeriod #Israel #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #JerusalemArchaeology #Smuggling #UnitedStates
Two ancient coins repatriated from US to Israel after antiquities theft probe
Two rare and ancient coins allegedly smuggled from Israel were returned to the country by the United States…
#NewsBeep #News #BreakingNews #Archaeology #breakingnews #coins #hasmonean #hasmoneanperiod #Israel #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #jerusalemarchaeology #smuggling #UnitedStates
https://www.newsbeep.com/535977/
IAA reveals new study focused on ancient Jerusalem bullae in honor of Israel Excellence Week
According to the IAA, the study aims to examine Jerusalem’s administrative systems from the First Temple period through…
#Israel #News #administrativesystems #ANTIQUITIESAUTHORITY #bullae #FirstTempleperiod #IAA #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #IsraelScienceFoundation #jerusalem #YiftahShalev
https://www.europesays.com/2963451/
https://www.europesays.com/2963451/ IAA reveals new study focused on ancient Jerusalem bullae in honor of Israel Excellence Week #AdministrativeSystems #ANTIQUITIESAUTHORITY #bullae #FirstTemplePeriod #IAA #Israel #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #IsraelScienceFoundation #jerusalem #YiftahShalev
https://www.europesays.com/iran/?p=41401 Ancient ostrich eggs, campfire found in southern Israel #arava #ArchaeologicalSite #archaeology #cooking #desert #eggs #Israel #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #Negev
https://www.europesays.com/iran/?p=33550 Hunting for stolen history in Israel’s black market #archaeology #artifacts #Israel #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #jerusalem #JerusalemReport #ShinBet
https://www.europesays.com/?p=2868574 Hunting for stolen history in Israel’s black market #archaeology #artifacts #Israel #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #jerusalem #JerusalemReport #ShinBet
Antiquities theft probe exposes ancient stone tool workshop
A stone tool workshop from the Second Temple period was discovered on Mount Scopus in Jerusalem during an…
#Israel #News #archaeologicalsite #archaeology #héritage #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #jerusalem #looters #RabbiAmichaiEliyahu #SecondTemple #Stone #theft
https://www.europesays.com/2784925/
Ancient coins, stolen medical device found by police
The Israel Police confiscated multiple stolen ancient coins and stolen medical equipment from an east Jerusalem resident on…
#Israel #News #coins #Crime #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #IsraelPolice #jerusalem
https://www.europesays.com/2764520/
Handwringing over Jerusalem, EU aids colonizers
Handwringing over Jerusalem, EU aids colonizers
Ritual bath from Second Temple period uncovered beneath Western Wall
https://www.europesays.com/ie/?p=239349 AI and drones uncover hidden layouts of ancient ruins #AI #Archaeology #ArtificialIntelligence #ArtificialIntelligence #drone #Éire #IE #Ireland #IsraelAntiquitiesAuthority #Science #Technology #UniversityOfHaifa
La pellegrina cristiana, il nobile Tristram e il re armeno: nel Cenacolo di Gerusalemme scoperti centinaia di graffiti lasciati dai visitatori medievali
Elena Percivaldi
Gerusalemme, si sa, è la Città Santa per eccellenza. Ogni via, ogni strada, ogni pietra racconta una storia ed è letteralmente intrisa di spiritualità, essendo la città un punto di riferimento assoluto e ineludibile per tutte e tre le religioni monoteistiche. Ma oltre al Santo Sepolcro e agli altri luoghi legati alla morte e alla Passione di Cristo, Gerusalemme custodisce anche il luogo che, secondo i cristiani, fu teatro dell’Ultima Cena, durante la quale Gesù condivise il pane e il vino con gli Apostoli celebrando la prima Eucaristia della storia. Si trova sul monte Sion, appena fuori le mura della Città Vecchia. Secondo la tradizione ebraica e musulmana, nel piano inferiore ci sarebbe la cosiddetta “Tomba di re Davide“. Sopra, i crociati costruirono, nel XII secolo, una sala che chiamarono suggestivamente “Coenacolum“ (Cenacolo).
La Sala del Coenaculum sul Monte Sion (foto: © Heritage Conservation Jerusalem Pikiwiki Israel)Le testimonianze dei pellegrini medievali
Inglobato nel tardo Medioevo in un monastero francescano, il Cenacolo ha attirato per secoli legioni di pellegrini da tutto il mondo. Del loro passaggio custodisce una palpitante testimonianza: centinaia e centinaia di graffiti medievali, incisi da chi transitava per una rapida visita oppure per sostare a lungo in preghiera.
Questo eccezionale tesoro “nascosto” è ora sotto la lente d’ingrandimento di un team internazionale di studiosi appartenenti, tra gli altri, all’Accademia Austriaca delle Scienze (ÖAW) e all’Autorità Israeliana per le Antichità (IAA). Gli esperti sono riusciti a documentare e a decifrare centinaia di graffiti, iscrizioni, stemmi e disegni presenti sulle pareti del Cenacolo e finora sconosciuti.
Rappresentazione dell’Ultima Cena sull’altare di Klosterneuburg. L’altare, completato nel 1181 dal maestro Nicola di Verdun, risale allo stesso secolo in cui prese forma il Cenacolo di Gerusalemme. (foto: Peter Böttcher – Università di Salisburgo / © Stiftsmuseum Klosterneuburg)Tra questi figura la rarissima testimonianza di una pellegrina cristiana di lingua araba, proveniente da Aleppo, e una breve iscrizione armena del 1300 che sembra aver risolto un mistero durato oltre sette secoli.
Veduta generale del Cenacolo sul Monte Sion. Nell’angolo opposto è possibile vedere un’iscrizione araba (©Joshua Faudem / – Israel Antiquities Authority).Molti graffiti, resi ormai quasi invisibili dal tempo, sono stati riportati alla luce e analizzati nel laboratorio della Leon Levy Digital Library of the Dead Sea Scrolls. I risultati, pubblicati su Liber Annuus (74, 2024) – l’annuario dello Studium Biblicum Franciscanum di Gerusalemme -, ci regalano un’immagine vivida della mobilità e della diversità culturale dei pellegrini medievali.
Lo stemma a carboncino del nobile Tristram von Teuffenbach
Uno dei ritrovamenti più sorprendenti è lo stemma della famiglia Teuffenbach, proveniente dalla regione di Murau, in Stiria. Nel 1436 un certo Tristram von Teuffenbach, nobile stiriano, accompagnò l’arciduca Federico d’Asburgo – e futuro imperatore del Sacro Romano Impero, Federico III – in un pellegrinaggio a Gerusalemme, insieme a un seguito di circa un centinaio di aristocratici austriaci.
Stemma dei baroni di Teuffenbach-Mairhofen del 1563. Già nel XV secolo elementi araldici simili erano presenti anche negli stemmi di alcune famiglie vicine del distretto di Murau in Stiria. (Johann Siebmacher, Wappenbuch (Libro degli Stemmi, 1605), Tav 22. PD)Durante la visita, Tristram incise il suo stemma, probabilmente a carboncino, sulle pareti del Cenacolo: una specie di firma, che lo storico Ilya Berkovich, coautore dello studio, interpreta come un “segno di presenza” simile ai graffiti spesso lasciati sui monumenti (aggiungiamo, sciaguratamente) dai turisti di oggi. L’identificazione dello stemma è stata confermata grazie al progetto Corpus Vitrearum dell’ÖAW, dedicato alle vetrate medievali e ai suoi simboli araldici.
“Natale 1300”: un re armeno vittorioso?
Una delle scoperte storicamente più significative è però una scritta in armeno all’apparenza semplice: tradotta recita infatti “Natale 1300”. Incisa in alto su una parete, secondo lo stile tipico dell’epigrafia nobiliare armena, potrebbe risolvere un mistero durato oltre 700 anni.
Immagine multispettrale in bianco e nero rielaborata digitalmente dello stemma “Teuffenbach” della Stiria. Subito sotto si può vedere l’inizio di una data “14” semi-cancellata. Sulla destra si trovano due iscrizioni: la monumentale iscrizione natalizia armena e un’altra iscrizione serba, “Akakius”. (foto: © Shai Halevi – Israel Antiquities Authority)Nel 1299 Het’um II, sovrano del Regno di Cilicia, guidò una campagna militare, insieme agli alleati Mongoli e Georgiani, contro i Mamelucchi, riconquistando diversi territori. Tra il 22 e il 23 dicembre di quell’anno affrontò i nemici a Wādī al-Khaznadār, in Siria. Lo scontro, noto anche come terza battaglia di Homs, si concluse con la (momentanea) vittoria dell’esercito dei Mongoli, rinforzato da contingenti armeni e georgiani, sui Mamelucchi.
Gli storici si sono sempre chiesti se il sovrano, deposte le armi, si fosse mai recato in visita a Gerusalemme, come pellegrino o conquistatore. L’iscrizione, sottolineano gli autori dello studio, supporta questa ipotesi, offrendo una prova tangibile della presenza armena nella Città santa e nella regione, come testimoniato da chiese e monasteri ancora attivi.
La pellegrina di Aleppo
Di grandissima importanza appare anche il frammento di un’iscrizione araba. Poche parola, “…ya al-Ḥalabīya”, che rappresentano il (raro) “lascito” di una pellegrina cristiana proveniente da Aleppo, in Siria. La doppia desinenza femminile “ya” indica infatti che l’autrice era una donna, un dettaglio eccezionale in un’epoca in cui il pellegrinaggio era dominato per lo più da uomini.
Il graffito della pellegrina di Aleppo. La sua iscrizione [rosso] incrocia un altro graffito arabo [blu] che non è stato ancora decifrato. (foto: © Shai Halevi – Israel Antiquities Authority)La scoperta, come nota Berkovich, amplia la prospettiva sulla partecipazione femminile al pellegrinaggio in epoca premoderna, confermando ancora una volta la diversità sociale e culturale dei visitatori che affollavano il Cenacolo.
Voci e “firme” di tanti secoli fa
Tra le iscrizioni figurano anche le “firme” di personaggi noti, come Johannes Poloner di Ratisbona, che lasciò un ampio resoconto del suo viaggio a Gerusalemme compiuto nel 1421-22. È poi riapparso un disegno a carboncino dello stemma di un’importante famiglia patrizia di Berna, i von Rümlingen.
Sui muri del Cenacolo sono riaffiorate testimonianze lasciate da pellegrini provenienti da ogni dove: oltre all’Armenia, alla Siria e alle aree germanofone, vi sono tracce di viaggiatori in arrivo dai territori oggi appartenenti alla Serbia e alla Boemia, così come dei tanti cristiani di lingua araba partiti dall’Oriente. Si tratta di documenti eccezionali, che forniscono informazioni in “presa diretta” e di prima mano, preziosissime fonti storiche dalla straordinaria varietà geografica. “Questi graffiti rivelano la dimensione globale del pellegrinaggio medievale, andando oltre la narrativa eurocentrica”, spiega ancora Berkovich.
Stemma intagliato con la firma “Altbach”. L’immagine è quasi identica allo stemma della città moderna (Germania meridionale). (foto: © Shai Halevi – Israel Antiquities Authority)Tra i ritrovamenti spicca anche lo stemma della città di Altbach, in Germania, probabilmente inciso da un cavaliere insieme a simboli legati all’Ultima Cena, un calice e una pagnotta rotonda. Questi graffiti, incisi con utensili affilati come i coltelli o disegnati con un pezzo di carbone, riflettono il desiderio dei pellegrini di lasciare un segno tangibile della loro presenza, e della loro devozione, in un luogo ritenuto da tutti sacro.
Il graffito e l’iscrizione dello sceicco
Su un muro è stata individuata anche l’iscrizione, accompagnata da un disegno che rappresenta uno scorpione, realizzata in onore dello sceicco sufi Aḥmad al-ʿAjmī. Lo sceicco ha svolto un ruolo importante nella storia del Cenacolo. Fu lui, infatti, a chiedere nel 1523 al sultano Solimano il Magnifico di espellere i francescani dal luogo per poi trasformare la sala in una moschea.
L’iscrizione e il disegno realizzati per lo sceicco Aḥmad al-ʿAjmī (foto: © Shai Halevi – Israel Antiquities Authority)Nuove tecnologie permettono nuove scoperte
La scoperta è stata possibile grazie a tecniche all’avanguardia. La fotografia multispettrale, che cattura lunghezze d’onda invisibili all’occhio umano, e l’RTI, che analizza le superfici attraverso variazioni di luce, hanno reso leggibili iscrizioni quasi cancellate.
Le immagini, elaborate nel laboratorio della Leon Levy Digital Library, hanno permesso di identificare dettagli minuscoli e quasi invisibili, come la data “14” sotto lo stemma disegnato da Teuffenbach, probabilmente l’inizio di “1436”.
Un lavoro di squadra
Il progetto, frutto di una collaborazione tra l’ÖAW, l’Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) e studiosi armeni, conferma ancora una volta l’importanza della ricerca interdisciplinare per ricostruire capitoli dimenticati della nostra storia.
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