Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Israel Day 4: Israeli Museum & Model City

We went to the Israeli Museum. By this time, we were all itching to go to the Old City. So we had to wait another day. Arrgh. This is what our guide, Daniel, had to say:

"To understand the holy temple of Jerusalem, you will visit the model city, an accurate miniature of ancient Jerusalem the way it was two thousand years ago. This model city was built as a memorial to a father's son who died in the War of Independence. The model is constantly being changed as new archaeological discoveries are made in old Jerusalem. A view of the Temple as it was and why it was there will lay the ground work for a better appreciation of temples and the temple site today. This will also help you understand the importance of Jerusalem, the Holy City." Daniel Rona, Memory Book of the Holy Land, p. 51.

And, of course, he was absolutely right! Seeing the model city and having Daniel give us all the details of what we were going to be seeing, made all the difference when we got there. It gave us such a point of reference. The Old City is so huge and so layered with significance of Christian, Jewish, and Moslem meaning. Within those broad groups, individual sects have their own beliefs as well. To see it all mapped out the way it was and then to see it the way it is, gave everything contextual meaning.

We also saw the Dead sea scrolls. This is a picture of the outside and then the inside. The architecture was inspired by the lids of the jars that held the scrolls for centuries. It is a beautiful building.












This is an ancient Jewish tomb. It is very similar to a Roman one, and dates to the time of the Roman occupation, which is the time of Christ. What makes it different from a Roman style is the lack of pagan images. What also makes it interesting is that there are several images that are reminiscent of our temples.
Here is an ancient olive press. There are several of these through the country. This one however has most of it's working parts, and a wheel that was made for it. That is Daniel demonstrating something to do with it.

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