Month: December 2016

It is a city shrouded in myth, swallowed by the Mediterranean Sea and buried in sand and mud for more than 1,200 years.

For centuries it was thought to be a legend, a city of extraordinary wealth mentioned in Homer, visited by Helen of Troy and Paris, her lover, but apparently buried under the sea.

In fact, Heracleion was true, and a decade after divers began uncovering its treasures, archaeologists have produced a picture of what life was like in the city in the era of the pharaohs.

The city, also called Thonis, disappeared beneath the Mediterranean around 1,200 years ago and was found during a survey of the Egyptian shore at the beginning of the last decade.

Now its life at the heart of trade routes in classical times are becoming clear, with researchers forming the view that the city was the main customs hub through which all trade from Greece and elsewhere in the Mediterranean entered Egypt.

But now archaeologists are unearthing the mysteries of Heracleion, uncovering amazingly well-preserved artifacts that tell the story of a vibrant classical-era port.

Known as Heracleion to the ancient Greeks and Thonis to the ancient Eygptians, the city was rediscovered in 2000 by French underwater archaeologist Dr. Franck Goddio and a team from the European Institute for Underwater Acheology (IEASM) after a four-year geophysical survey. The ruins of the lost city were found 30 feet under the surface of the Mediterranean Sea in Aboukir Bay, near Alexandria.

A new documentary highlights the major discoveries that have been unearthed at Thonis-Heracleion during a 13-year excavation. Exciting archaeological finds help describe an ancient city that was not only a vital international trade hub but possibly an important religious center. The television crew used archaeological survey data to construct a computer model of the city.

According to the Telegraph, leading research now suggests that Thonis-Heracleion served as a mandatory port of entry for trade between the Mediterranean and the Nile.

So far, 64 ancient shipwrecks and more than 700 anchors have been unearthed from the mud of the bay, the news outlet notes. Other findings include gold coins, weights from Athens (which have never before been found at an Egyptian site) and giant tablets inscribed in ancient Greek and ancient Egyptian. Researchers think that these artifacts point to the city’s prominence as a bustling trade hub.

Researchers have also uncovered a variety of religious artifacts in the sunken city, including 16-foot stone sculptures thought to have adorned the city’s central temple and limestone sarcophagi that are believed to have contained mummified animals. Giant 16 foot statues have been uncovered and brought to the surface while archaeologists have found hundreds of smaller statues of minor gods on the sea floor. Slabs of stone inscribed in both ancient Greek and Ancient Egyptian have also been brought to the surface. Dozens of small limestone sarcophagi were also recently uncovered by divers and are believed to have once contained mummified animals, put there to appease the gods.

Experts have marveled at the variety of artifacts found and have been equally impressed by how well preserved they are.

“The archaeological evidence is simply overwhelming,” Professor Sir Barry Cunliffe, a University of Oxford archaeologist taking part in the excavation, said in a press release obtained by The Huffington Post. “By lying untouched and protected by sand on the sea floor for centuries they are brilliantly preserved.”

A panel of experts presented their findings at an Oxford University conference on the Thonis-Heracleion excavation earlier this year.

But despite all the excitement over the excavation, one mystery about Thonis-Heracleion remains largely unsolved: Why exactly did it sink? Goddio’s team suggests the weight of large buildings on the region’s water-logged clay and sand soil may have caused the city to sink in the wake of an earthquake.

Παρουσίαση ορθόδοξη των Αγίων προσκυνημάτων στους Αγίους τόπους. Οδοιπορικό στην Αγία γη, στην Ιερουσαλήμ, στην βηθλεέμ, την Ναζαρέτ, τον Ιορδάνη ποταμό, το Σαραντάριο όρος, στην Αγία Σιών, το όρος Θαβώρ, τις Ιερές Μονές Αγίου Σάββα, Αγίου Θεοδοσίου του κοινωβιάρχου, Φρέαρ του Ιακώβ, Χοτζεβά, Προφήτου Ηλίου, καθώς και σε κάθε άλλο Ιερό προσκύνημα που σχετίζεται με την Αγία Παρουσία του Ιησού Χριστού στους Αγίους τόπους.

Presentation of the Holy Orthodox pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Journey to the Holy Land in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, the Jordan River, the Sarantario term in St Zion, Mount Tabor, the Monasteries of St. Sava, St. Theodosius koinoviarchou, Jacob’s Well, Chotzeva, Prophet Elias, and any other sacred pilgrimage associated with the Holy presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Land.

Autopsy 15/12/2016 Jerusalem – restoration of the Holy Sepulchre

 

Αυτή την Πέμπτη 15 Δεκεμβρίου, στις 23:50, η Αυτοψία ταξιδεύει στα Ιεροσόλυμα και παρακολουθεί τις εργασίες αποκατάστασης του Πανάγιου Τάφου. Η εκπομπή καταγράφει τις μαρτυρίες των ανθρώπων που έζησαν από κοντά το άνοιγμα του Τάφου του Χριστού, μετά από 500 ολόκληρα χρόνια.

Οι Έλληνες επιστήμονες που ανέλαβαν το έργο, μιλούν για τις μοναδικές εκείνες στιγμές, όταν σηκώθηκε η μαρμάρινη πλάκα και αποκαλύφθηκε ο βράχος πάνω στον οποίο ακούμπησε το σώμα του Χριστού. Οι επιστήμονες περιγράφουν και τα μυστηριώδη φαινόμενα που κατέγραψαν, όταν μια ευωδιά άρχισε να αναδύεται από τον ανοικτό τάφο αλλά και όταν έσβησαν, ξαφνικά, τα ηλεκτρονικά τους όργανα.

Στην εκπομπή, ο Πατριάρχης Ιεροσολύμων Θεόφιλος περιγράφει πώς έζησε ο ίδιος το σπουδαίο αυτό γεγονός αλλά και τις προσπάθειες των Ισραηλινών να σφραγίσουν τον τάφο.
Η «Αυτοψία» επισκέπτεται, επίσης, το σημείο της γέννησης του Χριστού στη Βηθλεέμ, όπου ενόψει Χριστουγέννων, συρρέουν χιλιάδες άνθρωποι.

Ακόμη, η κάμερα της εκπομπής καταγράφει τη ζωή των μοναχών-φρουρών του Πανάγιου Τάφου, καθώς και των Ελλήνων του Πατριαρχείου, οι οποίοι ζουν ανάμεσα σε Παλαιστίνους, Ισραηλινούς, Αρμένιους και Μουσουλμάνους.

In Petra, there is a huge 2,000-year-old pool. This waste of water is a sign of power in the desert. Archaeologists reveal the mosaics that were from the Apostle Paul’s era.

The excavations of the Philistine Gath has discovered similarities to the Cypriot cities. The 6,000-year-old fortress that was discovered in Jordan displays signs of an advanced early society.

The most recent excavation at Petra has unveiled an advanced irrigation system and water storage systems that helped the desert city civilization to survive. They were as well able to maintain a garden that included a huge swimming pool, ponds, and fountains.

The engineering achievements and other luxuries are clear evidence of the ancient Nabateen capital’s former glory and wealth around 2,000 years ago.

Ancient columns of the Great Temple Photo Credit

Petra is possibly best known for the sandstone canyon that goes directly to Al Khazneh.

This place was seen the the film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade where two hero archaeologists, played by Sean Connery and Harrison Ford, had ridden out of the canyon and into the Treasury with their quest for the Holy Grail.
Yet 2,000 years ago Petra was famous for different reasons.

It had been one of the most famous water stops in the Middle East where the camel caravan routes linked to distant cities. Now the archaeologists are finding the Nabataean capital located in southwestern deserts of Jordan.

It was once beautiful with a delicate, irrigated garden. It most likely featured paths that were shaded by date palms, grasses, trees, and vines next to a large 44-meter wide swimming pool.
The Nabataean’s capability to tame nature, and the consumption of the precious resource of water, was pure propaganda to display their wealth and power.

They were able to do this since they invented the clever hydraulic system that allowed the people to not only reserve enough water for their own requirements. It also had lavish gardens with fountains and a pool.

Water was very scarce in the desert waste – it was usually used for only necessity.
The ongoing diggings in Petra have unveiled a shaft that seems to have guided water more than 10 meters down for the artificial conveyance of water to the pool level.

The archaeologists have as well discovered underground channels that helped in controlling runoff during the rainy season.

View of the Royal Tombs in Petra Photo Credit

This reveals the true quality of the system for the very first time.

The very complicated system of channels, underground cisterns, ceramic pipelines, and water tanks that also filtered the water allowed the people of Petra to be able to cultivate crops, produce wine, harvest fruit, and manufacture olive oil.
They could as well create a lavish garden with a large pool in the middle of the desert. Several cities of the ancient world had rivers whose large waters nourished and protected them.

Yet for Petra, situated on the northwest border of the Arabian Desert, this city rose to importance because of their lack of water.
Petra was located at the middle of two important trade routes. One had linked the Red Sea with Damascus.

The other was linking the Persian Gulf with Gaza, located on the shores of the Mediterranean.

Another was linking caravans from the Gulf loaded with expensive cargoes of spices.

They had to cross the large wastes of the Arabian Desert, traveling for weeks before they would eventually arrive at the narrow canyon on Petra. This city was a sign of lodging and food and as well refreshing cool water.

The citizens of Petra did not provide these comforts to visitors with no charge. Besides paying for lodging and the food, they had to give gifts to the guards, the priests, the gatekeepers, and the king’s servants.

Yet the high prices of perfumes and spices kept the caravans coming and filled up the treasures of Petra.

The Theatre Photo Credit

The Paradise of Petra

The fact that this city had any gardens at all was a miracle – it only got 10 to 15 centimeters (4 to 6 inches) of rain a year (currently, with climate change, it might even get less).

Without the techniques they invented, purifying and pressurizing and creating the ability to store water, the city of Petra might have not even existed.

The people of Petra had carved out large areas of water, pools, and containers from the solid rocks.

They even had “tanks” that would purify water. Almost every drop of rain that had fallen around Petra was collected and then conserved. The springs had been channeled to pipes that were emptied into hundreds of containers carved underground.
This would ensure a reliable source of bathing and drinking water in the heart of the desert, despite the season.

Botanical studies have shown that the garden was highly decorated with complex patterns. The garden was adorned with grass species and palm trees. The archaeologists as well discovered nut shells and charred seeds.
The large swimming pool was larger than today’s normal Olympic pools. It was created around the 1st century BC. Pools started to become trendy in the region the previous century.

The Hasmonean rulers of Judah created pools that were surrounded by gardens at their palaces. The Hasmonean palace located in Jericho had around seven.
Herod the Great, who was the Roman vassal king of Judah, had continued the tradition. He created a large swimming pool with a sunken garden located in his third winter palace at Jericho.

The Herodian design included an island structure, decorative tiles, and a large garden terrace.

This was almost identical to the garden pool that was located in Petra.

Lonely cave Photo Credit

City carved in rock

The citizens of Petra did not only know how to work with water, they were as well masters at stonework.

The name Petra mean “Mass of Rock”; this summons the vision of stone. The city of Petra was made of stone, unlike any other city in the Roman World. The Nabataeans engraved their houses, temples, and tombs out of solid rock.

The red sandstone mountains where Petra had settled was perfectly suited for this, and by the first century BC a large city had emerged in the middle of the desert. Possibly the most stunning evidence of the Nabatean mastery over stone was the Treasury.

This was an imposing structure was that carved out of a huge cliff.

The structure had been named after the large stone urn that crowns the building; this had supposedly stored precious stone and gold. The urn was actually created out of solid stone. Although not what Steven Spielberg had portrayed in his movie, the structure did not guide into a deep maze that was hiding the Holy Grail.

General view of Petra Photo Credit

The Treasury actually was holding a relatively small hall that was once used as a royal tomb.

The city as well features tombs that were carved into the cliff face.

These tombs were so large that any person who wanders into them will end up venturing into their dark interiors, Haaretz reported. Petra had survived for centuries, though Rome took possession of the city in 106 BC.

The importance it once had in international trade started diminish.

The theater and colonnade testify to the Roman presence in the city during the first and second centuries. The Romans had developed sea lanes located to the East.

We have another archeology story for you: German Archaeologist and Businessman blew up entire 9 levels of Archaeological the remains of Historical Troy with Dynamite

Yet in time the overland spice trade had collapsed and Petra was abandoned slowly to the desert sands. It would ultimately fail to resist the end of the Byzantine Empire’s rule around 700 BC.

Map of Petra Source:Wikipedia/public domain

The hidden platform has become the center of attention at Petra. Even though the building is small in size, this beautifully carved monument shows astounding attention to detail.

It has been speculated that the ancient people responsible for the construction of the obelisk thrived during the era that Petra flourished as the unparalleled capital of the Nabataean kingdom. This means that its roots are likely to have been as early as mid-first-century BCE.

Petra was a crucial center of trade between East and West from the fifth century BC until the first century AD. As Greek and Roman civilization thrived, Petra became an important caravan center for Arabian incense, Chinese silks, and Indian spices.

Being stationed at the crossroads between the Arabian kingdoms, the Egyptian Empire, and the powerful Syrian civilizations, it is easy to see how Petra played a vital role in the history of economic development at a critical time in human history.

The monument further stressed that the ancient city of Petra thrived during the latter half of its existence from 500 BC to 300 AD. Most of the ruins which have been recently unearthed were built and used during the later ages of the city.

Australian Shipwreck Mapped

The New Daily reports that archaeologists from the Western Australia Maritime Museum have returned to the wreck James Matthews, a British merchant ship that sunk in 1841.

The team’s goal is to create a detailed, 3-D model of the ship in order to closely monitor how the vessel’s condition changes in the future. 

“The idea is we will come back every few years and take another set of photographs and be able to overlay the models,” says former museum director Graeme Henderson. 

“You’ll see growth in seaweed and sponges on the site and you’ll also be able to see the deterioration if that’s happened.” 

First discovered in 1973, the ship had sailed from London laden with farming equipment and other supplies for the newly established Swan River colony.

Because much of the ship was buried in sand, its cargo was unusually well preserved. Research into the ship’s history also revealed the vessel had a dark past.

Earlier it was known as the Don Franciso, and served as a Brazilian slaving ship that was seized by the British in 1837 with more than 400 slaves aboard. 

To read in-depth about maritime archaeology, go to “History’s 10 Greatest Wrecks.”

Source: Archaeology.org