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Last update - 05:44 11/09/2009
Earliest known depiction of Second Temple lamp uncovered
By Eli Ashkenazi, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Archeology, Second Temple 

An artist who visited the Second Temple returned to his Galilee home some 2,000 years ago amazed by what he'd seen.

In a synagogue on Lake Kinneret's shores, he carved the candelabra he'd seen into a rock.

The stone and other discoveries were recently uncovered by an Israel Antiquities Authority dig near Moshava Migdal. The dig uncovered the earliest known synagogue dated to the days of the Second Temple.
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The dig is intended as a salvage operation ahead of the construction of a hotel on a site owned by the Franciscan church.

The uncovered synagogue dates to 50 BC to 100 AD, and at its center the engraving of the seven-branched lamp, or menorah, "unlike any ever seen" according to workers at the site.

According the Antiquities Authority "starting with the beginning of the dig three weeks ago, we realized we had found something interesting. The findings at the site were also well preserved."

The synagogue's central hall measured 120 meters square and was surrounded by benches for attendees. On the floor was a mosaic and the walls were frescoed.

In the hall the square stone was uncovered, decorated with engravings on all four sides and tip.

One engraving includes the seven-branched lamp which stands on a single leg with a triangle base with vessels on either side.

"This is a very exciting and unique discovery, this is the first time a lamp engraving from the Second Temple age has been uncovered, the earliest lamp in a Jewish context, dated to the beginning of the Roman period," site director Dina Avshalom-Gorni said.

A representative the Fransiscan church-owned company planning the 122-room hotel also expressed joy at the discovery and stated it strengthens the church's resolve to establish an interdenominational dialogue center in the region.

The Antiquities Authority said the dig site is still closed to visitors.

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      1.   Another find ? A suggested new winning strategy for Palestinians 06:11  |  Darth Zaider (Ed) 11/09/09
      2.   #1 Hidden under your rant... 07:41  |  Ryan 11/09/09
      3.   What a pity that this does not attract the settlers to Galilee 08:15  |  Esther 11/09/09
      4.   Don`t destroy this synagogue 08:17  |  JRo 11/09/09
      5.   But I thought the Muslims claim the land and especially Jerusalem 08:37  |  Gil 11/09/09
      6.   Ryan,"the element of truth" needs a grain of salt 09:43  |  Zev Davis 11/09/09
      7.   Palestinian rights 10:36  |  Palestinian 11/09/09
      8.   This is clearly another indication - added to the many thousands 10:40  |  Gavriel 11/09/09
      9.   There`s loads of Muslim archaeology in the Holy Land too. 11:05  |  Michael 11/09/09
      10.   # 9 michael 11:38  |  Axel 11/09/09
      11.   Palestinian (#7) Wow really your Grand Father was a Jew 12:05  |  Gil 11/09/09
      12.   #9 - Respectfully, you`re a moron anti-Semite 12:13  |  Seth Greenberg 11/09/09
      13.   Gil 5,10. Where are your family originally from then? 12:28  |  Michael 11/09/09
      14.   to Gil and Palestinian 12:36  |  yona 11/09/09
      15.   The "Palestinians" refused to be known as such until well into 12:39  |  Eitan 11/09/09
      16.   Facts in the ground 12:39  |  rsd 11/09/09
      17.   # 11 seth 12:51  |  Axel 11/09/09
      18.   #9 Michael, brilliant. All should read this! 12:51  |  Ben Alofs 11/09/09
      19.   # 9 michael 12:55  |  Axel 11/09/09
      20.   Michael, Axel etc 13:23  |  17 11/09/09
      21.   Michael (#13) 13:30  |  Gil 11/09/09
      22.   Was this synagogue built in accordance with int.l law? 13:38  |  Allon 11/09/09
      23.   @ Axel 13:40  |  Michael J 11/09/09
      24.   to #9 Michael..I totally agree with you 13:43  |  Honor and Pride 11/09/09
      25.   Who are you kidding 13:43  |  Paul 11/09/09
      26.   The "ME", Axel? 13:50  |  yona 11/09/09
      27.   Archaeology is Archaeology 13:52  |  Eli 11/09/09
      28.   9 and 11 13:53  |  Mirjam 11/09/09
      29.   Wrong, Michael! 14:01  |  Jasper 11/09/09
      30.   Palestinian grow up. 14:03  |  Petra 11/09/09
      31.   Seth Greenberg 11, Is Greenberg a Hebrew name then? 14:20  |  Michael 11/09/09
      32.   Michael (#9) Why doesn`t it give them the right 14:20  |  Gil 11/09/09
      33.   31 Divine right, Gil, I said. Divine right. 14:38  |  Michael 11/09/09
      34.   Michael (#31) 21:09  |  Gil 11/09/09
      35.   # 26 yona 21:49  |  Axel 11/09/09
      36.   The point of it all 03:03  |  The Prophet 12/09/09
      37.   zev davis 6 03:50  |  potobac 12/09/09
      38.   yona 14 04:00  |  potobac 12/09/09
      39.   gil 32 04:07  |  potobac 12/09/09
      40.   gil 33 04:10  |  potobac 12/09/09
      41.   @ 38 potobac 08:44  |  Michael J 12/09/09
      42.   Yona (#14) Hello 10:24  |  Gil 12/09/09
      43.   Michael (#33) Divine Right 10:32  |  Gil 12/09/09
      44.   Michael (#33) Divine Right 10:33  |  Gil 12/09/09
      45.   # 23 michael j 11:34  |  Axel 12/09/09
      46.   # 26 yona 11:43  |  Axel 12/09/09
      47.   Michael (#33) If you believe the Bible 14:25  |  Gil 12/09/09
      48.   Yona (#14) Hello 14:26  |  Gil 12/09/09
      49.   Yona (#14) Hello 16:36  |  Gil 12/09/09
      50.   Hello Gil, #43/potobac 08:04  |  yona 13/09/09
      51.   Potobac (#37) 21:02  |  Gil 13/09/09
      52.   Israel would find artifacts in California... 08:28  |  Jo Mama 14/09/09
      53.   yona 50 10:37  |  potobac 14/09/09
      54.   gil 51 10:58  |  potobac 14/09/09
      55.   Potobac (#54) 19:21  |  Gil 14/09/09
      56.   gil 55 07:08  |  potobac 15/09/09
      57.   SO WHAT IS NEW IN THE "PESHKAVIL AL - ARD?" 16:26  |  roeh 16/09/09
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