e Ecole Biblique is located in Arab East Jerusalem one block outside the Old City - one block from the Damascus Gate. Jews have always buried their dead outside the City. Subsequently, all around Jerusalem the areas just outside the walls are dotted with cemeteries and complexes of tombs. Our little plot of land on Nablus Road is no exception. The Dominicans established their Priory and Archaeological Institute on the site of a previous byzantine Monastery that had long been associated with St. Stephen the Protomartyr. (it is not the traditional site of his death - that site is on the Mt. of Olives just opposite the Temple Mount and is occupied by the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Stephen)The 1st chapel of the Original Monastery had been in between two of the tombs that occupy the property of the monastery. I have already made reference to these tombs in another post - the protestant pretender for the tomb of Jesus - the so called "Garden Tomb" is part of this same complex) The picture here shows the friars' funerary chapel inside the tomb complex. Behind the altar, you can see the entrance into the ancient tomb complex. Inside there are several burial chambers. Each has a "bed" on which the body of the deceased would be placed in a simple shroud. Sometime later, after the flesh had decomposed, the bones would then be placed in the ossuary beneath the "bed". Those ossuaries are still there and still filled with bones.
We were invited by Fr. John Baptiste Humbert to tour the tombs of St. Stephens on Saturday Afternoon (I neglected to
write about this sooner, but it's kinda fun!) We were shown two different sets of tombs, one that has been maintained well because of the funerary chapel there as well as the tombs of the Dominican Friars who have lived, worked, and died here. The other... well, not so much. Fr. Jean-Baptiste explained quite carefully why these tombs are from the late Hellenistic period (and not, as has been proposed by some Jewish archaeologists working for the State of Israel, from the era of the 1st Temple). We saw the bones of Monks who were buried in these tombs in the Christian era. But make no mistake about it, these were not originally Christian Tombs.
write about this sooner, but it's kinda fun!) We were shown two different sets of tombs, one that has been maintained well because of the funerary chapel there as well as the tombs of the Dominican Friars who have lived, worked, and died here. The other... well, not so much. Fr. Jean-Baptiste explained quite carefully why these tombs are from the late Hellenistic period (and not, as has been proposed by some Jewish archaeologists working for the State of Israel, from the era of the 1st Temple). We saw the bones of Monks who were buried in these tombs in the Christian era. But make no mistake about it, these were not originally Christian Tombs. After we were finished with the tombs, Fr. Jean Baptiste invited us to the Archaeology Dept. where he wanted to show us something rather remarkable that had been excavated here at St. Stephen's. There on the wall of his office hangs a shirt of chain maille dating from the middle ages (the crusader era). Though rusted, it is in remarkable shape and bears the holes which mark the e
ntry and exit wound of the blow that likely killed its owner. Fr. Jean Baptiste invited Fr. Steve, the smallest of our little group to try it on - Steve, who loves all things martial, was in archaeological heaven! The shirt weighs more than 35 pounds and it took two dressers to help him into it. While wearing it, he remarked how flexible it was and though heavy, not unwieldy. It fit him like it was tailor made for him. This picture shows Fr. Steve in the Chain Maille with Fr. Jean Baptiste. The photo below shows Fr. Steve holding a "ballista" a round projectile from the Roman or Byzantine era. Such a stone would have been catapulted. Every archaeological site we have visited is littered with these things in various sizes. Steve is still trying to figure out how to sneak one out in his luggage. Fr. Jean-Baptiste explained that the Maille shirt was found buried here on our property. He proudly said that it is date to the time of St. Dominic's life (13th Century) and that it is extremely high quality. He also said that it was worn, not by a Christian, but by a Muslim warrior of that era. There are a lot more photos at: http://picasaweb.google.com/FrBart/StevePlaysCrusades.
ntry and exit wound of the blow that likely killed its owner. Fr. Jean Baptiste invited Fr. Steve, the smallest of our little group to try it on - Steve, who loves all things martial, was in archaeological heaven! The shirt weighs more than 35 pounds and it took two dressers to help him into it. While wearing it, he remarked how flexible it was and though heavy, not unwieldy. It fit him like it was tailor made for him. This picture shows Fr. Steve in the Chain Maille with Fr. Jean Baptiste. The photo below shows Fr. Steve holding a "ballista" a round projectile from the Roman or Byzantine era. Such a stone would have been catapulted. Every archaeological site we have visited is littered with these things in various sizes. Steve is still trying to figure out how to sneak one out in his luggage. Fr. Jean-Baptiste explained that the Maille shirt was found buried here on our property. He proudly said that it is date to the time of St. Dominic's life (13th Century) and that it is extremely high quality. He also said that it was worn, not by a Christian, but by a Muslim warrior of that era. There are a lot more photos at: http://picasaweb.google.com/FrBart/StevePlaysCrusades.
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