The Great Smoky Mountain Journal

Staff, Wire Reports

Posted: Sunday, January 21, 2018 07:31 PM

Ancient Historic Menorah Carving Discovered In Ancient Tomb Door In Jerusalem

As the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah comes to a close, the discovery of an ancient tomb door with a stunning menorah carving is providing a fascinating glimpse into Israel’s rich history.

The basalt tomb door, which is undergoing preservation work, was recently put on display by the Institute of Archaeology at Hebrew University, in Jerusalem.

The door was discovered in Tiberias in Israel’s Galilee region in 2010 by archaeologists from the University, but was only revealed to the public a few weeks ago, said Dr. Katia Cytryn-Silverman, senior lecturer at Hebrew University’s Institute of Archaeology and Department of Islamic and Middle East Studies.

Cytryn-Silverman, who leads the ongoing Tiberias excavation project, explained that the door attracted plenty of attention when it went on display.

“As this happened toward the Jewish Holiday of Hanukkah ─ which celebrates the liberation and the rededication of the Second Temple by the Maccabeans (second century BCE) and the miracle of the lasting oil, which burned in the Temple's menorah for eight days ─ we decided to bring the finding to public knowledge, as a good wish for Hannukah and for the Holiday Season,” she told Fox News, via email.

The tomb door is ornamented with a depiction of the seven-branched menorah that stood in the ancient Jewish Temple, one of the key symbols of Judaism. (A nine-branched menorah is lit to celebrate Hanukkah, which this year started on Dec. 12 and will end on Dec. 20.)

The artifact also serves as a reminder of Israel’s multicultural heritage, Cytryn-Silverman said.