Showing posts with label map. Show all posts
Showing posts with label map. Show all posts
Sunday, March 9, 2025
Monday, February 17, 2025
Ancient Israel House : Iron Age's Four Room House
A four-room house, also known as an "Israelite house" or a "pillared house" is the name given to the mud and stone houses characteristic of the Iron Age of Levant.
 |
| The house is about 7.5 meters by 6.8 meters |
The four-room house is so named because its floor plan is divided into four sections, although not all four are proper rooms, one often being an unroofed courtyard.
 |
| many four-room houses were at least partially two stories |
The popularity of the structure started at the beginning of Iron Age I ( end of the 11th century BC ) ( United Monarchy ) and dominated the architecture of Israel through Iron Age II until the Babylonian Exile. After the destruction of Judah ( of the 7th and 6th centuries BC ) the architecture type was no longer utilized.
 |
| Hundreds of four-room houses are known today from Iron Age sites mainly concentrated in the highlands (i.e. the Galilee), the Central Hill Country and the Transjordanian Plateau |
Thursday, October 26, 2023
Wednesday, April 29, 2020
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
Monday, June 4, 2018
Saturday, June 2, 2018
Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls (324 AD)
The New Testament does not say when or how Paul died. The date of Paul's death is believed to have occurred after the Great Fire of Rome in July 64, but before the last year of Nero's reign, in 68.
A legend later developed that his martyrdom occurred at the Aquae Salviae, on the Via Laurentina.
Paul was decapitated, his severed head rebounded three times, giving rise to a source of water each time that it touched the ground, which is how the place earned the name St Paul at the Three Fountains ( "San Paolo alle Tre Fontane" ).
Paul's body was buried outside the walls of Rome, at the second mile on the Via Ostiensis, on the estate owned by a Christian woman named Lucina. It was here, in the 4th century, that the Emperor Constantine the Great built a first church. Then, between the 4th and 5th centuries it was considerably enlarged by the Emperors Valentinian I, Valentinian II, Theodosius I, and Arcadius. The present-day Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls ( “Basilica Papale di San Paolo fuori le Mura” ) was built there in 1800.
Basilica Papale di San Paolo fuori le Mura
(Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls)
The Basilica was founded by the Roman Emperor Constantine I (306-337) over the burial place of St. Paul, where a memorial was erected, called a cella memoriae. The Basilica was consecrated by Pope Sylvester (314-335) in 324.
In 386, Emperor Theodosius I (379-395) began erecting a much larger and more beautiful basilica with a nave and four aisles with a transept. It was consecrated in 390 by Pope Siricius (384-339). The work, including the mosaics, was not completed until Leo I's pontificate (440–461).
Under Pope St. Gregory the Great (590–604) the Basilica was extensively modified. The pavement was raised to place the altar directly over St. Paul's tomb.
Pope John VIII (872–882) fortified the Basilica, the monastery, and the dwellings of the peasantry, forming the town of Joannispolis which existed until 1348, when an earthquake totally destroyed it.
The cloister of the monastery was erected between 1220 and 1241.
In 1823, a fire destroyed most of the basilica. Pope Leo XII (1823-1829) ordered for reconstruction. It was re-opened in 1840, and reconsecrated in 1855
The Tomb of St. Paul
Paul's tomb is below a marble tombstone in the Basilica's crypt, at 1.37 m below the altar.
The tombstone bears the Latin inscription PAULO APOSTOLO MART ("to Paul the apostle and martyr").
The inscribed portion of the tombstone has three holes, two square and one circular. The circular hole is connected to the tomb by a pipeline, reflecting the Roman custom of pouring perfumes inside the sarcophagus, or to the practice of providing the bones of the dead with libations. The sarcophagus below the tombstone measures 2.55 m long, 1.25 m wide and 0.97 m high.
Church of the Martyrdom of St. Paul (1601) @ Three Fountains Abbey
The New Testament does not say when
or how Paul died. The date of Paul's
death is believed to have occurred after the Great Fire of Rome in July 64 AD, but
before the last year of Nero's reign, in 68 AD.
A legend later developed that his
martyrdom occurred at the Aquae Salviae,
on the Via Laurentina.
Paul was decapitated, his severed
head rebounded three times, giving rise to a source of water each time that it
touched the ground, which is how the place earned the name St Paul at the Three Fountains ( "San Paolo alle Tre Fontane" ).
Paul's body was buried outside the
walls of Rome, at the second mile on the Via
Ostiensis, on the estate owned by a Christian woman named Lucina. It was
here, in the 4th century, that the Emperor Constantine the Great
built a first church. Then, between the 4th and 5th centuries
it was considerably enlarged by the Emperors Valentinian I, Valentinian II,
Theodosius I, and Arcadius. The present-day Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls ( “Basilica Papale di San Paolo
fuori le Mura” ) was built there in 1800.
Tre Fontane Abbey
( Three Fountains Abbey )
Belonging to the monastery are three
separate churches.
The first, the Church of St. Paul of
Three Fountains, was raised on the spot where St. Paul was beheaded by order of
the Emperor Nero.
The second church, Santa Maria Scala
Coeli, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title "Our Lady of
Martyrs". In this
church is the altar of the scala coeli ("ladder to heaven"), from
which the church receives its present name.
Third are the church and monastery
dedicated to Saints Vincent and Anastasius, built by Pope Honorius I in 626 AD and
given to the Benedictines. They were to care for the two older sanctuaries, as
well as their own church.
1.
Arco di Carlo Magno
( Arch of Charlemagne )
The gate at the entrance is called
Arco di Carlo Magno, because Charlemagne made substantial donations to the
monastery. The existing arch was
constructed in 805 AD.
2.
Chiesa Santa Maria Scala Coeli
( Church Saint Mary of the Stairway to Heaven )
Santa
Maria Scala Coeli (Saint Mary of the Stairway to Heaven, church on the site of
St Paul the Apostle's prison where he was held before his martydom.
The
present church was built in 1581 on the order of Cardinal Alessandro Farnese,
which was completed in1584. The
architect was Giacomo della Porta.
The
interior was completed in 1589 by Cardinal Pietro Aldobrandini.
The
church has an irregular octagonal plan.
The fabric in in pink brick, with architectural detail in traventine
limestone.
3.
Chiesa di San Paolo al Martirio
( Church of the Martyrdom of St. Paul )
The present church was begun in 1599
on the orders of Cardinal Pietro Aldobrandini, and completed in 1601. The
architect was Giacomo della Porta.
On The frieze is an inscription
extolling Cardinal Aldobrandini : PETRUS DIAC(ONUS) CAR(DINALIS) ALDOBRANDINUS
S(ANCTAE) R(OMANAE) E(CCLESIAE) CAMER(ARIUS) F(ECIT)
Above the doorway is an ornate plaque
with curlicues, swags and a putto’s head, which reads : S(ANCTI) PAULI APOSTOLI
MARTYRII LOCUS, UBI TRES FONTES MIRABILITER ERUPERUNT, meaning “ the place of
the martyrdom of St. Paul the Apostle, where three springs miraculously broke
out”.
Santi Vincenzo e Anastasio a Trevi
( Saints Vincent and Anastasius at Trevi )
The
Church is built by Popo Honorius I in 626 AD, originally dedicated to St Anastasius the
Persian, then added St Vincent of Saragossa.
The
present building was built in 1646 to 1650 in the Boroque style under the order
of Cardinal Mazarin, to the design of architect martino Longhi the Younger.
The
church’s interior features a single nave.
The altar is decorated by the painting Martyrdom of Sants Vincent and
Anastasius by Francesco Pascucci.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Israel - A Brief History : Modern Era
World
War I
1914, July 28th – WW I began.
1914 – Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers in WW I.
1918, November 11th – WW I ended.
1920, August 10th – Treaty of Sèvres signed between the
Ottoman Empire and Allies. Palestine
placed under British mandate.
British
Mandate
1920, July 1st – Palestine governed under a civil administration
1923, September 29th – British Mandate for Palestine came
into effect. The Mandate includes
Palestine and Transjordan.
1946, May 25th – Transjordan gain independence. Officially called Hashemite Kingdom of
Jordan
1948, May 14th – British Mandate ended
United
Nations Partition Plan for Palestine
The United Nation Partition Plan for Palestine would, after the
termination of the British Mandate, lead to the creation of independent Arab
and Jewish states and the Special International Regime for the city of
Jerusalem. The Plan sought to address
the conflicting objectives and claims of two competing movements : Arab
nationalism and Jewish nationalism.
It was accepted by the Jewish but
rejected by leaders of the Arabs.
1947, November 30th – Civil War started between Arabs and
Jewish.
Independent
State of Israel
1948, May 15th – First Arab-Israel
War began with invasion of Arab States
1949 – Armistice Agreements signed between Israel and Egypt, Lebanon,
Jordan and Syria.
The Armistice Agreements saw Israel had control of Galilee, Jezreel,
Negev, West Jerusalem and the Costal Plain.
The Gaza Strip and West Bank were occupied by Egypt and Jordan
respectively.
1949, May 11th – Israel admitted as a member of the UN.
1967, June 5th – Third Arab-Israel War (Six-Day War) began with Israel
bombing Egyptian air-fields.
Israel took control of West Bank (from Jordan), Gaza Strip (from Egypt),
East Jerusalem, Golan Heights and the Sinai Peninsular.
West Bank remained under military occupation. Gaza Strip remained independent of
Israel. Golan Heights and East Jerusalem
occupied by Israel. Sinai Peninsular has
returned to Egypt in 1979 as part of Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty.
Today
Today’s State of Israel is divided into 6 administrative districts :
Northern, Haifa, Center, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Southern. Districts are further divided into 15
sub-districts.
East Jerusalem and Golan Heights considered part of Israel
territory. East Jerusalem has been
included in the Jerusalem District as of 1967.
Golan Heights aligned into Northern District.
West Bank and Gaza Strip remained Israeli-occupied territories. Israel control the airspace, territorial
waters and border crossings.
Administration is under Palestinian Authority.
Israel - A Brief History : Classical Period
Hasmonean
Dynasty
538 BC - Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered the Babylon and took over
its empire. The Achaemenid Empire
spanned from Asia to Africa and Europe.
538–518 BC - Israelites were allowed to return to Judah and rebuilt the Temple ( Ezra 1:1-4 ;
6:13-18).
456 BC - a second group led by Ezra and Nehemiah returned.
334 BC - Alexander the Great defeated the Persian and conquered the
empire. After the death of Alexander,
his generals divided the empire among themselves. Judah became part of the Seleucid Empire.
Maccabees Revolt
After Mattathias death, his son Judas Maccabee led guerrilla attacks
against Seleucid army. Jerusalem was
recaptured and the Temple cleansed. The celebratory
festival of Hanukkah instituted. (
1 Maccabees ; 2 Maccabees ; The Wars of
the Jews )
160 BC - Judas died in a battle.
His brother Jonathan succeeded as army commander and High Priest.
Autonomy
142 BC - Jonathan was assassinated, and was succeeded by Simon. Simon came to terms with Demitrius II
Necator, the Seleucid king. Maccabees
won autonomy, yet the region remained a province of the Seleucid Empire. Simon led the people in peace and prosperity,
until he was assassinated.
129 BC - Judea was freed from Seleucid rule on the death of Antiochus
VII Sidetes, the last Seleucid king.
63 BC - Judea became a protectorate of Roman Empire, coming under the
administration of a governor. Judea was
allowed a king.
Herodian
Dynasty
During the time of the Hasmonean ruler John Hyrcanus conquered Madaba,
Sehechum, Transjordan, Samaria, Galilee and Idumea ( Edom ). Edomites were forced to convert to
Judaism. The Edomites were gradually
integrated into the Judean nation, and some of them reach high ranking
positions.
During the time of Hasmonean ruler Alexander Jannaeus, Edomite Antipas
was appointed governor of Edom. Antipas’
son, Antipater was the chief adviser to
Hasmonean ruler Hyrcanus II.
47 BC - Julius Caesar appointed Antipater as procurator of Judea. Antipater’s sons, Phasael and Herold as
governors of Jerusalem and Galilee respectively.
40 BC - Herod made king of the Jews by the Roman Senate.
19 BC - Herod commissioned expansion of the
Temple.
4 BC - Herod the Great died. Judea
made a Roman province. Judea was divided
among his three sons. Herod Archelaus
ruled Judea, Edom and Samaria. Herold
Philip I ruled Decapolis. Trachonitis and Iturea. Herod Antipas ruled Galilee and Perea.
6 AD - Judea made a Roman province.
34 AD - Agrippa I ruled Galilee and Perea. In 41 AD Judea added to his rule.
70 AD - Herod’s Temple destroyed by
Roman troops during the Seige of Jerusalem, ending the Great Jewish Revolt.
92 AC - Herodian Dynasty ended.
Judea fully incorporated into Roman province.
Roman
Imperial
285 AD - Roman emperor Diocletian divided the Roman Empire’s
administration into eastern and western halves.
324 AD - Roman emperor Constantine I transferred the eastern capital
from Nicomedia to Constantinople.
395 AD - following the death of Roman emperor Theodosius I, Roman Empire
divided politically
476 AD - fall of Western Roman Empire.
Byzantine
Empire
614 AD, Jerusalem conquered by Persian, Jews were left to self-govern.
617 AD, Byzatine recaptured Jerusalem, Judaism banned, Jews fled to
Baltic.
Arab Caliphs
636 AD - Palestine conquered by the Arab
691 AD - Dome of the Rock constructed on Temple Mount.
705 AD - Al-Aqsa Mosquue constructed on Temple Mount.
Crusader
States Vs Ayyubid Dynasty
1071 AD - Muslims of Seljuk Turks defeated the Byzantine army in
Manzikert. Byzantine emperor Alexis I plead Pope Urban II of Roman Catholic in
Rome to the aid to free Jerusalem from Muslim rule.
Crusader states were created in the Levant during the crusades :
1098–1149 : County of Edessa
1098–1268 : Principality of Antioch
1099–1291 : Kingdom of Jerusalem
1104–1289 : County of Tripoli
1187 - Egyptian Muslims of Ayyubid Dynasty concurred Jerusalem.
1193 - civil war within Ayyubid Dynasty
1250 - Mamluk overthrew Ayyubid Dynasty in Egypt
1260 - Mongols overthrew Ayyubid Dynasty in Aleppo
1341 - fall of Ayyubid Dynasty
Mamluk
Dynasties
1291 - Mamluk Sultan Al-Ashraf Khalil conquered Acre, capital of Kingdom
of Jerusalem
Ottoman
1799 – Napoleon briefly occupied Palestine
1878 – First modern Jewish settlement founded in Petah Tikva.
Large scare return of Jew from the diaspora back to Israel began in
1882.
1882-1903 : First Aliyah – 35,000 Jews returned
1904-1914 : Second Aliyah – 40,000 Jews returned
1919-1923 : Third Aliyah – 40,000 Jews returned
1924-1929 : Fourth Aliyah – 82,000 Jews returned
1929-1939 : Fifth Aliyah – 250,000 Jews returned
1909 – First Hebrew-speakng city, Ahuzat Bayit ( later Tel Aviv )
established.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)