Changes

==Ruins described==

==Ruins described==

[[File:Gomorrah2.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Closeup of a section of the Gomorrah ruins; note the remains of windows at the top of the image.]]

[[File:Gomorrah2.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Closeup of a section of the Gomorrah ruins; note the remains of windows at the top of the image.]]

Sodom and Gomorrah has been cited by modern scholars as being on the southern or southeastern side of the Dead Sea, in Jordan, as being either the remains of [[Tall el-Hammam]]<ref>https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidbressan/2018/11/29/is-the-biblical-destruction-of-sodom-and-gomorrah-based-on-a-real-life-impact-event/#d56fa584c292</ref> or [[Bab edh-Dhra]]<ref>https://www.bibleplaces.com/babedhdhra/</ref>.  Both cities did exist during the Bronze Age, 3200–1100 BC, with Bab edh-Dhra collapsing ''ca'' 2300 BC, approximately 200 years prior to the destruction of the cities of the plain as described in the Bible.  It is largely unknown what caused their destruction and abandonment, with warfare, earthquakes, and a [[Köfels Impact Event|comet impact]] being cited as causes.

Sodom and Gomorrah has been cited by modern scholars as being on the southern or southeastern side of the Dead Sea, in Jordan, as being either the remains of [[Tall el-Hammam]]<ref>https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidbressan/2018/11/29/is-the-biblical-destruction-of-sodom-and-gomorrah-based-on-a-real-life-impact-event/#d56fa584c292</ref> or [[Bab edh-Dhra]]<ref>https://www.bibleplaces.com/babedhdhra/</ref>.  Both cities did exist during the Bronze Age, 3200–1100 BC, with Bab edh-Dhra collapsing ''ca'' 2300 BC, approximately 200 years prior to the destruction of the cities of the plain as described in the Bible.  It is largely unknown what caused their destruction and abandonment, with warfare, earthquakes, and a [[Köfels Impact Event|comet impact]] being cited as causes.

The actual remains of Gomorrah are located on the western shore of the Dead Sea, close to the foot of [[Masada]].  The site itself is lightly-colored, as opposed to the immediately-surrounding area.  Visually, the remaining structures consists of high walls - often double-walls in which the upper course was set back - and piles of ash debris sloping their sides into the wadis.  Right angles appear, both horizontally and vertically, in many places, as well as the remains (or ''shadows", in keeping with Josephus' description) doorways, gateways, and windows.

The actual remains of Gomorrah are located on the western shore of the Dead Sea, close to the foot of [[Masada]].  The site itself is lightly-colored, as opposed to the immediately-surrounding area.  Visually, the remaining structures consists of high walls - often double-walls in which the upper course was set back - and piles of ash debris sloping their sides into the wadis.  Right angles appear, both horizontally and vertically, in many places, as well as the remains (or ''shadows", in keeping with Josephus' description) doorways, gateways, and windows.

The structures themselves are made up of calcium sulfate (CaSO₄), a substance which is best known as the mineral gypsum.  However, calcium sulfate can be made as a by-product when limestone is subject to intense heat caused by burning sulfur<ref>https://www.arkdiscovery.com/sodom_&_gomorrah.htm</ref>; indeed, many ancient cities within the Holy Land, including Jerusalem, were constructed with limestone, as it is abundant and easily quarried.  Sulfur - the Biblical "brimstone" - is abundant here as well, found embedded in the walls and ground, often as little round balls, and more than 98% pure<ref>https://www.oxfordbiblechurch.co.uk/index.php/books/sodom-and-gomorrah/633-appendix-2-results-of-a-scientific-analysis-of-gomorrah</ref>.

The structures themselves are made up of calcium sulfate (CaSO₄), a substance which is best known as the mineral gypsum.  However, calcium sulfate can be made as a by-product when limestone is subject to intense heat caused by burning sulfur<ref>https://www.arkdiscovery.com/sodom_&_gomorrah.htm</ref>; indeed, many ancient cities within the Holy Land, including Jerusalem, were constructed with limestone, as it is abundant and easily quarried.  Sulfur - the Biblical "brimstone" - is abundant here as well, found embedded in the walls and ground, often as little round balls, and more than 98% pure<ref>https://www.oxfordbiblechurch.co.uk/index.php/books/sodom-and-gomorrah/633-appendix-2-results-of-a-scientific-analysis-of-gomorrah</ref>.

== References ==

== References ==