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The '''Magdala Stone''' is a large, first century artifact that was recently discovered in the ancient city of [[Magdala]], a city described in the [[New Testament]] as the hometown of [[Mary Magdalene]] and a place where Jesus once visited after the feeding of the 5,000.<ref>{{bibleref|book=Matthew|chap=15|verses=32-39}}</ref> This ancient finding has been described by some as one of the most important single findings in archaeology in the last 50 years.<ref>[http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/archaeology-today/magdala-2016-excavating-the-hometown-of-mary-magdalene/ BAR - Magdala 2016: Excavating the Hometown of Mary Magdalene]</ref>

The '''Magdala Stone''' is a large, first century artifact that was recently discovered in the ancient city of [[Magdala]], a city described in the [[New Testament]] as the hometown of [[Mary Magdalene]] and a place where Jesus once visited after the feeding of the 5,000.<ref>{{bibleref|book=Matthew|chap=15|verses=32-39}}</ref> This ancient finding has been described by some as one of the most important single findings in archaeology in the last 50 years.<ref>Zapata-Meza, Marcela. [http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/archaeology-today/magdala-2016-excavating-the-hometown-of-mary-magdalene/ BAR - Magdala 2016: Excavating the Hometown of Mary Magdalene]</ref>

[[File:Magdala Stone.jpg|thumb|right|The Magdala Stone is an ancient artifact found in Magdala, an ancient town residing on the shore of the [[Sea of Galilee]] ]]

[[File:Magdala Stone.jpg|thumb|right|The Magdala Stone is an ancient artifact found in Magdala, an ancient town residing on the shore of the [[Sea of Galilee]] ]]

== Discovery ==

== Discovery ==

On July 27, 2009, [[Israel Antiquities Authority]] archaeologists, Dina Avshalom-Gorni and Arfan Najjar, began conducting a five-month mandatory excavation at [[Magdala]].<ref>[http://www.magdala.org/about/the-story/timeline/ Magdala - Timeline]</ref> On September 1st, 2009, a first century synagogue was discovered at Magdala,<ref>[https://www.pri.org/stories/2013-01-04/israeli-archeologists-discover-jesus-synagogue Israeli Archeologists Discover "Jesus' Synagogue"]</ref> and nearly in the middle of this extremely old synagogue, the Magdala Stone was found less than a foot beneath the soil.<ref>see ref. 2</ref> The site of Magdala was destroyed c. 70 AD by Roman forces, making this first-century artifact one of the most important of its kind.

On July 27, 2009, [[Israel Antiquities Authority]] archaeologists, Dina Avshalom-Gorni and Arfan Najjar, began conducting a five-month mandatory excavation at [[Magdala]].<ref>[http://www.magdala.org/about/the-story/timeline/ Magdala - Timeline]</ref> On September 1, 2009, a first century synagogue was discovered at Magdala,<ref>Makler, Irris. [https://www.pri.org/stories/2013-01-04/israeli-archeologists-discover-jesus-synagogue Israeli Archeologists Discover "Jesus' Synagogue"]</ref> and nearly in the middle of this extremely old synagogue, the Magdala Stone was found less than a foot beneath the soil.<ref>see ref. 2</ref> The site of Magdala was destroyed c. 70 AD by Roman forces, making this first-century artifact one of the most important of its kind.

== Description ==

== Description ==

On the front of the Magdala Stone, is an image depicting a seven-branched menorah, and in fact the oldest depiction of the menorah known in archaeology to date.<ref>[http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-magdala-stone Magdala Stone - Jewish Library]</ref> The menorah is situated on top of a decorated square, one that may be symbolic of an [[altar]] of sacrifice. On the sides of the menorah, are depicted two jars, which may be symbolic of the water and oil that is used in the Temple of Jerusalem. The two sides of the Magdala Stone depict carvings of a building containing pillared archways, and with more archways inside, giving the Magdala Stone a three-dimensional look, as if one were standing in the Temple of Jerusalem themselves. The "back of the stone depicts a pillared structure with two wheels above a geometric shape, illustrating fire. Presumably, the front and sides of the stone carvings represent the Second Temple in Jerusalem, and the back side depicting wheels and fire represents the Holy of Holies."<ref>[http://www.magdala.org/visit/archaeological-park/the-magdala-stone/ The Magdala Stone]</ref> One of the most interesting parts is the top side of the stone, where carvings reveal a rosette with six petals, surrounded by six smaller petals. There are decorative features all over the Magdala Stone.

On the front of the Magdala Stone, is an image depicting a seven-branched menorah, and in fact the oldest depiction of the menorah known in archaeology to date.<ref>[http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-magdala-stone Magdala Stone - Jewish Library]</ref> The menorah is situated on top of a decorated square, one that may be symbolic of an [[altar]] of sacrifice. On the sides of the menorah, are depicted two jars, which may be symbolic of the water and oil that is used in the Temple of Jerusalem. The two sides of the Magdala Stone depict carvings of a building containing pillared archways, and with more archways inside, giving the Magdala Stone a three-dimensional look, as if one were standing in the Temple of Jerusalem themselves. The "back of the stone depicts a pillared structure with two wheels above a geometric shape, illustrating fire. Presumably, the front and sides of the stone carvings represent the Second Temple in Jerusalem, and the back side depicting wheels and fire represents the Holy of Holies."<ref>[http://www.magdala.org/visit/archaeological-park/the-magdala-stone/ The Magdala Stone]</ref> One of the most interesting parts is the top side of the stone, where carvings reveal a rosette with six petals, surrounded by six smaller petals. There are decorative features all over the Magdala Stone.

== See Also ==

== See also ==

*[[Magdala]]

*[[Magdala]]

*[[Mary Magdalene]]

*[[Mary Magdalene]]

== External Links ==  

 

== External links ==

*[http://www.magdala.org/visit/archaeological-park/the-magdala-stone/ The Magdala Stone]

*[http://www.magdala.org/visit/archaeological-park/the-magdala-stone/ The Magdala Stone]

*[http://www.magdala.org/ Magdala Official Page]

*[http://www.magdala.org/ Magdala Official Page]

[[Category:Ancient History]]

[[Category:Ancient History]]

[[Category:Bible]]

[[Category:Bible]]

[[Category:Archaeology]]

[[Category:Archaeology]]