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ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM

 

The evangelical sites of the Holy Land and the Franciscans’ archaeological excavations

 

The Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land have not only preserved and researched the Holy Places,: but also, over the past 150 years, they have carried out extensive archeological excavations up to high academic standards at many evangelical sites all over the Holy Land. Thanks to such work the Franciscans have built up vast specialised collections hosted since 1902 in the oldest museum in Israel, the Archaeological Museum of the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum.

This old museum will now be restructured, significantly enlarged and opened to visitors with an entirely new presentation of the collections.

 

Extraordinary archaelogical collections: a tour through Jesus' earthly life

 

The Archaeological Museum will offer a tour through the main chronological stages of Jesus’ earthly life, allowing the visitors a virtual archaeological pilgrimage to the Holy Places of the Gospels: from Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, to his hidden life in Nazareth and his public one in Capernaum (with the house of St. Peter) and Galilee (Tabgha and Cana, where the first miracles took place), concluding with his passion in Jerusalem (Gethsemane and the Holy Sepulchre).

The exhibition of impressive archeological objects, dating from the Canaanite period to the Crusaders (2nd millenium BC to 11th century AD) will comprise beautiful architectural and sculptural fragments, ancient sarcophagi, mosaics and pieces of wall painting, as well as antique pottery and metalworks, liturgical objects and items from everyday life – enriched with lots of background information and historical time references. The archaeological exhibition will provide a unique and exciting learning experience on the evangelical sites, the life of Jesus, of his apostles and the first Christian communities.

 

The location - itself a 'museum'

 

The Archaeological Museum will be housed in the Old City of Jerusalem within the Monastery of the Flagellation, a place of great importance in terms of both history and tradition. The complex is located in the area of the Antonia Fortress, according to tradition the place of Jesus’ condemnation: ancient remains of walls, pavements and cisterns can still be seen today, and will be included in the tour of the museum.

 

 

 
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