Archaeologists recreate tiles from time of Jesus
After seven months of studying relics and historical texts, Israeli archaeologists and masons unveiled their recreation of the sacred flooring that Jesus’ feet once touched.
They replicated tiles from Jerusalem’s Second Temple, where the New Testament says Jesus went for pilgrimage and study as a boy and, as an older preacher, cast out its money-changers in anger.
Assaf Avraham was one of the archaeologists involved in the project.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) ASSAF AVRAHAM, ARCHAEOLOGIST AT BAR ILAN UNIVERSITY WHO TOOK PART IN THE RESTORATION TEAM, SAYING:
"What we tried to do, we tried to create a realistic ancient floor from the time of the Second Temple period. We even made the scratches and all kind of marks that created the same appearance as it used to look like at the time of the Second Temple period."
Surviving tiles from the temple ruins told the archaeologists what material had been used…
hand-tooled local limestone, Dead Sea stone, as well as imported marble.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) ASSAF AVRAHAM, ARCHAEOLOGIST AT BAR ILAN UNIVERSITY WHO TOOK PART IN THE RESTORATION TEAM, SAYING:
‘’While we were sifting the dirt, we suddenly saw the remains of ancient floor tiles, decorative and colourful. We remembered Josephus Falvius, the Jewish historian that described the Temple Mount floor, the open court, that was paved with colourful stones. We are talking about the 'Opus Sectile' style, the fanciest style at that time. We can just imagine who walked on these floors - we are talking about pilgrims, Jewish, from all over the world, and of course Jesus that (as) described in the Gospel of John, used to walk and meet people on the Temple Mount."
The team manager, Avi Tsvisal, says he hopes people will enjoy coming to see the final product - the crafting of which he described as ''tough work''.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) AVI TAVISAL, FOUNDER OF 'MORIAH COLLECTOIN' ARTHOUSE SAYING:
"but it was very interesting and we made it with all the heart.''
