Category: News

 The Negev Valley: Exploring the Ancient Route

   On Wednesday, March 28, the entire Ratisbonne Seminary (led by Fr. Junus) travelled two hours, 164 km and 3000 years into history to experience a trade route that united the ancient world. The spice trade was one of the earliest commercial enterprises that traversed races, cultures, empires and continents. Beginning around 1000 BC, spices from the Far East (Indonesia and India) would travel west satiating the needs of the people in Arabia. From the ancient city of Petra, the road would split in two. Some spices continued westward to Egypt while the lion’s share of the product headed north into the Negev Desert and diagonally toward the coast of the eastern Mediterranean Sea- to the port city of Gaza. From there, these highly desired condiments were shipped off to the greater Mediterranean region.

     It was there in the Negev desert that we explored. Its plain terrain and abundant water sources made it conducive for ancient travel. One city that developed and catered to those ancient travellers was the city of Tel Beer Sheva. The tell, or archaeological mound, that is located east of the modern city of Beer Sheva, had its most developed period during the end of the 2nd millennium (Iron Age). This period is known by ancient historians as the Israelite period. At the archeological site, there exists the remains of an ancient well where tradition says was used by the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They were also said to have had interactions with God. The very name Beer Sheva means the Well (Beer) of the Covenant (Sheva). The site of this ancient city revealed an elaborate city, with an administrative city plaza, that a weary traveller would approach when entering the city. It also contains cisterns, storage houses, casemate walls and an elaborate palace. The city thrived for 500 years before finally falling (theoretically) to an earthquake.

     The next stop was to the Wadi Zin- a valley ravine that stretches from the central to the northern highlands of the Negev Desert. This Wadi, which is now the Ein Avdat National Park, was an extraordinary site to behold. At this site, Fr. Junus was a man of few words. For the strikingly beautiful landscape spoke volumes. The Ratisbonne explorers took a hike through the canyon- created by the numerous springs at the southern openings of the Wadi.  Which emptied into deep pools in a series of waterfalls. These conditions are what made it conducive for ancient travellers to traverse. Following the spice trade route, one can draw a straight line from the ancient city of Petra (in Jordan) to the Gaza port. Arrival at the oasis of Ein Avdat probably marked a joyous occasion for weary sojourners. Not only did it provide water, shade and beautiful scenery, but also indicated the midpoint between Petra and Gaza. The site was settled by Nabatines, an Arab people whose economy depended on the popular and profitable spice trade route. Their occupation in this region probably had a lot to do with their interest in controlling the trade route. Their main city Petra also marked a pivotal location for those coming from the Far East and served as a famous marketplace. These mysterious people had practically a monopoly on the trade route for a few hundred years which probably explains their ultimate downfall. Although they became allies with the Romans upon their conquest. They would ultimately be absorbed into the empire and would lose their distinction as a unique people.

The last stop in this topological visit, to the proper city of Avdat, speaks of this Roman period following Nabatean rule. In Avdat stands the remains of an ancient Roman villa which served as a lookout spot over the trade route. This villa tower emphasizes the importance of the trade route for the Romans, who were famous for maintaining all the revenue streams that previous people cultivated. The name of the city (Avdat) came from the name of the Nabatean king Obada II. There is even an inscription which asks Zeus Oboda to bless the builder of the tower and its inhabitants. Even today, one can see the elaborate construction that was done by the Romans. The Villa, which served as an army camp for the Roman X Legion, contained vaulted rooms, walkways, Roman arches, cisterns, and a tower.  It even contained a wine press. This was also probably not only for domestic use but probably catered to travellers of the spice trade. The temple within the villa marks the various people who inhabited the area. An old Greek inscription notes their god Zeus and the Nabatine king Obada. From the Roman temple, one can see the remnants of Christianity’s conquest. The Byzantines controlled and renovated the villa for a few hundred years before an earthquake brought it down.

The most remarkable moment for me occurred here at the villa at Avdat. Looking out from where the tower stood, I could see the ancient trade route through the Negev Desert. Looking left I can imagine those coming from Petra. Turning to the right, I pictured the route towards the Gaza Port. One thought grabbed my attention and sparked my imagination. I was overwhelmed by a vision of a caravan of traders passing by on camels and carrying all the goods they wished to barter. One of those spices that they were carrying- around the turn of the first century was the very frankincense that was used to adore my saviour at the time of his birth. It was a moment that brought me great joy and immeasurable gratitude for my God.

By Br. Leo Adrian Imbert, SDB.

On Friday, 24^th March 2023, the second archaeological excursion of the students of the STS Jerusalem campus of the Salesian Pontifical University took place. All visited places during this excursion were somehow connected to Herod the Great. Herodion, a megalomaniac project of Herod that after his death was turned into a monumental mausoleum; then Hebron, with its well-preserved wall around the Cave of Machpelah, which is also Herod’s piece of work; and finally, Mamre, where Herod built an enclosure wall.

Starting from our Jerusalem Ratisbonne-based campus at 7:30 am, the students, guided by the archaeological scholar Fr. Yunus Demirci OFM Cap, first visited the Herodion National Park southeast of Bethlehem. After seeing one impressive documentary and one multimedia show about the history of the site, the life, and death of Herod the Great, the students visited the theatre, mausoleum, and fortress on the top of the hill, which is partly artificial, called the Upper Herodium. As Herod was an exceptional architect and sensualist, the fortress also contained a Roman bath. We did not visit the Lower Herodion, supposed to be the palace, but we had a beautiful view of the excavated remains from the hilltop.

Although the weather was favourable, the cultural aspects were not. The next stop was Hebron, the tombs of the Patriarchs. Unfortunately, it was Friday and a few days after the beginning of Ramadan. The staff did not allow us to enter the sacred site, neither from the Jewish nor the Muslim side. So we had just the opportunity to touch and admire the refined wall construction of Herod. Not of small importance for students from all around the world was the opportunity to observe and absorb on the spot, the political and religious situation between Israel and Palestine, Jews and Muslims.

Finally, we went to visit places associated with the life of Abraham and Sarah. There are at least two traditions connecting different places with them. In the 18^th chapter of Genesis, we can read about the visit of God to Abraham in the form of three angels. Abraham treats them very generously and receives a promise of a child from Sarah. In the same chapter, we read about the intercession of Abraham to God wanting to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. One tradition associates the Oaks of Mamre with today’s Elonei Mamre, north of the tombs of the Patriarchs. This archaeological site contains the remains of Herod’s enclosure and the Constantine basilica, one of the four basilicas spoken of by the ancient pilgrims – one was the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre, one was the Basilica on the Mount of Olives dedicated to the Ascension, the Nativity Basilica in Bethlehem and finally Mamre. Unfortunately, the site was closed, but we were able to see the outside excavated area.

Unluckily in the nearby mosque, a noon prayer was taking place, and the gathered believers blocked our bus with their cars so we were unable to leave after our visit. However, this proved to be a great experience for many students to see the Muslim prayers during Ramadan: seeing pious men of all ages bowing down on their knees and touching their foreheads on the ground, was impressive. We stood there in silence, contemplation, and some in animated talks with nosy children.

Another tradition conserves an old oak tree claimed to be Abraham’s Oak on the only Christian property in Hebron, belonging to the Russian Orthodox Church. After a long and perseverant knocking, the door was opened and we were allowed to enter the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. We had lunch just a few meters away from Abraham’s Oak in the shadow of the surrounding trees. Some explanation was given to us by a Russian volunteer in the monastery, Denis, a theology bachelor graduate. Following this, our driver Omar brought us safely back to Jerusalem, around 4 pm.

Matej Fabian SDB

March 26th 2023

Forty people are leaving the Ratisbonne Monastery in Jerusalem. The morning is already late and the day will last until the contemplation of the sunset in front of a monolith: we are the students of the Studium Theologicum Salesianum and today's excursion, under the guidance of prof. Yunus Demirci, will take us to the cities of Ramleh, Lod, Yavne and the archaeological city of Gezer. We don't know it yet, but this day that we will spend in the western part of Israel will begin with water and end with water.

The first destination to be reached is Ramleh: it is a historic city in Palestine founded by the Arabs in the 8th century, built in the early Islamic period by Suliman, son of Abd al-Malik and ruled in the medieval period by various powers, including the Crusaders, who established a Latin church in the city. It was the capital and largest city of Palestine for several centuries and has played an important role in the political, cultural and religious history of the region. One of Ramleh's most notable features are its extraordinary cisterns, which were built in the 8th century to collect and store rainwater, essential for the city's survival in Palestine's arid climate... but before that, let's look at the 'water underground we enter a (former) medieval Latin church built during the Crusader period, when Ramleh was under Christian rule and which, after the reconquest by the Muslims, was transformed into a mosque in 1187 by the will of Saladin and was called the Great Mosque of Ramleh . The mosque has retained some of the original architectural features of the Crusader churches, such as the imposing columns and the three-nave subdivision.

After visiting the Franciscan church of St. Joseph and Nicodemus we arrive at another mosque: the White Mosque (also known as the Al-Jafari Mosque, after the Arab tribe that inhabited the area during the Islamic period) which was built during the reign of the Abbasid Caliphate in the 8th century and which is one of the oldest mosques in Israel. One of its most admirable parts is the minaret which is a tall, slender tower located in a corner of the courtyard: it has a square base with several levels of balconies and a cylindrical shaft that tapers towards the top. To conclude the Ramleh stage, a boat ride could not be missing. But where? Precisely in the underground cisterns, after which Fr. Yunus spoke to us all morning, connected to the great problem that the city had regarding the conservation of water: their Arabic name is Birkat al-Anaziyya (the pool of the arches) and they take their name from the rows of arches that surround them, which were built during the Fatimid period in the 10th century and which served as the supporting structure for a covered market which stood next to the pool. We'll have to keep these tanks in mind… before the day is out we'll have to get back to talking about them.

The second stop is Lod: a city located in central Israel, about 15 kilometers southeast of Tel Aviv. The city has a long history dating back to ancient times, with evidence of human habitation in the area dating back over 8,000 years. It was an important city in Roman and Byzantine times and played a significant role in the early Christian and Islamic eras. Once we arrive we immediately enter the Mosaic Archaeological Center, dedicated to the conservation and exhibition of a large and impressive ancient mosaic floor discovered in 1996 during construction works: the mosaic dates back to the 3rd century AD. and it is believed that it was part of a large villa belonging to a wealthy Roman. It features intricate designs and depictions of scenes from ancient Greek mythology, as well as daily life in the Roman period.

After a well-deserved break we enter a church (today run by Orthodox Christians), built in the 12th century by the Crusaders on a previous church from the Byzantine era: the church is dedicated to St. George as, according to tradition, the saint was born in Lod at the end of the 3rd century AD. to Christian parents. The place is considered sacred by both Christians and Muslims, as it is believed to be the burial place of St. George, revered as a saint in Christianity and as a prophet al-Khidr, in Islam. Indeed, after the fall of the Crusader kingdom at the end of the 13th century, the church was transformed into a mosque by the Mamluk sultan Baybars.

The sun is already taking on the warm tones of a day that is drawing to a close, when on a hill we reach a historic tower located in the Israeli city of Yavne. The building is also known as the Al-Anwar Mosque Minaret and is believed to have been built during the Ottoman period, around the 16th century, and was part of a mosque. From this hill it is possible to have an overview of the city which is located a short distance from the Mediterranean Sea and which is of historical importance due to the role it played after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD: here, Gamaliel II, a Jewish rabbi who lived in and 2nd century AD, helped establish the Sanhedrin in the city of Yavne as the center of Jewish religious authority and lead the reform of Judaism.

Last stop: the sky has now taken on reddish hues when we arrive at Gezer, an ancient site located in the central coastal region of today's Israel: archaeological evidence suggests that Gezer was inhabited as early as the Chalcolithic period (4500-3200 BC), and was later colonized by the Canaanites in the Bronze Age (3200-1200 BC). One of the oldest known Hebrew inscriptions was found here: the Gezer calendar is believed to date back to the 10th century BC, during the Israelite period and with 12 lines of Hebrew text, which are divided into two columns, it lists agricultural activities that were typically performed during each month of the year and also includes references to various religious festivals and observances, such as the Feast of Tabernacles, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of the New Moon.

The archaeological city is very large and crossing it we find different types of buildings including a Canaanite tower, the Canaanite Gate and the so-called Solomon's Gate. We finally arrive at the Monolith Temple as the sun is setting and the day draws to a close: without realizing it we have returned to the beginning of the story. However, we have not yet talked about an element of this city, which is essential for keeping the places visited during this excursion together: water!

Gezer's water system was built in the Middle Bronze Age, around 1800 BC, and served as the main source of water for the city for many centuries. The plant consists of a large underground tunnel, which can be traveled in the company of bats, which extends for over 70 meters, leading to a spring located outside the city walls. Only one detail is missing: a Roman-era canal that connects the water system to Birkat al-Anaziyya, the cisterns of the city of Ramleh.

The day ended: we began with water and we concluded with water and the water itself, flowing underground, accompanied us on this journey that connected ancient civilizations and more than 4,000 years of history: from the Chalcolithic to the Crusades, from Canaanite to Jewish civilization, from Christian rule to Muslim rule. This is the Holy Land.

Federico Gozzi

Feb 27th 2023