Showing posts with label Israel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Israel. Show all posts

Tuesday 22 December 2015

Mysterious “Wheel Of Giants” Is As Old As Stonehenge



A mysterious stone circle in the Middle East is estimated to be nearly 5,000 years old a similar age to Stonehenge and may have been used for gruesome sky burials. However “Stonehenge” is believed to date back around 4,614 years.  Thei prehistoric stone monument of Rujm el-Hiri means (stone heap of the wild cat) or Hebrew name Gilgal Refaim means (wheel of giants) went unnoticed for many centuries in the disputed region of the Golan Heights.

However, the mystery remains about why the monument was built. It's known in Arabic as Rujm el-Hiri, or "stone heap of the wild cat," and Gilgal Refaim in Hebrew, which means "Wheel of Giants" and refers to a race of giants mentioned in the Bible. It is easily said to be one of most mysterious structures in Middle East’s, but it's easy to miss from the roadside. Archaeologists believes, it’s dated is way back to 5,000 years old but they still don't know the purpose and why this was built? Moreover several interesting theories include an ancient calendar, or a “sky burial” site in which dead bodies were placed on top of stone mounds to be picked apart by vultures. The first image was released in 1967 when Israel captured the territory of Syria during a six day war. Hence, a number of excavations have revealed one of the oldest and largest structures in this region. The explorers believe, construction has built as early as 3,500 BC and other notable parts have added to structure about 2,000 years ago.

Well, it's an enigmatic site, on megalithic tombs with the Israel Antiquities Authority, and scientist come and is amazed by the site and think up their own theories. However, standing on the ground inside the structure looks like a labyrinth of crumbling stone walls overgrown with weeds. Therefore, only from the air does the inspiring shape of a gigantic bull's-eye clearly emerge easily remained a mystery for millennia and thought the monument could have astronomical significance and may have been used as an observatory.





Monday 29 December 2014

“Masada” The Most Popular Tourist Attractions in Israel



Masada is an ancient fortification in the Southern District of Israel situated on top of an isolated rock plateau on the eastern edge of the Judaean Desert, overlooking the Dead Sea. In 37 and 31 BCE, Herod built palaces for himself on the mountain. Masada is one of Israel's most popular tourist attractions, which is 20 located at 20 KM east of Arad. Therefore; “Masada” was the first place Herod fortified after he gained control of his kingdom.

The first of three building phases completed by Herod began in 35 BCE. During the first phase the Western Palace was built, along with three smaller palaces, a storeroom, and army barracks. Hence three columbarium towers and a lovely swimming pool at the south end of the site were also completed during this building phase. According to Josephus, the troops of the Roman Empire towards the end of the First Jewish–Roman War ended in the mass suicide of the 960 Sicarii rebels and their families hiding there. A 2,000-year-old seed discovered during archaeological excavations in the early 1960s was successfully germinated into a date plant. At the time it was the oldest known germination, remaining so until a new record was set in 2012.

Moreover; the cliffs on the east edge of Masada are almost 400 meters high and on the west side it is about 90 meters high. The cliff natural approach is extremely difficult, which top of plateau if flat and rhomboid-shaped almost 550 meters by 270 meters. The casemate wall around the top of plateau is approximately 1300 meters long and 4 meters high with several towers. The fortress is well included storehouse, armory, barracks, the palace and cisterns that were refilled by rainwater. Almost all historical information about Masada comes from the 1st-century Jewish Roman historian Josephus. According to Josephus, the Sicarii were an extremist Jewish splinter group antagonistic to a larger grouping of Jews referred to as the Zealots, who carried the main burden of the rebellion.

The Sicarii raided nearby Jewish villages including Ein Gedi, where they massacred more than seven hundreds women and children. Well, in 2001, Masada was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, here tourists can hike up, or can take cable car to the top of the mesa. Here, visitors can hike on steep hiking paths up; the first one is Snake Trail which leaves from the eastern side (Dead Sea Side), at the Masada Museum. Therefore; in 2007, a new museum opened at the site, in which archeological findings are displayed in a theatrical setting. While the other Roman Ramp trail is also very steep has less elevation gain, can be accessed from the western side of mountain.

Most hikers would prefer to start an hour before sunrise when the park opens, to avoid the mid-day heat. The intense heat can cross 43 °C (109 °F) in the summer, which is difficult to absorb for many hikers. A dawn hike up the Snake Path is considered part of the “Masada experience” a cable car operates at the site for those who want to avoid physical exertion. Please keep in mind there is a visitor center and museum available at the base of cable car. Moreover you don’t forget to take bring fresh water while hiking; however water is also available at the top.  Furthermore; a beautiful an audiovisual light show is presented nightly on the western side of the mountain. So be sure; Masada is an Israeli National Park and there is a park entrance fee. Source: Charismatic Planet

Map of Masada

Friday 19 December 2014

Herodium: The Palace and Tomb of King Herod

This place is located somewhere 12 kilometer south of Jerusalem, in the Judean desert. The Herodium is looks like an extinct volcano, but actually it is a fort built by King Herod the Great between 23 and 15 BC. King Herod’s palace and fortress was strongly built atop a natural hill, raised to a greater height by heaping earth around the walls, forming a cone-shaped mountain. The complex was well surrounded by double walls 7 stories high, within which Herod built a palace that included ample halls, courtyards and opulent bathhouses. Therefore at the base of the fortress was an inspiring royal compound with splendid gardens. A distinct aqueduct brought water to the desert from the area of Solomon’s Pools near Bethlehem. Being the highest peak in the Judean desert, Herodium commanded a spectacular view, overlooking the desert with the mountains of Moab to the east, and the Judean Hills to the west.

According to the Roman Jewish historian Josephus, Herodium was built on the site where Herod won a triumph over his Hasmonean and Parthian enemies in 40 BC. To honor the memorable event, the king built a fortress and a palace there, which he named after himself. He also built, in the plain below the hill, an administrative center for the region. The reputation of Herodium to the king is clear from the fact that it is the only monument he built to which he gave his name. Therefore since the place had slight strategic value to warrant the structure of a fort, so it is well believed that Herodium’s solitary purpose was to provide a place for the king to live out his last years.

However; after the death of Herod’s in 4 BC, Herodium became part of the kingdom of his lad Archelaus, who ruled for about ten years. The Roman procurators then held the place until the outbreak of the Great Revolt in 66 AD. As a result during this revolt, rebels entrenched themselves at Herodium until the Romans defeated them in 71 AD. The fortified mountain palace served as a vital center for the rebels during the Bar Kokhba Revolt in the 2nd century. As part of their defense measures, the rebels dug secret tunnels around the cisterns, and hid there. These tunnels can still be explored these days.

The site remained deserted until the 5th, when a big community of monks took residence in the area and built 4 churches at the base of the hill. While the settlement at Lower Herodium continued to exist until the 8th century, after which Herodium lay abandoned. It was only in the 1970s, that archaeologists initiated exploring the site. As the excavation advanced, widespread restoration was carried out on the structures of Herodium. Nowadays it is possible to walk on a contented path to the top of the fortress, to climb its walls and to enjoy, as in the past, the view of the surrounding region.

Friday 3 October 2014

Israel–Egypt Border; A barrier Which Can be Visible from Space



It’d be really curious to see border between Egypt and Israel from space, which is difference in shades of the terrain in unrefined areas, is the result of overgrazing on the Egyptian side of the border. The barrier refers to a border barrier actually built by Israel along sections of its border with Egypt. It was actually an attempt to control the arrival of illegal migrants from African countries. Though, increased insurgent movement across the southern border in 2011, then Israel decides to upgrade the steel barrier project also installing cameras, radar and motion detectors.

The barrier construction was completed in its main section in Jan 2013. Then the final section of the fence was completed in December 2013.  The 245 mile barrier took 3 years to construct, with an estimated cost of NIS 1.6 Billion, making it one of the largest projects in Israel's history. Later on, number of countries including United States, and India adopt this border technology, and some of these countries may implement these technologies as part of their own border barriers. Moreover smuggling of cigarettes and notorious drugs often carried on camels by Bedouins whose tribal lands straddle the border, has been a long-term problem.

Thousands of people try to cross barrier to enter in Israel every year, mainly because of economic growth. The barrier was originally planned in response to control illegal migrants who successfully entered Israel across the border, mainly smuggled different things, and sometimes they’ve lost their lives in this process. The fence has two layers of fencing, one with barbed wire, and the barrier structure includes the installation of progressive surveillance equipment. Eventually the whole border will be sealed. Though Egypt has no objection until fence construction built on Israeli Soil.