Three new 360 panoramas

Luxor Temple
http://www.360cities.net/image/luxortemplenight

Karnak Temple Hypostyle hall
http://www.360cities.net/image/karnakhypostyle

Reconstruction of Israelite Tabernacle
http://www.360cities.net/image/tabernacleholyplace

Back from a week in Egypt

I had a great time visiting and photographing the sites.  More later.

Loeb Classical Library

Many are available for download at

http://www.edonnelly.com/loebs.html

Temple Mosaics from el-Khirbe synagogue

The samaritan mosaic at el-Khirbe near modern Sebaste (ancient Samaria) has a marvelous mosaic of the tempe.  (Currently at the Inn of the Good Samaritan Museum midway between Jericho and Jerusalem.)

1.  The entire scene.

2. Closeup of the Temple (note the medallions on the veil).

3. Closeup of the offering table.

4. Closeup of Menorah, shofar, and incense shovel.

Lazarus's Tomb

Lazarus's Tomb in Bethany is the traditional site of the burial and raising of Lazarus from the dead by Jesus (John 11)  The following are slides of the tomb.

1. Looking down the stairs into the outer chamber.

2.  Looking up the stairs from the outer chamber.

3.  The outer chamber looking towards the entrance to the tomb.

4. The burial chamber.

Foggy Day in Jerusalem

Monday 19 Jan was the foggiest day I've ever seen in Jerusalem.  From my balcony from the BYU Center I can usually clearly see the Dome of the Rock.  Not yesterday:

"Imagining Astrology"

Interesting conference forthcoming in Bristol in England.

http://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/birtha/imaginingastrology

Father and Holy Spirit on dome of Monastery of Temptations

These photos are from the dome of the central chapel of the monastery of Temptations (Quruntul) at Jericho, Palestine.  The Spirit is symbolized by the dove; the Son is not present.  The Father is depicted as pantocrator (ruler of all), and has a triangular halo, characteristic of depictions of the Father.  The halo has the Greek words, ho on, "the one who is," which is the Septuagint translation of the mystical name of God in Exodus 3:14, "I am."

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” He said further, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

These are the key phrases:

English: "I am who I am"  ---    "I am"
Hebrew: "ehyah asher ehyah" --- "ehyah"
Greek: "ego eimi ho on" --- "o on"

Temple Mosaic from Khirbet Samara

Khirbet Samara, an ancient Samaritan Synagogue near ancient Samaria (Sebaste), contains the finest ancient mosaic of the Temple, although probably using the Samaritan temple at Gerizim as a prototype.  The mosaics are now on display at the recently opened Museum of the Good Samaritan midway between Jerusalem and Jericho.  Here are three photos of the mosaic.

"Seal of Melchizedek"

A "seal of Melchizedek" mosaic from a Christian church at Khirbet Beit Sila is now on display at the Museum of the Inn of the Good Samaritan.

Trinity Icons at St. Gerasimos Monastery in Palestine

I visited the Monastery of St. Gerasimos (Deir Hajla) a few kilometers east of Jericho today.  It contained a two interesting images of the Trinity.

The first is from the dome over the upper church, showing an anthropomorphic Father enthroned in Heaven, with the Spirit as a dove, and the Son as an infant on the Father's lap.

The second shows an anthropomorphic Father on the right, the Son on the left, and the Spirit as a dove in the middle with a halo.  The Father has a triangular halo.

More on Palestinian Temple Non-Denial Denial

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?pageId=119649

The book mentioned here, Where Heaven and Earth Meet: Jerusalem's Sacred Esplanade, is apparently out now, but I haven't seen a copy yet.


Unfortunately, the article garbles all sorts of things.  

Jerusalem Syndrome?

Tabernacle Reconstruction at Timna

At Timna National Park in southern Israel a full scale reconstruction of the biblical Tabernacle has been built.

http://www.bibleplaces.com/tabernacle.htm

Here are some photographs I took at the site.

http://picasaweb.google.com/HamblinWJ/TimnaTabernacleReconstruction#