Archaeologists abuzz in Mary Magdalene’s hometown
by Joe Kovacs (repost from 2013)
When many people hear the name of Mary Magdalene, they automatically think of a prostitute.
But the Bible never indicates the female follower of Jesus was involved in any sexual sin.
What it does say is that she was the first person to see the risen Christ, and that she had previously been possessed by seven demons.
Now, excitement has been growing in recent years in the woman’s ancient hometown of Magdala, Israel, where archaeologists believe they’ve found a first century synagogue, prompting some to wonder whether Jesus Himself visited the building.
“It is likely that people who used this synagogue were witnesses to the multiplication of the loaves and other miracles depicted in the four Gospels,” says a promotional video at MagdalaCenter.com, a project looking to construct a hotel and worship complex in the area.
The dig has received some international publicity in recent days, with much interest focusing on what’s called the “Magdala Stone,” a large stone initially discovered in 2009 featuring intricate carvings on every side except its bottom.
One of the images on the stone is that of a menorah, and could be related to the ancient temple of God in Jerusalem. It’s believed to be the oldest menorah sculpted on stone ever discovered.