Guest
Guest
 |  Subject: Secret chamber hidden beneath ancient temple in Lebanon surprises archaeologists  Tue Feb 24, 2015 4:53 pm | |
|  24 FEBRUARY, 2015 - 21:54 LIZLEAFLOORSecret chamber hidden beneath ancient temple in Lebanon surprises archaeologistsNothing ignites archaeological and historical curiosity more than an unexpected and mysterious discovery. A secret room newly uncovered by researchers at a Bronze Age temple in Sidon, Lebanon, is such a find.Buried within the ruins of the temple, a “deeply concealed room” was found by a delegation from the British Museum, writes the The Daily Star.The walls of the hidden underground room were “monumental”, almost 15 feet (4.5 meters) high, and the floor was 24 feet (7.5 meters) below ground. The room, believed to be an extension on the ancient temple, held pottery and wooden vessels and utensils for eating and drinking, as well as artifacts for rituals and celebrations. It is thought that it may have been reserved for high-status people of the community.The Daily Star reports that a previously discovered chamber at the Sidon’s Frères archaeological site, dubbed “holy of holies,” dates back to 1300 B.C., and researchers believe it was where the ancient community worshipped their gods. The newly discovered subterranean room is adjacent to this.MORE
- The Mysterious Ancient Etruscan Underground Pyramids Discovered in Italy
- Relics from the Niuheliang Goddess Temple, the most mysterious site of the ancient Hongshan
- After Decades of Searching, the Causeway for the Great Pyramid of Egypt has been Found
- The Forgotten Stones of Baalbek, Lebanon
Head of the delegation, Claude Serhal Doumit, says the find is significant, announcing, “Sealed by the imposition of a Persian period building constructed on top of it, this new room is of the highest importance in terms of its monumentality and untouched pottery material, both [domestically produced] and imported from Cyprus and Mycenae,” in a statement released by the delegation.Sidon is an ancient city in Lebanon which has been inhabited since early prehistory by various cultures. The Frères’ archaeological site is known for revealing a wealth of artifacts, ruins, and historical information.Ancient artifacts: Persian style bull protome found in Eshmun sanctuary near Sidon gives testimony of the Aecheminid rule and influence. Marble, 5th century B.C. Representational image only. Public Domain Excavations have been ongoing at the Frères archaeological site for nearly 17 years. Researchers have recovered various ruins and artifacts, retelling the tale of the history of Sidon and the cultures of the people who lived there. The most famous relic uncovered is the Alexander Sarcophagus, a late 4th century BC Hellenistic stone sarcophagus adorned with bas-relief carvings of Alexander the Great, which was unearthed at the necropolis near Sidon in 1887.The Alexander Sarcophagus, now in the Museum of Archaeology in Istanbul (Wikimedia Commons) In 2011, many striking artifacts were discovered, including “a sacred musical instrument from the Iron Age, the head of a Phoenician figurine, a ring from the Roman age, and a large storage room for wheat from 3,000 B.C.” The ancient sistrum, a musical rattle, featured the face of Hathor, Egyptian goddess of beauty, fertility and music. Music for the Gods: Bronze arched sistrum with Hathor head decoration, representational image only. Credit: British Museum A new national museum is in construction at the archaeological site. The various ancient civilizations of Sidon and their artifacts dating back to 3000 B.C. will be highlighted. A subterranean path is planned by the museum to showcase the newly discovered ‘hidden room’.The Daily Star notes that in all, more than “1,000 artifacts dating from the Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman period will be showcased in the new space.”Featured Image: Archaeological site in Sidon, Lebanon, where a hidden room was recently discovered. (English Al Akhbar)By Liz Leafloor - See more at: http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/secret-chamber-hidden-beneath-ancient-temple-lebanon-020232#sthash.6Iht9LqW.dpuf |
|
