Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Unpacking the Magdala Stone

BIBLE HISTORY DAILY: The Magdala Stone: The Jerusalem Temple Embodied. Carved stone block depicts symbols of the Jerusalem Temple (Jennifer Ristine).
The so-called Magdala Stone is a stone block carved with symbols of the Temple in Jerusalem, with the core of the Temple represented (the Hall, Sanctuary and the Holy of Holies). The stone measure 1.8 by 2 feet with a height of 1 foot. Found almost in the center of the synagogue, the Magdala Stone is believed to be a piece of ceremonial furniture on which the Torah and other sacred scrolls were placed. But is it simply a bimah (a traditional holder for the scrolls), or does it have some deeper significance?
For many past posts on the Magdala stone and the ancient city of Magdala, start here and follow the links.

Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.