Where It All Played Out
Considering the number of potholes many of our readers fell into this past winter while navigating snowy street paths, the following story may be appropriate now that we are amidst Holy Week.
“Believe it or not, potholes gave us inspiration to seek out one of the world’s oldest ongoing debates” said Celeste Eagleston from Elmont, NY and senior member of the downstate NY-based Real Live Relic Hunter team. “Who would have thought to consider a bunch of 2000 year-old holes in the ground as something significant in finally determining exactly what path Christ took on his way to the cross in Jerusalem.”
A few years ago, our little team embarked on a quest to solve the mystery of what path Christ took during his final hours on Good Friday, from condemnation to crucifixion. If you plot out the traditional path to the cross along the via Dolorosa, or Way of Sorrows, the idea soon becomes suspect simply because stones on the original path were never obsessively walked on in adoration. And, it dawned on us that 2000 years’ worth of pilgrim foot-pounding would be a tell-tale sign, but all the signs went in a different direction.
The Old City of Jerusalem is renowned for preserving its ancient streets, some of which still feature huge cobblestones laid down by the Romans. We concluded that part of the traditional route, proposed centuries ago which includes the familiar fourteen Stations of the Cross flanking the walls of every Catholic Church, is the probable path Christ took, but with a caveat, if you consider the pothole factor.
“Not too many people know that Christ was imprisoned on Holy Thursday night in the cellar of Caiaphas’ house who was high priest. On Good Friday morning Jesus was then dragged across the city to the Fortress Antonia where he was condemned and scourged, and by the looks of the pilgrim-worn cobblestones, it all began there” said Eagleston.
An ancient column standing beside severely foot-worn cobblestones inside a tiny Franciscan chapel off-limits to the public was pivotal in proving where Christ actually fell for the second time, as opposed to where the traditional marker staked this claim for centuries. "We secured permission to be escorted into this always-locked tiny chapel and once inside, it was no wonder to realize why it is closed to the public," adds Director Ostrowski. The column inside that still stands was part of the original city wall, and according to Ostrowski, "you can't even approach it with a steady foot balance because the cobblestones at its base are so deeply rounded it was like trying to walk in a mixing bowl." Only one thing could have caused such extreme distortion of the rock: centuries of devotee foot-traffic.
Famed Israeli archaeologist Shimon Gibson and the RLRH Team seem to be in agreement that this column was definitely a significant stop along the actual path that Christ took to the cross. Although nearly all of the original city wall that existed in 33AD has either been destroyed or covered up, the column remains and was critical to determining the actual route that Christ took. But what about the other parts of the route?
This is where Gibson and the RLRH Team depart opinion. "As much as we respect Dr. Gibson's analysis and conclusions that Christ may have been tried in Herod's Palace, which logical conclusion would fit given the parallel to the biblical account, given the condition of Christ's scourging, we think it wouldn't have been feasible for him, even with the help of Simon of Cyrene, to make it all the way across the city to that ancient column where we both agree he fell," adds Director Ostrowski.
Dr. Gibson theorizes that Jesus was tried and scourged not in the Fortress Antonia, but in Herod's Palace, which had a public meeting courtyard where sentence could be given as crowds of people looked on. According to Gibson, Jesus was then presented to the people at a gate on the west side of the Palace where Pilate's famous words "Ecce Homo," or "Behold the Man" were delivered, before Jesus was led out along a non-traditional via Dolorosa (now covered up completely by a new road) across the city to the crucifixion site.
Says Eagleston, “If we want to truly find out where Christ began his sorrowful Passion, we’d have to first rely on common sense probability which places Christ in that Roman fortress full of flagellation whips. From that point, we look at popularity of paths and their conditions. Although many of the original paths have been covered over in time, the existing original ones with all their potholes mean more pilgrims walked there over the past 2000 years, which may be our best indication of finally discovering the actual via Dolorosa. And then it’s just a matter of connecting the dots.”
"Essentially, it comes down to a best-guess scenario," says Ostrowski. "Neither us nor Dr. Gibson nor anyone else who may pursue interest in discovering the actual Way of the Cross should expect definitive proof. But maybe that's how it should be. It's not the discovery that's important, it's the exploration."
News Release
“Believe it or not, potholes gave us inspiration to seek out one of the world’s oldest ongoing debates” said Celeste Eagleston from Elmont, NY and senior member of the downstate NY-based Real Live Relic Hunter team. “Who would have thought to consider a bunch of 2000 year-old holes in the ground as something significant in finally determining exactly what path Christ took on his way to the cross in Jerusalem.”
A few years ago, our little team embarked on a quest to solve the mystery of what path Christ took during his final hours on Good Friday, from condemnation to crucifixion. If you plot out the traditional path to the cross along the via Dolorosa, or Way of Sorrows, the idea soon becomes suspect simply because stones on the original path were never obsessively walked on in adoration. And, it dawned on us that 2000 years’ worth of pilgrim foot-pounding would be a tell-tale sign, but all the signs went in a different direction.
The Old City of Jerusalem is renowned for preserving its ancient streets, some of which still feature huge cobblestones laid down by the Romans. We concluded that part of the traditional route, proposed centuries ago which includes the familiar fourteen Stations of the Cross flanking the walls of every Catholic Church, is the probable path Christ took, but with a caveat, if you consider the pothole factor.
“Not too many people know that Christ was imprisoned on Holy Thursday night in the cellar of Caiaphas’ house who was high priest. On Good Friday morning Jesus was then dragged across the city to the Fortress Antonia where he was condemned and scourged, and by the looks of the pilgrim-worn cobblestones, it all began there” said Eagleston.
An ancient column standing beside severely foot-worn cobblestones inside a tiny Franciscan chapel off-limits to the public was pivotal in proving where Christ actually fell for the second time, as opposed to where the traditional marker staked this claim for centuries. "We secured permission to be escorted into this always-locked tiny chapel and once inside, it was no wonder to realize why it is closed to the public," adds Director Ostrowski. The column inside that still stands was part of the original city wall, and according to Ostrowski, "you can't even approach it with a steady foot balance because the cobblestones at its base are so deeply rounded it was like trying to walk in a mixing bowl." Only one thing could have caused such extreme distortion of the rock: centuries of devotee foot-traffic.
Famed Israeli archaeologist Shimon Gibson and the RLRH Team seem to be in agreement that this column was definitely a significant stop along the actual path that Christ took to the cross. Although nearly all of the original city wall that existed in 33AD has either been destroyed or covered up, the column remains and was critical to determining the actual route that Christ took. But what about the other parts of the route?
This is where Gibson and the RLRH Team depart opinion. "As much as we respect Dr. Gibson's analysis and conclusions that Christ may have been tried in Herod's Palace, which logical conclusion would fit given the parallel to the biblical account, given the condition of Christ's scourging, we think it wouldn't have been feasible for him, even with the help of Simon of Cyrene, to make it all the way across the city to that ancient column where we both agree he fell," adds Director Ostrowski.
Dr. Gibson theorizes that Jesus was tried and scourged not in the Fortress Antonia, but in Herod's Palace, which had a public meeting courtyard where sentence could be given as crowds of people looked on. According to Gibson, Jesus was then presented to the people at a gate on the west side of the Palace where Pilate's famous words "Ecce Homo," or "Behold the Man" were delivered, before Jesus was led out along a non-traditional via Dolorosa (now covered up completely by a new road) across the city to the crucifixion site.
Says Eagleston, “If we want to truly find out where Christ began his sorrowful Passion, we’d have to first rely on common sense probability which places Christ in that Roman fortress full of flagellation whips. From that point, we look at popularity of paths and their conditions. Although many of the original paths have been covered over in time, the existing original ones with all their potholes mean more pilgrims walked there over the past 2000 years, which may be our best indication of finally discovering the actual via Dolorosa. And then it’s just a matter of connecting the dots.”
"Essentially, it comes down to a best-guess scenario," says Ostrowski. "Neither us nor Dr. Gibson nor anyone else who may pursue interest in discovering the actual Way of the Cross should expect definitive proof. But maybe that's how it should be. It's not the discovery that's important, it's the exploration."
News Release
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Our Latest Quests for Truth! Journey alongside the team as we unravel and piece together the facts, fiction, and fantasy behind the world's greatest mysteries! * Note: In some cases, Real Live Relic Hunter may hold rights to the exploration of the below quests. Any infringement or attempt to capitalize on these ideas by any party, media company, or producer is prohibited. The Champ and Memphre Monsters - deep-lake exploration of the global latitude anomaly of 3 ancient sea creature sightings. Status: IN PROGRESS Christ's Crown of Thorns - hunting down the individual thorns which were gradually broken up and distributed! Status: IN PROGRESS Platinum Ingots - where is the Nazi freighter that sunk in the north Atlantic carrying a hoard of platinum ingots? Status: SOLVED! The Sudarium (Veronica's Veil) - what happened to the facial cloth matching the blood stain pattern on the Shroud of Turin? Status: SOLVED! Glenn Miller's Plane - was the big-band leader's plane really hit by an unloading British bomber from above? Status: PENDING Lincoln Assassination Gun - was this actually the pistol that ended the President's life? Status: SOLVED! Kali Temple - has ritual and sacrifice in this ancient hidden overgrown Temple in the jungle been revived by locals? Status: IN PROGRESS Noah's Ark - satellite images reveal more in-depthly than ever this rectangular anomaly, can it be the famous Ark? Status: **DENIED ACCESS TO SITE** St. Peter's Bones - unearth the objective facts in solving the mystery of the bones buried beneath the Vatican altar! Status: SOLVED! Lockness Monster - dive to discover if it is theoretically and scientifically possible for a prehistoric creature to still exist! Status: IN PROGRESS |
Photo Left: The Titulus, IESVS NAZARENVS REX IVDAEORVM, walnut wood, 30-33 A.D.
Latest Greatest BreakingNews MAR 29, 2024 - Nails in the Wrists? FEB 17, 2024 - Blueprint begins for the Abominable FEB 14, 2024 - It's all about the Heart FEB 1, 2024 - Eve of the Witches JAN 6, 2024 - Bearers of gold, frankincense, and myrrh DEC 24, 2023 - Dead as a Doornail DEC 1, 2023 - Have you see The Latest? NOV 23, 2023 - Date and Place of the Real First Thanksgiving NOV 2, 2023 - Feast of All Souls OCT 31, 2023 - Spooks on the Loose SEP 16, 2023 - The hunt for Nessie, Champ, and Memphre AUG 5, 2023 - A weekend in the desert JUL 31, 2023 - Where's the Gold? JUL 4, 2023 - Who were they that signed it? JUL 2, 2023 - Atlantis likely resting off the Cuba coast JUN 6, 2023 - Memories at the Beach JUN 1, 2023 - New Book profiles 21-Day torture test MAY 1, 2023 - First of May APR 7, 2023 - Good Friday |
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Director's Dig
Tough time of year. We've had to deal with weather and sickness, no fun. Yet, there are some bright spots during this month of March, which has always been considered a transitional month. For starters, wiser minds have finally prevailed to debunk the so-called 'pyramid' that supposedly exists on the moon. Out of a series of a couple dozen photos taken in sequence aboard a rover from one of the Apollo missions as it roamed the surface, of course the suspect triangular image appears very faintly in an overexposed shot, leading some to think it is a creature-made pyramid. Thank goodness there are still objective thinkers out there, who pointed out that the triangular image was nothing other than part of the rover's structure which was in the foreground. Interesting how several other photos in the sequence clearly show the rover's geometrically shaped chasis with all its angled parts, but just because one image was overexposed and not clear, people conclude that, oh, that must be an alien-made structure we are seeing. Despite seemingly innocent, speculation can be dangerous, very dangerous. Thanks to a story I wrote some time ago, public outcry in the name of countless lost POWs across Europe made waves. You'll find the story here, but suffice it to say, it was nothing short of a disgrace for political leaders in the aftermath of World War II to allegedly conceal Nazi prison camps where POWs were buried in mass graves. Of course, we all know about the publicized Auschwitz, Dachau, and Treblinka camps, but in reality there were thousands more all across Europe. That's right, thousands. Why did it take so long for Humanity to reckon with itself? My God. Ending on a happy note, Happy Saint Patrick's Day to our own global liaison Alicia! Remember our deal Alicia, you promised to find me two Dominant White allele horses. I see you got one of them! Sheryl will be jealous!! Remember to refresh your webpage when on this website to ensure you are viewing the very latest of Real Live Relic Hunter! Cheers |
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