Jul 18, 2023 19:00:00

Evidence that ``sacred art using human skulls'' was being done in the Roman era is found in a cave near Jerusalem

Ancient relics such as a large amount of oil lamps and human skulls were discovered in a cave near

Jerusalem , Israel. A research team at the University of Bar-Ilan published a paper that said these relics, dating back to the 2nd to 4th centuries of the Roman era, were 'used for spirituality by pagans.'

Oil Lamps, Spearheads and Skulls: Possible Evidence of Necromancy during Late Antiquity in the Te'omim Cave, Judean Hills | Harvard Theological Review | Cambridge Core
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0017816023000214

Placement of ancient hidden lamps, skulls in cave in Israel suggests Roman-era practice of necromancy
https://phys.org/news/2023-07-placement-ancient-hidden-lamps-skulls.html

Evidence of Roman-era 'death magic' used to speak with the deceased found near Jerusalem | Live Science
https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/evidence-of-roman-era-death-magic-used-to-speak-with-the-deceased-found-near-jerusalem

The Teomim Cave, located about 30 km west of Israel, has been used by humans since prehistoric times, and was the site of a Jewish rebellion during the Bar Kokhba rebellion of the Roman province of Judea in AD 132-136. It is said that the power was used to hide from the Roman army.

Hadrian , the 14th emperor of the Roman Empire, attempted to eradicate Judaism and Jewish culture in response to the rebellion of Bar Kokba, and persecuted such as abolishing the Jewish calendar, renaming Jerusalem, and killing Jewish leaders. It is said that Jews were driven out from around Jerusalem, and immigrants from areas such as Syria, Anatolia and Egypt settled in this area.

The Teomim Cave has been under investigation since 2009 by the University of Bar-Ilan and the Israeli authorities, which reveals more than 120 oil lamps, three human skulls, an axe, a spear blade, and a cache of gold and silver coins. has been discovered.

Oil lamps and skulls were found in gaps in the cave, but this gap is too narrow to illuminate with lamps, and you can't put oil lamps etc. unless you use a long stick with a hook. A research team led by Professor Boaz Jiss, an archaeologist at the University of Bar-Ilan, found that these relics were used for ``seances by non-Jews'' around the 2nd to 4th centuries. Announced.

Necromancy was considered a vice in the Roman Empire. Many bans have been issued, but Teomim Cave is believed to have been one of the secret 'oracles' near many ancient cities where it was believed that one could converse with the dead. increase.

According to the research team, it is believed that the oil lamp was used for necromancy rituals rather than to illuminate the cave, and that the skull was placed to speak to ``the dead who can predict the future''.

'Where once was Judea

, new heathen peoples came,' Professor Ziss said. It was a little far from the city, but close to a major road, and the cave wasn't too deep, and there was a deep shaft that was thought to lead to the underworld.'