10/26/2022 0 Comments Ancient kingdom of the dead seaPreviously visiting the Sea of Galilee, John MacGregor canoed the entire length of the Jordan River to the Dead Sea. Over 20 years passed before an intrepid Scotsman, having sailed the newly opened Suez Canal and the Nile with his canoe arrived in the region. Lynch’s expedition created the first published charted maps of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea. In 1848, Lynch undertook an expedition to the Dead Sea with a large team of men and two boats. William Francis Lynch of the US Navy was luckier. Unfortunately, all of his notes and research were lost with his boat.ġ3 years later, Lt. Taken for medical assistance by mule to Jerusalem, Costigan was dead on arrival and later buried on Mount Zion. His assistant left him on the northern shore of the Dead Sea and went seeking help to the nearby Greek Orthodox Monastery of Deir Hijla. Probably suffering from massive dehydration, he contracted a severe fever. His 8 days of scientific exploration on the Dead Sea, with a lack of fresh water and an absence of winds for sailing, caused Costigan to boil and drink the brackish water of the sea. He set off on an expedition in 1835 having no navigational maps to guide him for the navigation of the Jordan River and Dead Sea which post-dated the Middle Ages. The first known modern-era explorer of the Dead Sea was a pioneering young Irishman named Christopher Costigan, who had become interested in the Holy Land during his studies for the Catholic Priesthood. But then, several different explorers started uncovering its mysteries. Prior to the 19th Century, the Dead Sea was merely a mystery to the developing world, shrouded in references in the Bible, but unknown, unexplored, and uncharted. They built several monasteries in the vicinity of the Dead Sea: the Saint George Monastery in Wadi Kelt is one of them. In 73 AD they were sieged there by the Roman X Legion, and rather than surrender, they chose to die by mass suicide.ĭuring the Byzantine period, Greek Orthodox monks also came to this area for refuge. The Romans, too, referred to the Dead Sea as “Palus Asphaltites” (Asphalt Lake).īut perhaps the best-known moment in Dead Sea history in ancient times was when a small group of Jewish zealots fled to Masada (a fortress built by King Herod the Great on a hill overlooking the Dead Sea) following the destruction of the Second Temple, in the year 70 AD. The Nabateans, for example, used to harvest the sea’s natural asphalt, and in all probability, the Egyptians bought it from them. The ancient history of the Dead Sea encompasses many of the Middle Eastern and Mediterranean peoples of the time. Ein Gedi, now a nature reserve near the Dead Sea, is mentioned in the Bible as the place where King David hid from Saul. Sodom and Gomorrah, the famous cities mentioned in the Book of Genesis, are believed to have been on its southeastern shore. Dead Sea history in ancient timesĭuring the Biblical period, different sects of Jews used to live in caves near the Dead Sea, most notably the Essesnes, who left the impressive Dead Sea Scrolls in the caves of Qumran. Interested in knowing some Dead Sea history facts? Keep reading. From Biblical times, through the Greek and Roman period, and until modern times, the Dead Sea has featured in many historical moments of significance. #Ancient kingdom of the dead sea skinThe mineral-infused mud of the Dead Sea and its ultra-salty waters are known for their healing properties, and many people visit the place for the purpose of improving various skin conditions.īut these are not the only unique things about the Dead Sea. Only an hour’s drive from Jerusalem, and a 2 hours’ drive from Tel Aviv, the Dead Sea can make for a wonderful day trip if you wish to see more of Israel’s varied landscapes. This unique spot is the lowest place on earth and combines turquoise waters with majestic sand-colored hills all around them. The Dead Sea is a place you must visit at least once in your lifetime.
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