A compelling story of the discovery of a 2,000-year-old fishing
boat in the Sea of Galilee, told by nautical archaeologist
Wachsmann (Biblical Archaeology/Texas A&M Univ.). In January
1986, after a fierce drought had lowered the sea's waters to record
levels, two Israeli brothers discovered a boat in the shoreline
mud, about a half mile down the northern coast of the Sea of
Galilee from Capernaum, where Jesus had his first ministry. As an
inspector for Israel's Department of Antiquities, Wachsmann led the
excavation team, whose work was soon threatened by an army of
sightseers and treasure-hunters, and by the rising waters of the
lake. Protected by police and the military, the team worked
painstakingly around the clock, and the 25-foot-long boat was
filled with polyurethane and removed in a fiberglass cocoon to the
nearby Yigal Allon Museum. The boat's mortise-and-tenon joints
proved it to be from the Roman period, while coin and pottery finds
and carbon-14 testing indicated that it was a typical fishing
vessel dating from between 100 B.C. and 67 A.D., the year in which
the disastrous Jewish naval battle with the Romans ended boat
building in that region. Wachsmann says that scientific research
cannot prove whether the boat was a relic from the battle or was
the actual one used by Jesus and his disciples. But he notes that
even until recent times, similar designs were still common and the
"pillow" used for sleep by Jesus (cf. Mark 4:38) would likely have
been the sandbag, stored for ballast in a protected place beneath
the stern. (A glossary explains technical terms.) Wachsmann writes
in an attractive style, at once narrative, personal, and scholarly,
with humor and fascinating excursions into ancient myth and history
mingling with detailed descriptions and drawings of how boats were
built in ancient times. (Kirkus Reviews)
This remarkable true story recounts one of the great discoveries of
the century: finding a 2000-year-old boat from the Sea of Galilee.
Shelley Wachsmann, a respected nautical archaeologist, shares the
joy and drama he felt in discovering and excavating the first
ancient boat from this biblical location. Through his perceptive
eyes, we experience the adventure of a lifetime as he offers his
personal account of first setting eyes on and then preserving this
unique treasure. Wachsmann is a master storyteller, interweaving
his own unforgettable story of this challenging excavation with the
writings of the past. Jews and Christians alike will be captivated
by his search for the boat's identity. Wachsmann - like a detective
- hunts down clues that will reveal the boat's actual history.
Since the boat turns out to be a 2000 year old craft, he carefully
examines the Gospels for passages that will shed light on this
wondrous vessel. This ever-curious author also traces Jewish
historical texts to discover that the Sea of Galilee, during the
boat's vibrant past, was the setting for one of the most tragic
massacres of Jews - the Battle of Migdal. During this sea battle,
we learn, Roman soldiers mercilessly slaughtered Jews as they
attempted to escape in boats like this one, turning the Sea of
Galilee into a sea of crimson. The saga of tenderly extracting this
extraordinary boat from the earth, protecting its timbers, and
restoring it to health is a compelling tale on its own. Wachsmann
impresses us with the dedication and creativity of his makeshift
team in improvising answers to the seemingly impossible logistic
problems that dog them every step of the way. Still, generosity
abounds and actual rainbows appear as scores of volunteers pull
together to save this singular monument of the past. Wachsmann
punctuates the absorbing details of preserving this artifact with
the rich history that surrounds the Sea of Galilee, making this a
uniquely enduring and personal work.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
