Yesterday evening after work, my family and I went swimming at our nearest beach. Our nearest beach is Nasholim beach. One of the most amazing beaches in the world, it has everything a sea-lover might wish for. Small and large sea coves to explore, baby fish that you can either chase between the rocks or allow to nibble on your dead skin, a huge collection of sea shells and waves that are often large enough for surfing. You can look for the hidden mermaid's chair to make a sitting wish, catch some fish or sift for ancient archeological treasure. Our favourite bay at Nasholim is just big enough for a tiring swim from to one side to the other and back again. If you'd rather do beach instead of sea - the sand is white and soft and made for lazing. I usually stay in the water as much as possible. Life in Israel can be tense, so it is nice to float aimlessly without any thoughts in the Mediterranean sea. The summer is slowly coming to an end which means that the water is finally coo...
The South African and the Sarcophagi by Marina ShemesH
If you think that there is nothing in common between South Africa and sarcophagi you might just be right. Sarcophagi, the plural for sarcophagus, are ancient burial boxes that were not buried underground but usually put in a cave or a pyramid. They are often beautifully designed with all kinds of symbols and things that were thought to be cool when the person inside the sarcophagus died.
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If you think that there is nothing in common between South Africa and sarcophagi you might just be right. Sarcophagi, the plural for sarcophagus, are ancient burial boxes that were not buried underground but usually put in a cave or a pyramid. They are often beautifully designed with all kinds of symbols and things that were thought to be cool when the person inside the sarcophagus died.
Sarcophagi in Ashkelon |
The more ancient ones are quite plain (no power tools yet, man!). But in Ashkelon of all places there are two of the most beautiful and elaborate sarcophagi ever found. Ashkelon is this really ancient city in Israel where the Philistines used to live. The Philistines were the guys who gave Samson from the Bible all that grief (in case you did not know :).
All the Philistines are long gone now from Israel (and the Babylonians, Assyrians, Greeks, Romans and Turks) but some of the invaders left some impressive souvenirs. The two sarcophagi in Ashkelon are from Roman times.
So were is the South African connection? What has a South African to do with these sarcophagi? There are two connections:
1. The first is me (ha!) I am a South African and I had to go on a real life treasure hunt in Ashkelon to visit these sarcophagi. Not much of a connection, I agree with you. :)
2. The second connection is the South African immigrants who settled in Ashkelon in 1951. One of the neighborhoods is called Afridar and the streets in the area near the sarcophagi are called South Africa and Johannesburg. The city itself with its tall white buildings next to a beautiful beach also reminded me a lot of Durban, a large harbor city in South Africa.
So there is a connection between a South African and those sarcophagi though perhaps not too an obvious one. However, the beautifully carved sarcophagi caught my attention and when I read up about them and the city of Ashkelon I learnt about the South African immigrants who settled there 60 years ago. Maybe a South African even found them!
So, morale of the story? Be nosey, pursue beauty and you just might get to meet family, or fellow countrymen :).
All the Philistines are long gone now from Israel (and the Babylonians, Assyrians, Greeks, Romans and Turks) but some of the invaders left some impressive souvenirs. The two sarcophagi in Ashkelon are from Roman times.
So were is the South African connection? What has a South African to do with these sarcophagi? There are two connections:
1. The first is me (ha!) I am a South African and I had to go on a real life treasure hunt in Ashkelon to visit these sarcophagi. Not much of a connection, I agree with you. :)
2. The second connection is the South African immigrants who settled in Ashkelon in 1951. One of the neighborhoods is called Afridar and the streets in the area near the sarcophagi are called South Africa and Johannesburg. The city itself with its tall white buildings next to a beautiful beach also reminded me a lot of Durban, a large harbor city in South Africa.
So there is a connection between a South African and those sarcophagi though perhaps not too an obvious one. However, the beautifully carved sarcophagi caught my attention and when I read up about them and the city of Ashkelon I learnt about the South African immigrants who settled there 60 years ago. Maybe a South African even found them!
So, morale of the story? Be nosey, pursue beauty and you just might get to meet family, or fellow countrymen :).
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