The recent discovery of a long-lost altar at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem has sparked excitement among archaeologists and religious scholars alike.
This find sheds new light on the rich history of one of Christianity’s most sacred sites. Turns out it was hiding in plain sight.
Construction workers uncovered the altar when they turned over a large stone slab that had been leaning against a wall.
The slab, measuring eight feet by five feet, bears distinctive markings and decorations that date it to 1149.
Researchers from the Austrian Academy of Sciences call this discovery “a sensation in several respects.”
One of the most surprising aspects of this find is how long it remained hidden in plain sight. As the researchers noted:
“The fact that the slab could have remained hidden for so long in such an intensively researched building as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre – especially as it was in view of thousands of pilgrims and tourists every day.”
Crusader High Altar discovered in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem
It is considered the largest medieval altar ever discovered and shows a deep connection between Rome and Jerusalem. It is likely that it was erected by order … https://t.co/vMoIDpMkF5 #MiddleEas… pic.twitter.com/vUPb6hYBK2— Gustavo Kralj (@gustavokralj) July 22, 2024
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, believed to be the site of Jesus’ crucifixion and tomb, attracts around four million visitors annually.
Its history stretches back to 335 AD when Roman Emperor Constantine I ordered its construction over a temple dedicated to Venus.
The newly discovered altar features intricate decorations in the Cosmatesque style, a practiced exclusive of guild masters in papal Rome, who passed the skill down from generation to generation.
This style, characterized by complex geometric patterns made from small pieces of precious marble, was highly prized by the Pope so much so that very few examples have been found outside of Rome.
The only other example of a Cosmatesque style piece of art found outside of Italy is in Westminster Abbey.
The presence of such an altar in Jerusalem suggests papal involvement in its creation.
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As the researchers explain: “By sending one of the Cosmatesque masters to the Kingdom of Jerusalem to make the new high altar in Christianity’s holiest church, the Pontiff supported Christianity’s claim to the city.”