Humpday History Highlight
By Wyatt Earp | July 1, 2009
Okay, this story interests me for two reasons. First, I pride myself on being a history buff, so these scientific tests are history in the making.
Second, I am also a Roman Catholic, and I once did a report on St. Paul in elementary school.
Normally, I am not up for testing bones of saints, but this is a truly extraordinary circumstance.
ROME, Italy — Scientific tests prove bones housed in the Basilica of St. Paul in Rome are those of the apostle St. Paul himself, according to Pope Benedict XVI.
“Tiny fragments of bone” in the sarcophagus were subjected to carbon dating, showing they “belong to someone who lived in the first or second century,” the pope said in a homily carried on Italian television.
“This seems to confirm the unanimous and undisputed tradition that these are the mortal remains of the Apostle St. Paul,” Benedict said in Sunday’s announcement.
I’m sorry, but this is just a fantastic piece of information.
The tomb also holds “traces of a precious linen cloth, purple in color and laminated with pure gold, and a blue colored textile with linen filaments,” the pope said.
The tests were carried out by inserting a probe into a small opening in the sarcophagus, “which had not been opened for many centuries,” the pontiff said. The probe “also revealed the presence of grains of red incense and traces of protein and limestone.”
But wait, there’s more:
Separately, archaeologists have uncovered an image of St. Paul which “could be considered the oldest icon of the apostle known to date,” the Vatican’s official newspaper reported Sunday.
The painting, in the St. Tecla Catacomb, is “among the oldest and best-defined figures from ancient Christianity,” according to the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology, L’Osservatore Romano reported. (H/T – CNN)
I think I definitely chose the wrong career path. I should have been an archeologist. Unfortunately, I am much too stupid to be admitted into the fraternity of scholars. Dang.
Topics: HHH | 9 Comments »
July 1st, 2009 at 8:41 pm
That is exciting and cool.
July 1st, 2009 at 8:44 pm
Nice to find out the truth…
And archeology is NOT always that much fun, lots of dirt, heat, digging and bugs…
July 1st, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Interesting story.
BTW, Wyatt, Old NFO is right. I worked in an archeology lab for six months before I joined the Army. I spent most of my day cleaning artifacts with a toothbrush. Really dull. But at least I wasn’t in the field dealing with the bugs.
July 1st, 2009 at 10:39 pm
“Unfortunately, I am much too stupid to be admitted into the fraternity of scholars. ”
I don’t think that’s you’re problem. I think you are missing the requisite fedora, leather jacket, and bullwhip.
July 1st, 2009 at 10:39 pm
Plus those curses and mummies can be killer.
July 1st, 2009 at 11:08 pm
Amazing
July 2nd, 2009 at 2:29 am
You bet it’s fantastic, Wyatt, and don’t apologize for it.
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:07 am
You could have been like the National Treasure type of scholar.
July 2nd, 2009 at 7:37 pm
No time for love Dr. Jones.