MANY BELIEVE THIS IS THE TOMB OF THE MIDWIFE WHO DELIVERED JESUS CHRIST; ANCIENT INSCRIPTIONS AND PRAYER LAMPS FOUND INSIDE A 2,000-YEAR-OLD BURIAL SITE IN JERUSALEM “PROVE THIS IS THE CAVE OF THE HOLY SALOME”

The burial cave is believed to be the tomb of Salome, who was the midwife to Jesus’ mother

MANY BELIEVE THIS IS THE TOMB OF THE MIDWIFE WHO DELIVERED JESUS CHRIST; ANCIENT INSCRIPTIONS AND PRAYER LAMPS FOUND INSIDE A 2,000-YEAR-OLD BURIAL SITE IN JERUSALEM “PROVE THIS IS THE CAVE OF THE HOLY SALOME”

• The cave was first uncovered in 1982 by robbers who stole the remains 
• Recent excavations revealed the carving:  ‘Salome, who was Mary’s midwife’ 
• Salome is mentioned in the Gospel of James, but is deemed non-anonical and not acknowledged by western churches

A 2,000-year-old burial cave found in a forest in Jerusalem is believed to be the tomb of the midwife who helped with the birth of Jesus – following excavations that uncovered inscriptions citing ‘Salome, who was Mary’s midwife.’

The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced – just days before the Christian world celebrates the birth of Christ – that the carvings in ancient Greek and Arabic are enough to prove ‘this is the cave of holy Salome.’

Teams have also discovered ruins of shops nearby, dating from between the eighth and ninth centuries, that sold oil lamps used in prayer.

Hundreds of complete and broken lamps were found in the forecourt, ‘proving’ that the cave was a place of worship.

IAA archaeologist Zvi Firer said: ‘ We believe that pilgrims would come here, rent an oil lamp, perform their prayers inside, and go on their way.

The Gospel of James, which is ancient non-canonical, is a second-century infancy gospel telling of the conception of Mary, her upbringing and marriage to Joseph and the journey of the couple to Bethlehem, along with details of Jesus as a young boy.

There are about one hundred and thirty Greek manuscripts containing the Gospel of James, but most of these come from the tenth century or later.

The author, ‘James,’ is noted in the New Testament as the son of Joseph and Jesus’ brother.

However, James would have been the son of Joseph’s first wife.

‘The name Salome (or in Hebrew: Shalom or Shlomit) was a common Jewish name in the Second Temple period, and was also known in the Hasmonean and Herodian families,’ said Firer in a statement.

‘According to a Christian tradition, Salome was the midwife from Bethlehem who was called to participate in the birth of Jesus.

‘She could not believe that she was asked to deliver a virgin’s baby, and her hand became dry and was healed only when she held the baby’s cradle.’

In the bible, Salome is revealed to be the second midwife to Mary.

‘And the midwife went forth of the cave and Salome met her. And she said to her: Salome, Salome, a new sight have I to tell thee,’ the scripture reads.

‘A virgin hath brought forth, which her nature alloweth not. And Salome said: As the Lord my God liveth, if I make not trial and prove her nature I will not believe that a virgin hath brought forth.’

Her name is shown several times after, with Mary telling Salome not to tell anyone about Jesus until ‘he enters Jerusalem.’

Grave robbers discovered the tomb in 1982 and stole the sarcophagus, but formal excavations were conducted two years later.

The cave comprises several chambers with multiple rock-hewn kokhim (burial niches) and broken ossuaries (stone boxes), attesting to the Jewish burial custom.

Source: Daily Mail Online, Stacy Liberatore

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