ARCHEOLOGY – On Christmas Eve, the Israeli authorities fortuitously announced that the so-called tomb of Salome will welcome new pilgrims in the future.
The tomb had welcomed a crowd of pilgrims for centuries: it is now preparing to see the arrival of cohorts of tourists. This is the substance of the news presented on Tuesday by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), giving an update on an archaeological operation carried out near the town of Lachish, halfway between Gaza and Jerusalem. The site, that of an important Jewish burial, would be the place of burial of Salome – one of the Holy Women who attended the crucifixion of Christ -, considered, according to certain sources, as one of the two midwives having helped Our Lady bring Jesus into the world.
Known for a long time, this “Grotto of Salomé” was the subject of an archaeological operation prior to work supposed to make it soon accessible to the public. As soon as the excavation is completed – a deadline that has not been specified by the IAA – the vault will become one of the few stopping points on the “trail of the kings of Judea”, a tourist hiking route…
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