Opening an ancient tomb, shocked to see a corpse in a strange position

A team of archaeologists announced that they had found the skeleton of a woman in chains in Jerusalem, Israel. The woman died in the 5th century. The reason why she was buried in this position became a big mystery.

A chained female skeleton found in Jerusalem, Israel, may belong to a Byzantine-era nun, according to archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). Photo: Yoli Schwartz/Israel Antiquities Authority.

The researchers said the woman was buried with her hands and feet bound with iron chains. She died in the 5th century. Photo: Yoli Schwartz/Israel Antiquities Authority.

The woman likely practiced extreme asceticism. Prior to this discovery, experts believed that during the 5th century, only male monks practiced asceticism to achieve salvation or atone for sins for themselves and others, as emphasized in traditional Christianity. Photo: Yoli Schwartz/Israel Antiquities Authority.

The discovery of the remains of a female monk in Jerusalem is the first archaeological evidence that extreme asceticism was practiced by both men and women. Photo: Matan Chocron, Israel Antiquities Authority.

Dr. Amit Re'em, an archaeologist at the IAA, said the priestess, like many women of her time, lived in a male-dominated society where religious life was largely carried out by men. Photo: Matan Chocron, Israel Antiquities Authority.

To practice extreme asceticism (which often involved fasting and abstaining from sexual pleasure), women often disguised themselves as men. Some even beat themselves to deprive their bodies of pleasure. Photo: Yuli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority.

The IAA team of experts said the nun’s body was found in a tomb under the church’s altar. Her body was chained with 12 to 14 loops around her arms or hands, four loops around her neck and at least 10 loops around her legs. Photo: Israel Antiquities Authority/ Yoli Shwartz.

Researchers also found iron plates or discs on the woman’s abdomen. Among the artifacts found was a small cross. Photo: Israel Antiquities Authority/ Yoli Shwartz.

Readers are invited to watch the video : The secret of male remains inside the tomb of a Tang Dynasty princess.

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/mo-mo-co-phat-hoang-thay-thi-hai-trong-tu-the-ky-di-post265396.html