The Gabriel Revelation Stone
To help us laymen appreciate the archaeological significance of the Gabriel Revelation Stone, James Snyder, the director of the Israel Museum in Jerusalem which is loaning the artefacts to Hong Kong, says it’s basically a Dead Sea Scroll, but on stone. Got it!
The tablet, along with a glorified photocopy of one of the seven Dead Sea Scrolls and other items actually from the era, is currently on display at the Asia Society, where it will be until Jan. 25, 2015 as part of the clumsily-named “Temple, Scrolls and Divine Messengers: Archaeology of the Land of Israel in Roman Times” exhibit, sponsored by the MetLife Foundation.
Dr Adolfo Roitman, the curator of the exhibition, and James Snyder, the director of the Israel Museum
Considered the “most important archaeological artefact to come to light since the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls”, the stone is a three-foot-tall, 160-kilogrammes in weight, and was discovered only in 2000 on the shores of the Dead Sea. It’s historical and academic significance can be hard to wrap your head around if you’re not familiar with biblical history, but we were told that it is, in fact, very important.
The first chamber of the exhibition features a video showing what Jerusalem would have looked like in Roman times.
On the stone, there remains barely legible text, apparently narrated in the first person by the archangel Gabriel. It provides insight into the religious ideas around the time when Jesus was born. Another characteristic is that it features ink writing, making it unique from any other religious stone text found in the area.
Dr Roitmanfrom said it is the first time he has brought such objects to an area without a long-standing Judeo-Christian tradition. In a bid to make the exhibition more relevant to us Hongkongers, some parts draw parallels between the Chinese and Jewish histories, which both date back around 6,000 years.
A copy of the Scroll of Isaiah
The fact that the display features a Dead Sea Scroll has also been making headlines, but don’t be fooled: it’s a 1:1 scale, high-definition photo of the original printed on regular ol’ photo paper. Unlike the Dead Sea Scroll copy, the Gabriel Stone is “not just for PR! It’s real!”, as Dr Roitman himself confirmed. But, to be fair, to see what a Dead Sea Scroll – the most important of the seven no less – would look like in real life is a treat in itself.
Like all exhibitions at the Asia Society’s Chantal Miller Gallery, it’s small, sparse, but well-designed and carefully thought out. You’ll be in and out in less than an hour, so make sure you spend some time in the beautiful Asia Society centre, too.
Address: The Hong Kong Jockey Club Former Explosives Magazine, 9 Justice Drive, Admiralty. (Google Maps)
Dates: Now until Jan. 25, 2015.
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Thursday: 11am to 6pm, Friday – Sunday: 11am – 8pm.
Entrance: HKD30 for adults, HKD15 for elderly people and people with disabilities.
Photos: Laurel Chor/Coconuts Media
