Day 8: Shroud Of Turin Exhibit

After visiting the Western Wall, we ate lunch at a different restaurant in the Notre Dame Jerusalem. In an exhibit next door to that, there was a Shroud of Turin exhibit, featuring a replica of the shroud, and tons of additional information about it. After the meal, we were free to do as we wished for the afternoon. I chose to join a few people to check out this exhibit.

There was a map showing the history of the shroud's travels, based on a combination of historical records and scientific evidence.

I remember working with someone who commented about the shroud one time when the subject came up rather randomly. He remembered it being a fake, according to carbon dating tests. I realized he wasn't aware of the later analysis that made it clear that the carbon dating test used a sample that was bound to provide seriously wrong dating information. In fact, the more forms of dating techniques that are applied to the shroud, the more clear it is that it came from the correct time period of Jesus, with a 50 year margin of error, and not some forgery from the middle ages.

Pollen makes clear that it was in Jerusalem and various other places we knew it had been from historical records.

There's lots of information from the blood serum and blood patterns.

They have a model cross-section of a typical tomb from the time of Jesus.

The exhibit also includes Biblical accounts relevant to the shroud.

Some scientific analysis of the cloth indicates that objects were slide across it in patterns consistent with the way a tablecloth would experience. I don't think they've reached a conclusion, but there's a theory that in the rush to get a properly-sized body wrap, a tablecloth may have been used, and that it MIGHT be from the Last Supper. If so, that will be a rather interesting tie-in.

The image embedded into the shroud also contains 3D information encoded within it.

Using that, people were able to form a 3D model of the "Man of the Shroud". I believe the shroud is the authentic shroud of Jesus. So the 3D information should produce a model that shows the posture and form of Jesus as he rested in His tomb...resting on the Sabbath.

We see the piercing in his feet.

We see the piercing in his hands. That position is so familiar. The blood flow on the surface of his body is even depicted, because it was present when providing information into the shroud.

His chest shows the abuse he bore as they scourged him, slaughtering him with so many lashes.

The face of the man, with the blood flowing down his forehead in the iconic shape of a 3. There are many other details in his face, and much of that information is available onsite and in documentaries.

Flowers were placed around the head. In the same way that they added sweet-smelling oils to anoint one for burial, flowers also brought good odors and beauty, despite the fact that this was only seen for a few moments before wrapping. In the case of Jesus, they were VERY rushed, so there was even less time to see Him one last time.

Walking to the other side, we see the gash in his right side, where blood and water flowed out.

I didn't mean to cut off the head a little, but I tried to at least capture it from head through chest.

There was a replica of the crown of thorns. It was a crown in the old form, where it formed a cap, rather than a ring. The thorns were several inches long, and the shroud reveals some of this damage to the man.

They provided some information about the scourging. I want to say a great deal more about several things, and I might bring some of this up again after my next project is complete.

I used panoramic mode and walked from left to right to capture the shroud replica's image. It's a bit bumpy as a result. But it's all there.

There is information about the crucifixion.

There is even a simple guide to what the different parts of the shroud tell us of the man.

Here is the replica in its case. If you think it's big, keep in mind it has to be long enough for at least twice the length of a man, since it was wrapped vertically over the head. It started and ended at his feet.

Some additional dating information came from coins that appeared to be on his eyelids.

The early church was underground and hidden. But after a few centuries, it was more open, and people started to depict Jesus in art. It was very limited in the early years. But then, many works of art throughout Europe quickly started to depict Jesus in ways that resemble the man on the shroud.

The 3D information about the man is also depicted in two holograms. One showing the front, and one showing the back. They flank each side of the 3D model of the man. I prefer the model over the hologram. The hologram was difficult to photograph.

One last view of the man from his right side... When He was laid in His tomb, this is the perspective one would have had of him as one entered His tomb, except he would have been wrapped in the shroud.

It was great to see this exhibit in person. It would have been even more amazing to see the real shroud. What I've been studying since the trip would make it far more meaningful than had I see the real thing that day.

After we saw the shroud exhibit, we could continue to do as we wished with the rest of our free afternoon. We checked out some shops in the Old City. There are tons of shops. I also went back to the hotel to rest up a little. This made for a more relaxing afternoon and end of a day.

The next morning, we sent to Pater Noster Church (Church of Our Father)