In 1952, an archaeologist named Henri de Contenson discovered two mysterious scrolls in an highly oxidised condition known as the Copper Scroll when he was leading a team of ten Bedouin in a hillside cave, a few kilometers from Qumran. When it was first found in the cave, it had broken into two separate rolled up sections side by side on a stone. One larger part contained two similar sheets riveted together end to end while the other roll is a single sheet of hammered copper. The Copper Scroll are part of the Dead Sea Scrolls, however unlike other scrolls which are literary work and written on papyrus, these scrolls contain several locations of hidden treasures and written on thin copper.
On March 14, 1952 the Copper Scroll was found in cave 3 near Khirbet Qumran. Because the scrolls was the last of 15 Dead Sea Scrolls, it is referred to as 3Q15. The original state of the scroll is measures 2.4 m in length, 0.3 m in width and 1 mm thick. At that time, no one dare to open the scroll without damaging the text inside it. Several years later in 1955, with great care, one of the Copper Scroll finally opened by H. Wright Baker, a Professor at Manchester College of Science and Technology (UMIST). The other scroll also opened a year later in 1956. Because the corroded metal couldn't be unrolled easily, Professor Baker cut the scroll into 23 parts.
The language itself was a big puzzles for scholars. It was written in a square form script (an early form of Hebrew script) while other Dead Sea Scrolls were written in square form Aramaic script, or ‘Paleo-Hebrew’ script. The style of script and the spelling in the Copper Scroll is very different with other texts of the time, from Qumran or from elsewhere. But still, It has been almost unanimously classified as one of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
John Allegro is the first person who translated the Copper Scroll into English. And he realize that the scroll is a list of around 64 locations of magnificent hidden treasures including massive quantities of jewelry, precious gems, other scrolls, gold and silvers. However the Jerusalem team advised him to not publish his findings publicly, because it can attract treasure hunters around the world and disturb the Qumran site.
At the end of 1959 and in March 1960, Allegro decided to lead two archaeological expeditions in search of the Copper Scroll's treasures. For several months of expeditions, he wandered around in the desert and found nothing. Few months later, he decided to published the English translation of the scroll (The Treasure of the Copper Scroll) in 1960.
Various reactions came from the scholars after reading the Allegro's translation. Father Joseph Milik, one of the member of the original Dead Sea Scrolls translation team and Father P’ere de Vaux, the head of the École Biblique et Archéologique Française de Jerusalem, denounced it as defective and even cast doubts on the authenticity of the Copper Scroll’s contents. While others were not so sure, and today the generally accepted view is the Copper Scroll contains a genuine list of real treasures.
In 1962 the Jerusalem team published the official Copper Scroll's translation with the title ‘Les “Petites Grottes” de Qumran, in the Discoveries in the Judaean Desert series. In conventional translations of the Copper Scroll the weight of gold mentioned in various locations is generally given as adding up to a staggering 26 tonnes and silver 65 tonnes.
The weights of the treasures item in the Copper Scrolls are : Gold (1285 Talents), Silver (666 Talents), Gold and Silver (17 Talents), Gold and silver vessels (600 Talents), Mixed precious metals (2,088 Talents).
Items with unspecified weights are as follows: Gold ingots (165), Silver bars (7), Gold and Silver vessels (609).
One Talent is estimated to be about 76 lb or 34.47 kg and it is estimated that the Copper Scroll treasure worth around over $2 billion at current prices. The origins of the treasures listed in the Copper Scroll also led controversy and have not been resolved until now. Several thories have been proposed by the scholars.
According to the Copper Scroll Project, the treasures listed on the scroll probably span the history of Israel from the Exodus to the Babylonian captivity. The talents of precious metals and gems may very well be the excess materials called for by Moses and Aaron to build the Tabernacle. Then there are the supplies stored away by King David for the 1st Temple. Yet on the scroll it speaks of tithes and offerings of silver. Those could easily be from the Temple built by King Solomon and stored away for repairs and upkeep on the House of God stored in the remote treasury at Qumran. The treasury described in the document is, the long sought after treasury of Hakkoz known for centuries to be in the area of Qumran. However, it is unclear when the treasury was built.
More significant is the fact none of the conventional theories have led to the discovery of any of the treasures listed in the Copper Scroll. Until now the Copper Scroll's treasure is still hidden somewhere while the Copper Scroll itself is housed at the Jordan Museum in Amman, Jordan.
Sources:
Wikipedia - Copper Scroll;
The Copper Scroll Project;
New Dawn Magazine - "Unfolding the Secrets of the Copper Scroll of Qumran" written by Robert Feather, MIM, CEng
On March 14, 1952 the Copper Scroll was found in cave 3 near Khirbet Qumran. Because the scrolls was the last of 15 Dead Sea Scrolls, it is referred to as 3Q15. The original state of the scroll is measures 2.4 m in length, 0.3 m in width and 1 mm thick. At that time, no one dare to open the scroll without damaging the text inside it. Several years later in 1955, with great care, one of the Copper Scroll finally opened by H. Wright Baker, a Professor at Manchester College of Science and Technology (UMIST). The other scroll also opened a year later in 1956. Because the corroded metal couldn't be unrolled easily, Professor Baker cut the scroll into 23 parts.
The language itself was a big puzzles for scholars. It was written in a square form script (an early form of Hebrew script) while other Dead Sea Scrolls were written in square form Aramaic script, or ‘Paleo-Hebrew’ script. The style of script and the spelling in the Copper Scroll is very different with other texts of the time, from Qumran or from elsewhere. But still, It has been almost unanimously classified as one of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
John Allegro is the first person who translated the Copper Scroll into English. And he realize that the scroll is a list of around 64 locations of magnificent hidden treasures including massive quantities of jewelry, precious gems, other scrolls, gold and silvers. However the Jerusalem team advised him to not publish his findings publicly, because it can attract treasure hunters around the world and disturb the Qumran site.
At the end of 1959 and in March 1960, Allegro decided to lead two archaeological expeditions in search of the Copper Scroll's treasures. For several months of expeditions, he wandered around in the desert and found nothing. Few months later, he decided to published the English translation of the scroll (The Treasure of the Copper Scroll) in 1960.
Various reactions came from the scholars after reading the Allegro's translation. Father Joseph Milik, one of the member of the original Dead Sea Scrolls translation team and Father P’ere de Vaux, the head of the École Biblique et Archéologique Française de Jerusalem, denounced it as defective and even cast doubts on the authenticity of the Copper Scroll’s contents. While others were not so sure, and today the generally accepted view is the Copper Scroll contains a genuine list of real treasures.
In 1962 the Jerusalem team published the official Copper Scroll's translation with the title ‘Les “Petites Grottes” de Qumran, in the Discoveries in the Judaean Desert series. In conventional translations of the Copper Scroll the weight of gold mentioned in various locations is generally given as adding up to a staggering 26 tonnes and silver 65 tonnes.
The weights of the treasures item in the Copper Scrolls are : Gold (1285 Talents), Silver (666 Talents), Gold and Silver (17 Talents), Gold and silver vessels (600 Talents), Mixed precious metals (2,088 Talents).
Items with unspecified weights are as follows: Gold ingots (165), Silver bars (7), Gold and Silver vessels (609).
One Talent is estimated to be about 76 lb or 34.47 kg and it is estimated that the Copper Scroll treasure worth around over $2 billion at current prices. The origins of the treasures listed in the Copper Scroll also led controversy and have not been resolved until now. Several thories have been proposed by the scholars.
According to the Copper Scroll Project, the treasures listed on the scroll probably span the history of Israel from the Exodus to the Babylonian captivity. The talents of precious metals and gems may very well be the excess materials called for by Moses and Aaron to build the Tabernacle. Then there are the supplies stored away by King David for the 1st Temple. Yet on the scroll it speaks of tithes and offerings of silver. Those could easily be from the Temple built by King Solomon and stored away for repairs and upkeep on the House of God stored in the remote treasury at Qumran. The treasury described in the document is, the long sought after treasury of Hakkoz known for centuries to be in the area of Qumran. However, it is unclear when the treasury was built.
More significant is the fact none of the conventional theories have led to the discovery of any of the treasures listed in the Copper Scroll. Until now the Copper Scroll's treasure is still hidden somewhere while the Copper Scroll itself is housed at the Jordan Museum in Amman, Jordan.
Sources:
Wikipedia - Copper Scroll;
The Copper Scroll Project;
New Dawn Magazine - "Unfolding the Secrets of the Copper Scroll of Qumran" written by Robert Feather, MIM, CEng
Copper Scroll DECYPHERED:
ReplyDeleteDo yourself a favor and save both money and time by Not searching for the Copper Scroll treasures.
The WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY and WHO about the Copper Scroll Treasure is Common Knowledge; and to understand it, one
must simply read about its historical Provedance. East of the Jordan River where Alexander Jannaeus had military campaigns is
a place mentioned in the Scroll several times. Kohlit/Kohli; seems to be the city where the treasure is located, making Kohlit yet
another lost city like El Dorado.
According to Josephus; Jannaeus or Jannai/Yannai was king of Judea from 103 BC to 76 BC. He was the son of John Hyrcnaus &
was the High Priest Jonathan; written about as a wicked tyrant in the Talmud, yet established the city of Gamla in 81 BC; as the
capital for what is now the Golan Heights.
Origins according to the Talmud teach: "Be not like the servants who serve their masters for the sake of the wages, but be rather
like those who serve without thought of receiving wages." The maxim was taught by Antigonus of Sokho a Pharisee scholar whom
according to Mishnah; was the disciple and successor of Simon the Just. Mishnah teachings became tradition; a major written
redaction of the Jewish oral traditions known as the "Oral Torah", the first major work of Rabbinic literature.
The Mishnah consists of six orders, each containing 7–12 tractates; 63 in total, and further subdivided into chapters and paragraphs
or verses. The orders and their subjects are: Zeraim ("Seeds"), dealing with prayer and blessings, tithes and agricultural laws,
Moed ("Festival"), pertaining to the laws of the Sabbath and the Festivals, Nashim ("Women"), concerning marriage and divorce,
some forms of oaths and the laws of the nazirite (7 tractates), Nezikin ("Damages"), dealing with civil and criminal law, the
functioning of the courts and oaths (10 tractates), Kodashim ("Holy things"), regarding sacrificial rites, the Temple, and the dietary
laws (11 tractates) and Tehorot ("Purities"), pertaining to the laws of purity and impurity, including the impurity of the dead, the laws
of food purity and bodily purity (12 tractates).
These Jewish traditions are Yidish in nature; ancient lore in Jewish Babylonia between Persia and Roman Palestine. Priests//Rulers
were compelled to fulfill & sought out for lack of a better term a wishful prayer; dealing with the responsiblity of being seen humble
before GOD, while at the same time succesfull as expected by other Priests/Orders; there inability to do more was limited to the
wealth at hand. It took money and even; now takes money, to expand the Order.
Yidish religious groups have a very structured Order. A priest for every occasion; including Inventory/Treasurer. The priest in charge
of Treasury not only had access to the riches of the Order/Church, but also took on the responsiblity of praying in writting using
Hebrew & Aramaic text. Part of these writtings included the "Forgive me for I am Not wealthy enough and at this time need to find
more wealthy followers." prayer. Better known as: Samech-Alef-Lamed, which draws sustenance to us for financial success.
The Copper Scroll is simply, a hopeful Jewish prayer; asking for the proper words needed to persuade future wealthy followers; the
exact amount they need from each of them and their location, all in the name of expansion.
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