Nazareth
Nathanal of Cana
(Gospel of John)
“Can Anything Good Come Out of Nazareth”
1st
century – population +/- 400
Unpaved roads and no public
buildings in town – no public inscriptions either (which belies the fact that
most of the inhabitants were probably illiterate). Houses were built of stones with thatched
reed roofs. The thatch was held together
as were the building stones of a combination of mud, clay and animal dung.
Given the nature of
the site as a modern entity in Christendom – the original archaeological remains,
such as there are, are comprised of underground cisterns for water, storage
bins, grinding stones, fermenting vats for wine , stone vessels and measuring
cups – locally made. No imported items
have been found which imply that there were none imported – an ancient sign of
some measure of wealth. This was the
quintessential “nowheresville”.
Don't think rustic, think
the crudest or poorest spot where people congregated in poverty: Nazareth – Jesus’’ hometown.
