- The cave was first uncovered in 1982 by robbers who stole the remains
- Recent excavations revealed the carving: 'Salome, who was Mary's midwife'
- Salome is mentioned in the Gospel of James, but is deemed non-anonical and not acknowledged by western churches
A 2,000-year-old burial cave found in a forest in Jerusalem is believed to be the tomb of the midwife who helped with the birth of Jesus - following excavations that uncovered inscriptions citing 'Salome, who was Mary's midwife.'
The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced - just days before the Christian world celebrates the birth of Christ - that the carvings in ancient Greek and Arabic are enough to prove 'this is the cave of holy Salome.'
Teams have also discovered ruins of shops nearby, dating from between the eighth and ninth centuries, that sold oil lamps used in prayer.
Hundreds of complete and broken lamps were found in the forecourt, 'proving' that the cave was a place of worship.
IAA archaeologist Zvi Firer said: ' We believe that pilgrims would come here, rent an oil lamp, perform their prayers inside, and go on their way.
Salome's role as an assistant to the midwife at Christ's birth is recounted in the Gospel of St James.
The author, 'James,' is noted in the New Testament as the son of Joseph and Jesus' brother.
However, James would have been the son of Joseph's first wife.
'The name Salome (or in Hebrew: Shalom or Shlomit) was a common Jewish name in the Second Temple period, and was also known in the Hasmonean and Herodian families,' said Firer in a statement.
'According to a Christian tradition, Salome was the midwife from Bethlehem who was called to participate in the birth of Jesus.
'She could not believe that she was asked to deliver a virgin's baby, and her hand became dry and was healed only when she held the baby's cradle.'
In the bible, Salome is revealed to be the second midwife to Mary.
'And the midwife went forth of the cave and Salome met her. And she said to her: Salome, Salome, a new sight have I to tell thee,' the scripture reads.
'A virgin hath brought forth, which her nature alloweth not. And Salome said: As the Lord my God liveth, if I make not trial and prove her nature I will not believe that a virgin hath brought forth.'
Her name is shown several times after, with Mary telling Salome not to tell anyone about Jesus until 'he enters Jerusalem.'
Grave robbers discovered the tomb in 1982 and stole the sarcophagus, but formal excavations were conducted two years later.
The cave comprises several chambers with multiple rock-hewn kokhim (burial niches) and broken ossuaries (stone boxes), attesting to the Jewish burial custom.
The Jewish tradition of secondary burial in stone ossuaries is well-known in the archaeological record, but the surprise was the adaptation of the cave into a Christian chapel.
'Judging by the crosses and the dozens of inscriptions engraved on the cave walls in the Byzantine and Early Islamic periods, the chapel was dedicated to the sacred Salome,' IAA shared in a statement.
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| Inscriptions in the cave (pictured) read: 'Salome, the midwife to Mary.' The carvings are in both ancient Greek and Arabic |
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| Archaeologists uncovered ancient ruins outside of the cave. The stones were once shops that sold oil lamps used in prayer |
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| Hundreds of complete and broken lamps were found outside and inside the cave, which experts say proves the site was a popular destination for pilgrims |
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| The cave was initially found by grave robbers in 1982, who stole the sarcophagus inside |
While the cave had been previously discovered, the elaborate cave forecourt has only been seen now, for the first time since in more than 2,000 years.
The court, extending more than 3,767 square feet, is surrounded by ashlar stone walls, which are individual stones fashioned into squares.
Archaeologists also uncovered mosaic flooring that once decorated the forecourt.
The entrances leading into the cave and the interior chapel were exposed.
Some of the stones were carved with delicate decorative vegetal designs, including rosettes, pomegranates and acanthus vases, characteristic Jewish features.
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| Salome's (right) role as an assistant to the midwife at Christ's birth is recounted in the Gospel of St James, a text dropped from the New Testament used by most Western churches |
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| Formal excavations were conducted in 1984, which led experts to believe this was the tomb of the midwife. The newly found artifacts, according to experts, prove the cave is in fact, Salome's tomb |
'The forecourt and the cave attest that the tomb belonged to a wealthy Jewish family who invested much effort into preparing the cave,' IAA stated.
'It is noteworthy that the court leading into burial caves was usually hewn out of the rock and not elaborately built of ashlar masonry as this forecourt.'
The announcement comes as the Christian world is just days away from celebrating the birth of Jesus at Christmas.
The name 'Christmas' comes from the Mass of Christ, but the term does not appear in the Christian bible.
The celebration, however, was not celebrated by the early Church and did not take hold until the fourth century under the Roman Catholic Church, which then spread widely.
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| The lamps are clay and date from between the eighth and ninth centuries. Pilgrims would use them as prayer candles and as a means to light the inside of the cave |
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| The cave is set to be open to the public soon, but archaeologists have already found religious imagery left by visitors |
The earliest known reference to commemorating the birth of Christ on December 25 is in the Roman Philocalian calendar of 354 AD.
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