Mysterious Medieval Symbols Emerge at the Site of Christianity's Holiest Meal
Have you ever wondered what ancient tourists scribbled on the walls during their sacred visits? Well, it turns out the Cenacle in Jerusalem, famously known as the site of Jesus’s Last Supper, has a few messages from the past—literally etched into its walls. Now, think about this: in a place where you’d expect only the most solemn of contemplations, people have been leaving graffiti like it’s a trendy bathroom stall. Researchers have recently unearthed these medieval inscriptions, a treasure trove of names, dates, and even coats of arms, all hidden under layers of plaster for centuries. It’s like a secret diary of history and guess what? With modern tech, we can now read all about it. Curious to see what medieval pilgrims thought was worth emailing their future? LEARN MORE
Believed to be the site where Jesus and his disciples had the Last Supper just before his crucifixion, the Cenacle in Jerusalem has long been sacred ground for Christians — and some of them left graffiti behind.
Shai Halevi/Israel Antiquities AuthorityInscriptions, including a coat of arms, which were left by pilgrims at the Cenacle in Jerusalem, the supposed site of Jesus’ Last Supper.
For centuries, the Cenacle in Jerusalem has been considered sacred ground for millions around the world. Christians contend that it’s the site of the Last Supper that Jesus and his disciples shared just before his crucifixion at Golgotha. Meanwhile, Muslims and Jews believe that it’s the tomb of King David. Thus the site has long drawn countless pilgrims — and as a recent study shows, some of them left their mark.
By using modern technology to examine the building’s walls, researchers were able to decipher a number of inscriptions that were left by medieval pilgrims before being covered up by plaster in the 16th century. The pilgrims who created this graffiti came from a wide variety of places and left behind a fascinatingly disparate collection of notes.
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