Terra Sancta Museum

History

The Terra Sancta Museum, also known as the Sacred Earth Museum or Trasna Museum, is an archaeological museum managed by the Catholic Church Custody of the Holy Land in the Old City of Jerusalem. The museum was first opened in 1902 and reopened in March 2016.

Location

The museum is located in the Old City, divided between two Catholic convents: part of the collections are housed in the compound containing the Church of the Flagellation, in the Via Dolorosa, where Jesus was flogged by Roman soldiers after being sentenced to death by Pontius Pilate; and another part is at the Monastery of Saint Saviour, also in the Old City of Jerusalem.

Background

The museum is a result of archaeological discoveries and excavations that have uncovered ancient artifacts from various parts of Palestine, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Cyprus. These artifacts were collected by Franciscan monks in the 20th century and stored for years before being transferred to the museum.

Contents

The museum exhibits a large collection of ancient artifacts and elements, including:

* Hunting traps
* Fishing nets
* Spearheads
* Containers
* Seeds
* Hairpins
* Mirrors
* Make-up spatula sets
* Tableware
* Work tools
* Ancient coins
* Coin casting molds
* Ceramic dice fragments
* Ossuaries (stone slabs)
* Burial tombs

These artifacts date back to the time of Jesus Christ and provide a glimpse into the daily lives of people living in the region during that period.

Design

The museum is divided into two sections, with one located in the complex containing the Church of the Flagellation on the Via Dolorosa.