Philosophia
September 24th, 2008, 08:31 AM
Scholar claims to find medieval Jewish capital
MOSCOW - A Russian archaeologist says he has found the lost capital of the Khazars, a powerful nation that adopted Judaism as its official religion more than 1,000 years ago, only to disappear leaving little trace of its culture.
Dmitry Vasilyev, a professor at Astrakhan State University, said his nine-year excavation near the Caspian Sea has finally unearthed the foundations of a triangular fortress of flamed brick, along with modest yurt-shaped dwellings, and he believes these are part of what was once Itil, the Khazar capital.
By law Khazars could use flamed bricks only in the capital, Vasilyev said. The general location of the city on the Silk Road was confirmed in medieval chronicles by Arab, Jewish and European authors.
From here (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080920/ap_on_re_eu/russia_lost_capital_1;_ylt=ArnTbHiDcV_E3obaGzIjWANFeQoB).
:foh: I must admit I hardly know anything about the Khazar empire but if this scholar has found the capital, I would be surprised.
MOSCOW - A Russian archaeologist says he has found the lost capital of the Khazars, a powerful nation that adopted Judaism as its official religion more than 1,000 years ago, only to disappear leaving little trace of its culture.
Dmitry Vasilyev, a professor at Astrakhan State University, said his nine-year excavation near the Caspian Sea has finally unearthed the foundations of a triangular fortress of flamed brick, along with modest yurt-shaped dwellings, and he believes these are part of what was once Itil, the Khazar capital.
By law Khazars could use flamed bricks only in the capital, Vasilyev said. The general location of the city on the Silk Road was confirmed in medieval chronicles by Arab, Jewish and European authors.
From here (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080920/ap_on_re_eu/russia_lost_capital_1;_ylt=ArnTbHiDcV_E3obaGzIjWANFeQoB).
:foh: I must admit I hardly know anything about the Khazar empire but if this scholar has found the capital, I would be surprised.