IAA releases the ossuary

Public will be able to see limestone box that may have been casket for Jesus’ brother  

Ancient burial box is inscribed 'James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus'

BY MATTHEW KALMAN / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2013, 2:46 PM

The stone burial box bearing the inscription 'James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus.'

(RAN ERDA)

TEL AVIV — A modest limestone casket could be the first object ever found from the family of Jesus Christ.

The stone burial box bearing the inscription "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus" has been hidden from public view at the Israel Antiquities Authority since 2003.

Tel Aviv antiquities collector Oded Golan retrieved the burial box from the Israel Antiquities Authority.

(YUVAL PAN)

But now it has been released to be displayed around the world, following a 10-year legal battle in which Israeli authorities failed to show that Tel Aviv collector Oded Golan faked the ancient Aramaic lettering on the box.

Golan bought the box for a pittance in the 1970s from an East Jerusalem antiquities dealer and had it for more than 25 years before Sorbonne professor Andre Lemaire pointed out the staggering significance of the letters scratched in the side.

Close-up of the Aramaic inscription 'James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus' engraved on the side of the stone burial box

(RAN ERDA)

"I never knew that Jesus had a brother," said Golan.

The box is just 20 inches long and one foot wide, carved from a single piece of reddish limestone with a flat lid — typical of the burial boxes used by the Jews of first-century Palestine.

Close-up of the word 'Jesus' in the Aramaic inscription engraved on the side of the stone burial box. If authentic, it is the earliest known example of the name of Jesus

(RAN ERDA)

It was last displayed in Toronto in 2002, causing a worldwide sensation. But the celebrations were short-lived.

The Israeli Antiquities Authority seized the ossuary, and its experts said the words "brother of Jesus" had been added to the original inscription. Golan was arrested in 2003 and put on trial.

Tel Aviv antiquities collector Oded Golan retrieving the burial box with the inscription 'James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus' from the Israel Antiquities Authority. The IAA seized and held the box throughout a ten-year investigation and trial. Golan was acquitted in 2012.

(YUVAL PAN)

In March 2012, Golan was acquitted of forgery, but some experts still maintain the box is a fake. Golan and other experts are convinced it is the real thing.

In an exclusive interview Golan said it is time for people to hear the whole story.

Tel Aviv antiquities collector Oded Golan retrieving the burial box with the inscription 'James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus' from the Israel Antiquities Authority. The IAA seized and held the box throughout a ten-year investigation and trial. Golan was acquitted in 2012.

(YUVAL PAN) 

"The inscription is ancient for sure. We proved that at the trial,” he said. “It's time to have this debate in a public exhibition, and let people decide for themselves."

In their zeal to prove their allegations, the Israeli authorities may have wrecked the chances of conclusive scientific tests.

Tel Aviv antiquities collector Oded Golan with the stone burial box bearing the inscription ‘James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus.’

(RAN ERDA) 

"It's not in the same condition as before the trial. The inscription was defaced, contaminated,” Golan said. “I have to evaluate the damage, see if it can be restored and if there is the possibility of carrying out further tests on the inscription in future that will allow us to show its authenticity."

Golan says he won't be parting with it again - no matter how much he is offered. “In the long term it will remain in Israel," he vowed.

Tel Aviv antiquities collector Oded Golan with the stone burial box bearing the inscription ‘James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus.’

(RAN ERDA)