With the Shroud of Turin in the news again, I think it is important to look at a glimpse of the many of the articles and facts regarding the Shroud. It is the most studied artifact and yet, a decisive answer cannot be reached regarding its authenticity. While I have my opinion as to whether or not I think the shroud is real or fake, please read this collection of articles and facts regarding the shroud, do your own research, consider everything and come up with your own thoughts on the authenticity of the shroud. [ After reading this, my husband chuckled and told me my position on the shroud's authenticy is obvious. Apologies, dear readers]Real or Fake?
During the course of Christian history, many relics from during the life of Jesus and also during the lives of certain saints, had come to light, like pieces of the cross of Jesus and Noah's ark, part of the spear of destiny, bones, etc. The relics were important as the tourist attractions of their times. Clergy wanted to possess as many relics as possible so people would make pilgrimages their churches. The result of this is many forgeries. Forgeries are not at all uncommon in the ancient world, not just for religious artifacts.
That being said, enter the Shroud of Turin, 1355. (For more timeline-type history of the Shroud - I know it's from the hoax museum, but it does have a good timeline).
Originally, the shroud was carbon dated in 1988 by three independent labs and the results proved that it was not made during the time of Jesus. But after much time, a study re-examined the results from 1988 and some made the claim that the Shroud had to be repaired and rewoven in the 16th century due to fire damage, while others stuck to the original results.
Only one other shroud has been found in Jerusalem dating back to the first century C.E. and this find is nothing at all like the Shroud of Turin. This national geographic [reputable source, I should think] article points to several reasons why:
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| Image belongs to Nat Geo. |
- the weave of the linen is much different, more simple (seen left) compared to the shroud of Turin
- Made from simple woven linen whereas Turin shroud is made of a type of cloth not found in the area before Medieval times.
- Caves in Jerusalem are known for high humidity - this linen survived because the tomb was sealed due to the fear of spreading of disease. The person buried in it had leprosy (evidence found in DNA)
The article, however, presumes that the shroud found is the norm for the time during Jerusalem.
The most recent article regarding the Shroud (see my articles of interest page) claims that the shroud is authentic due to scientists inability to recreate the same imagery using modern day technology. In order for the imprint of a body to have formed like it has with the shroud, there would have to have been a great flash of light.
For those who believe the shroud is authentic, this research confirms that there was a grand flash of light when Jesus was resurrected, a supernatural occurrence. Perhaps this light comes off of the angel's clothes who rolled away the stone (see Matthew 28:3)."The results show that a short and intense burst of UV directional radiation can colour a linen cloth so as to reproduce many of the peculiar characteristics of the body image on the Shroud of Turin," they [scientists] said.
How else could the shroud be reproduced, if it can't be done by our advanced technology?? Although we boast of having such advanced technologies, much of the ancient world had techniques that are lost on us today (like how the pyramids were build). Fortunately, one that could have produced the shroud has been examined by The Shroud Shadow Project. The project started by N.D. Wilson and later helped by Dr. Scott Minnich to prove that similar replica could be made. How did they do it? Glass, paint, textile and the sun. Very basically, the men had the glass painted with a man's face, placed that on the textile and exposed them to the sun for periods of time. The men would then compare the results with photographed negatives to see if they got the same results; the negative-look found with the shroud. Their results were a success. A more-detailed explanation here.
Here's a picture of their results: Looks very shroud like to me.
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| Belongs to ShadowShroud.com |
In the July/August edition of Minerva Magazine, much of what was already mentioned was discussed in this article, but there were a few additional interesting points that researchers claimed to have seen. These, however, have been sharply criticized and have not been widely spread as other findings such as the carbon dating.
- 1985 - Prof Alan Whanger of Duke University claimed to have found 28 plant impressions on the shroud and Prof Avinoam Danin of Hebrew University identified one of those plants as a chrysanthemum, common to the region around Jerusalem.
- Impressions of coins can be seen covering the eyes on the shroud. These coins were minted around 29 C.E. [odd, because I don't recall this being a Jewish burial practice.. pagan/Roman, yes]
- Barbara Frale in November 2009, researcher in the Secret Vatican Archives, claimed that a computer analysis of the shroud allowed her to see and decipher writing on the shroud. The writing was a mixture of Latin, Greek and Hebrew letters which is translated to read ''In the year 16 of the emperor Tiberius, Jesus of Nazarene, taken down in the early evening after having being condemned to death by a Roman judge because he was found guilty by Hebrew authority, is hereby sent for burial with the obligation of being consigned to his family only after one year.''
-VB
images are not mine.
