Bethlehem
The Ancients
History Hit
4.7 • 4.5K Ratings
🗓️ 4 December 2022
⏱️ 54 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Most famously known as the birth place of Jesus, Bethlehem has been immortalised in texts, carols, and imagery across history. But prior to the arrival of Jesus and the nativity, Bethlehem had a vibrant, and unexpected history. Located south of Jerusalem in the West Bank, Bethlehem was home to famous figures such as King David and was eventually a favourite spot of Roman Emperor Constantine I. But how do we know about all these figures - and what else is there left to learn?
In today's episode, Tristan is joined by Professor Joan Taylor to help illuminate Bethlehem's hidden past. Looking at what the archaeology can tell us about this noteworthy settlement, and helping to separate fact from fiction - Joan offers a new take on this ancient village.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | It's the entrance on History Hit. |
| 0:13.5 | I'm Tristan Hughes, your host and in today's podcast where we're talking all about that |
| 0:18.6 | central place associated with the Nativity story, the place the town of Jesus's birth, |
| 0:26.0 | the town of Bethlehem. |
| 0:28.5 | We're going to be looking at Bethlehem in ancient history. |
| 0:31.5 | What the archaeology and the literature reveals about Bethlehem in ancient history, what |
| 0:36.2 | we know so far and how much more there is still to learn in the years ahead. |
| 0:41.8 | Now this was a fascinating chat. |
| 0:43.5 | I interviewed Professor Joan Taylor from King's College University. |
| 0:47.9 | Joan doubted all the way in from New Zealand for this chat. |
| 0:51.4 | I'm so glad we were able to sort of time for it because it's a fascinating story. |
| 0:56.4 | Bethlehem, on one sense, has become this place of memory, this locus of memory, |
| 1:01.9 | has become so important for more than a thousand years in ancient history. |
| 1:08.0 | From roughly a thousand BC, the time of King David, down to the time of Jesus, |
| 1:13.6 | and then in the early Christian period of the Roman Empire following constant time the first, |
| 1:19.6 | how Bethlehem evolves into this significant place of pilgrimage, of Christian pilgrimage |
| 1:26.3 | for many pilgrims. |
| 1:27.9 | Joan explains all and so much more in this brilliant chat and I really do hope you enjoy. |
| 1:33.1 | So that further ado to talk all about Bethlehem in antiquity is Joan. |
| 1:45.1 | Joan, it is wonderful to have you back on the podcast. |
| 1:48.9 | It's wonderful to be back. |
| 1:50.4 | Thank you for inviting me, Tristan. |
... |
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