Thanks for the comments on the cloth keeping the jaw shut. (’cuz that is all I remembered and would have written!). I did not know that about the limestone. I have read stuff about the pollens that they have found that include plants native to the region.
Interesting stuff. I know in the Bible it talks about the “water” that flowed from the spear thrust (I think that was from a prophecy?). I forget how medically it is explained - a clear fluid around the heart or something.
Interesting how the shape of the nose on the jewelry is similar to the rendering of the 3D History Channel image. Of course that may be common for the region?
Personally, I don’t believe the face cloth was around his head in the tomb. Here’s why:
- Swordmaker is quite correct: it clearly was the norm of the day (consistent with Jewish burial practices)...but...
- His ‘burial’ was an incomplete process. It was quite rushed due to impending Passover. Therefore, all preparations of his body were very hurried. Minimal “cleanup”, placing items with his tissue (blood being “tissue”) in with him. This has long been Jewish custom. Recent studies suggest imagery on the Shroud of a spear, a flagrum, etc.; not conclusive yet, though. There are also numerous flowers and types of flowers, leptons on the eyes (the two coins, by the way, have been identified as leptons hand minted during the time frame of 29-33 AD, during the reign of one Pontius Pilate), etc.
- His body was in rigor........not putrefaction, but rigor. His body would have remained in that position; one leg raised up slightly, jaw closed, etc.
- His body was to be properly prepared AFTER Passover; that is exactly why they returned in 3 days to the tomb: to properly prepare him; to finish the job
- Well....as we know.....when they showed up, he was already gone; no need to “finish the job”
- There is absolutely no image on the Cloth of Oviedo. If it had been wrapped around his head, one would expect similar imagery mechanisms/presence as those that appeared on the Shroud during this energetic event. There are none.
- It WAS found in the tomb by the Shroud.
- The blood stains on the cloth have been photographically matched to those on the Shroud....and match very, very well
- Both cloths have the same blood type on them: AB+
- The history of the Cloth of Oviedo is well-documented, dating back to the 3rd century (at least....).
So I am completely convinced they were on the same body (the Shroud of Turin, the Cloth of Oviedo)....but I don’t believe in this particular instance that the cloth had actually been tied around his head to secure the jaw, etc., for reasons stated above.