Page 32 - Holyland Magazine - 2018 Edition

Exterior nighttime photo of
Museum of the Bible
The World of Jesus of Nazareth
This section begins in the Second Temple
period, entering into a “Prologue Foyer”
where you can familiarize yourself with the
religious and political upheaval of Jesus’
time. From there, you’ll be transported to a
meticulously recreated first-century village
to gain a deeper appreciation of the life,
teaching and methods of Jesus. The World
of Jesus of Nazareth comes complete
with a village center, a traditional Nazarene
house and cooking courtyard, a mikveh - a
ritualistic and purifying bath used in Jewish
ceremonies, and even a synagogue.
History: 4th Floor
This floor features over 600 artifacts and 50
media programs in 11 galleries that span
30,000-square-feet. Here you can explore
the Bible’s progression from a collection
of oral traditions and writings, to the most
widely read text in human history. Here are
just some of the unique biblical treasures
and artifacts housed on this floor:
1.The Codex Climaci Rescriptus, a palimpsest
manuscript that contains multiple layers of text, the world-class, 472-seat World Stage
including a sixth-century Aramaic translation of
the Gospels
2.The Hours and Psalter (the former contains
prayers and biblical readings, while the latter
the Book of Psalms) of Elizabeth de Bohun,
Countess of Northampton, circa 1330 A.D.,
a medieval manuscript belonging to an
ancestor of the British royal family
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3.A “Noble Fragment” of the first edition of
the Gutenberg Bible, circa 1455 A.D., the
first major book to be printed in Europe using the entire length of the museum taking in
movable type
4.William Tyndale’s New Testament, 1552
A.D., the first edition of the New Testament
in English
5.A 1611 first edition of the King James Bible garden, featuring trees, flowers and other
New Testament, one of only two known to
have survived
Another example of how Museum of the
Bible utilizes innovative technology and
media, the Drive Thru History of the Bible
Theater is one of 54 state-of-the-art media
programs on the History of the Bible floor.
From the 75-seat surround-sound theater,
guests are able to explore the story of the
Bible in an action-adventure format.
Theaters, Gardens and
Spectacular Views: 5th and 6th
Floors
Beyond the exhibit floors, guests can enter
Theater on the fifth floor, which is currently professionals and other experts who have created the
hosting the Broadway hit, Amazing Grace:
The Musical. This state-of-the-art performing
arts venue comes complete with 360-degree
image mapping technology, transporting
guests into the world unfolding on-stage.
When you walk up to the sixth floor, you will
see the breathtaking sights of Washington,
D.C. unfolding before you. From this top floor
vantage point, guests can walk along almost
views of the National Mall, the Washington
Monument and the Capitol dome, all from
the spacious, curved-glass atrium. And if
you need to refuel, stop by Manna restaurant
for Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. When
you’re done, step outside into the biblical
plant species that inhabited Israel during the
first century AD.
The truth is of course, this is only a glimpse
of everything in Museum of the Bible. Multiple
traveling exhibits, ever-changing technology,
the Milk & Honey Cafe, a fully curated gift
shop, special events, new live theater
productions and musical performances will
ensure your visit to Museum of the Bible
will always inspire — whether it’s your first
or 15th visit. I personally want to invite you
to come walk these magnificent galleries
yourself, and witness this one-of-a-kind
museum with your own two eyes.
Cary Summers is president of Museum of the Bible and
oversees a team of academics, designers, technology
430,000-square-foot international museum. He also
provides oversight to Museum of the Bible’s Scholars
Initiative, worldwide traveling exhibits and high school
Bible curriculum.