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Jesus tomb found, says film-maker
Jesus had a son named Judah and was buried alongside Mary Magdalene, according to a new documentary by Hollywood film director James Cameron.
It examines a tomb found near Jerusalem in 1980 which the film-makers say belonged to Jesus and his family.
The Oscar-winning director of Titanic says statistical analysis and DNA back the claim.
Archaeologists say that the burial cave is probably that of a Jewish family with similar names to that of Jesus.
Samples tested
Israeli construction workers building an apartment complex in Jerusalem's East Talpiot district first uncovered 10 2,000-year-old ossuaries - or limestone coffins - in a tomb in March 1980.
According to the Israel Antiquities Authority, six of those coffins were marked with the names Mary; Matthew; Jesua son of Joseph; Mary; Jofa (Joseph, Jesus' brother); and Judah son of Jesua.
The documentary The Lost Tomb of Jesus, produced by Mr Cameron, claims tests on samples from two of the coffins show Jesus and Mary Magdalene were likely to have been buried in them and were a couple.
The film-makers used this finding to claim that the coffin marked "Judah son of Jesua" contains the son of Jesus and Mary.
They say the discovery of the tomb does not mean that Jesus was not resurrected three days after his death - a key Christian belief.
Academic Stephen Pfann, a scholar at the University of the Holy Land in Jerusalem, said he did not expect Christians to accept the film's findings.
"I don't think that Christians are going to buy into this," said Mr Pfann, who was interviewed by the film-makers.
"But sceptics, in general, would like to see something that pokes holes into the story that so many people hold dear."
Findings refuted
Israeli archaeologist Amos Kloner, who was among the first to examine the tomb when it was first discovered, said the names marked on the coffins were very common at the time.
"I don't accept the news that it was used by Jesus or his family," he told the BBC News website.
"The documentary filmmakers are using it to sell their film."
Mr Cameron will show two of the coffins at a news conference in New York on Monday.
"It doesn't get bigger than this," he said in a press release.
"We've done our homework; we've made the case; and now it's time for the debate to begin."
Local residents said they were pleased with the attention the tomb has drawn.
"It will mean our house prices will go up because Christians will want to live here," one woman said.
BBC NEWS | Middle East | Jesus tomb found, says film-maker
Jesus had a son named Judah and was buried alongside Mary Magdalene, according to a new documentary by Hollywood film director James Cameron.
It examines a tomb found near Jerusalem in 1980 which the film-makers say belonged to Jesus and his family.
The Oscar-winning director of Titanic says statistical analysis and DNA back the claim.
Archaeologists say that the burial cave is probably that of a Jewish family with similar names to that of Jesus.
Samples tested
Israeli construction workers building an apartment complex in Jerusalem's East Talpiot district first uncovered 10 2,000-year-old ossuaries - or limestone coffins - in a tomb in March 1980.
According to the Israel Antiquities Authority, six of those coffins were marked with the names Mary; Matthew; Jesua son of Joseph; Mary; Jofa (Joseph, Jesus' brother); and Judah son of Jesua.
The documentary The Lost Tomb of Jesus, produced by Mr Cameron, claims tests on samples from two of the coffins show Jesus and Mary Magdalene were likely to have been buried in them and were a couple.
The film-makers used this finding to claim that the coffin marked "Judah son of Jesua" contains the son of Jesus and Mary.
They say the discovery of the tomb does not mean that Jesus was not resurrected three days after his death - a key Christian belief.
Academic Stephen Pfann, a scholar at the University of the Holy Land in Jerusalem, said he did not expect Christians to accept the film's findings.
"I don't think that Christians are going to buy into this," said Mr Pfann, who was interviewed by the film-makers.
"But sceptics, in general, would like to see something that pokes holes into the story that so many people hold dear."
Findings refuted
Israeli archaeologist Amos Kloner, who was among the first to examine the tomb when it was first discovered, said the names marked on the coffins were very common at the time.
"I don't accept the news that it was used by Jesus or his family," he told the BBC News website.
"The documentary filmmakers are using it to sell their film."
Mr Cameron will show two of the coffins at a news conference in New York on Monday.
"It doesn't get bigger than this," he said in a press release.
"We've done our homework; we've made the case; and now it's time for the debate to begin."
Local residents said they were pleased with the attention the tomb has drawn.
"It will mean our house prices will go up because Christians will want to live here," one woman said.
BBC NEWS | Middle East | Jesus tomb found, says film-maker
........................always look on the bright side of life .....(everyone whistle
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