Travel back to ancient Holy Land

If one has ever imagined being transported to the Holy Land as it was thousands of years ago, or wanted to travel through 2,500 years of history, rather than boarding a plane to Jerusalem, just head to the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Located at 400 N. High Street, the Convention Center is currently home to "From Abraham to Jesus," a touring exhibit of sacred texts and artifacts, from now until Nov. 26, when the tour will continue across the U.S.

"It is an entertaining and pleasant way to spend an afternoon," said curator Rust Maisel. "It is very educational, you will get to see things that have never left the Holy Land, and walk through ancient history at what was once the center of the world."

This almost 40,000 square foot exhibit is a collaboration among The Institute of Archeology of Hebrew University of Jerusalem and experts in Israeli archeological history and crafted by the Programa I Design Studio.

"One of the core issues was that we didn't want people to just walk through and look at the artifacts, we wanted it to be a sights and sounds tour," said General Manager Stan Kellner. Walking through the exhibit, one will feel transported back to another time and place. There are more than 340 artifacts and fiberglass statues. One can follow along through history with tracks of narration playing on headphones given at the entrance of the exhibit.

"The narration continues throughout the exhibit so that it literally takes you from the time of Abraham to the time of Jesus," Kellner said. "Most people are so captured by the narration, music and sights it takes them two to three hours to complete the tour."

Amulets and scarabs from ancient Egypt are at the exhibit, as well as Canaanite tableware and the ossuary or "bone box" of Simon of Cyrene, the man who carried the cross for Jesus, among other things.

"It probably will be the only chance for people in the United States will be able to see those items and I thought that was probably the most exciting part of the whole thing," said Jaime Kent, a senior in human development and family science who attended the exhibit. Though these pieces and the stories that go along with them might have spiritual significance for many and some of the history of Judaism and Christianity are touched upon in the narrative, the exhibit is meant for people of all walks of life.

"We have put together the largest touring exhibit of this type in the United States, and it has drawn all kinds of people, religious and not religious alike," Kellner said. "It has really struck a chord with students of history. They are suddenly standing face to face with artifacts, actual pieces of the history they have learned about, inches away from their face in a display case."

There is more at the exhibit than just the artifacts, including the shopping bazaar outside the exhibit with everything from books to Holy Land replicas, the display of artwork by painter Thomas Kinkade and the mini-exhibit on the development of the English language Bible.

The organizers have received positive feedback about the exhibit so far.

"People who have gone through react to it because it touches on some point in their own interests, and people are starting to realize the importance of archeology in understanding who we are today," Maisel said.

The exhibit is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 9 p.m. on Sunday. The price for an adult ticket at the door is $15.95, and $12.95 if purchased in advance. More information can be found at fromabrahamtojesus.com.

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