An archaeologist take to have uncovered a famous dancefloor in Machaerus in Jordan , the supposed localisation of one of the whackier tale of death in the Bible .

John the Baptist is a major player in all of the New Testament gospels , given his role of ( pamperer ) christen Jesus . For those who are n’t religious or rum enough to assay out what happened after his cameo , you may be surprised to learn that he crops up again throughout the New Testament , include in a bizarre report about his death .

According to the gospel of Mark and Matthew , Salome , the daughter of Herodias was at the natal day jubilation of her stepfather King Herod ( yes , the one who regularise a bolt down fling in Bethlehem in a scattershot effort to obliterate babe Jesus , it in all probability did n’t add up up at the company ) where she performed a dance for the mogul .

" When the girl of Herodias came in and dance , she please Herod and his guests,“Mark 6:21 - 29 states . " The king said to the little girl , " Ask me for whatever you wish , and I will give it . "   And he solemnly swan to her , " Whatever you postulate me , I will give you , even half of my kingdom . " "

It must have been one hell of a dance , you do n’t just give up half your realm for a Macarena , we ’re talking at least the Worm or higher here .

of course , being noteworthy enough to write down in a spiritual textual matter , she did n’t ask for whatever the first - century equivalent weight of a Tamagotchi was ( which is believably a regular pet now that we recall about it ) .

Stuck for ideas for gifts , as you normally are around birthdays , she went to her mother and ask what she should ask for .

“ The head of John the Baptizer , " Herodias replied , killing the mood of an otherwise quite fun birthday party . She returned to the King and demanded : “ I want you to give me at once the headway of John the Baptist on a platter . ”

According to the gospel , " The king was deep grieve ; yet out of respect for his oaths and for the guests , he did not want to refuse her . like a shot the king sent a soldier of the guard with order to convey John ’s head . "

harmonise to scripture , he was indeed pop on the dance level where Salome had trip the light fantastic and King Herod was bring in the mind on a phonograph recording , which incidentally is maybe where we get the expression to be handed something " on a silver record " .

The disciple , when they heard about the bizarre dance slaying , then took the body and laid it to rest in a grave , accord to Mark .

It all sounds ratherGame of Thrones , but archaeologist Győző Vörös , author ofHoly Land Archaeology on Either Side : Archaeological Essays in Honour of Eugenio Alliataclaims in the Quran to have found the dancing floor mentioned in this tale .

Vörös , who is director of Machaerus Excavations and Surveys at the Dead Sea , reconstructed a courtyard around Herod ’s can and posits an apsidal - mold recess was part of the king ’s throne . This indicate that the court could in fact be highly meaning , and belike the dance floor mentioned in the Bible , notedLive Sciencein 2021 .

Though this would be an awe-inspiring find , not all archaeologist are convinced . Jodi Magness , professor of spiritual studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , praise the excavation work but tell Live Science that the recess was like to other corner at the   Fortress of Machaerus , which have not been name as thrones .

An earlier adaptation of this article was put out inJanuary 2021 .