Monday, December 16, 2024

In today’s History newsletter, we hunt for the tomb of Jesus, scour the whereabouts of ‘dear’ Theodosia Burr; learn about the poem that transformed Christmas in America ... and salute three brave sisters who became national heroes 

PHOTOGRAPH BY ODED BALILTY, AP FOR NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 

Scientists have exposed the original surface of what is traditionally considered the tomb of Jesus Christ. Located in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem, the tomb has been covered by marble cladding since at least 1555--and most likely centuries earlier. 

The exposure has given researchers an unprecedented opportunity to study the original surface of what is considered the most sacred site in Christianity. 

Related:
--What archaeologists tell us about the real Jesus 
--The varying accounts of Jesus’ birth give insight to his time

PHOTOGRAPH BY ALAMY STOCK PHOTO 

DEA/SCALA, FLORENCE 

Revered: A brutal dictator tried to force himself on a teenage girl. She rebuffed him—and two of her sisters joined her sisters to oppose the general. His thugs strangled them, to a nation’s outrage. Six months later the dictator was assassinated, and the sisters rose to became national heroes, their faces on the currency today. Which nation were they from? 

A. Albania 
B. Brazil
C. Dominican Republic 
D. Guatemala
E. Peru

Today’s Soundtrack: Dear Theodosia, Leslie Odom Jr., Lin-Manuel Miranda (from ‘Hamilton’)

Alternate track: Dear Theodosia, Regina Spektor, Ben Folds (from ‘The Hamilton Mixtape’) 

Also: Lin-Manuel Miranda on how a Regina Spector song inspired Dear Theodosia 

Thanks for reading today’s newsletter, and--if you missed it—here is yesterday’s Photo of the Week. Don’t miss our adventures in the future; sign up here. David Beard edited and curated this issue; Alisher Egamov produced it.