ISRAEL-ARCHEOLOGY-MACABEES-TOMB

Israeli archeologist Dan Shachar, of the Israel Antiquities Authority, works on September 21, 2015 at the site of excavations where a large Mausoleum was recently uncovered located a short distance from the central Israeli city of Modiin. In recent weeks the Israel Antiquities Authority, together with local residents and young people, has been conducting an unusual archaeological excavation in search of the real location of the Tomb of the Maccabees. According to historical sources, the Maccabees Matityahu the Hasmonean and his five sons, from the ancient city of Modi'in, led the uprising against Greek rule and were responsible for cleansing the impurity from the Second Temple. AFP PHOTO/GALI TIBBON (Photo credit should read GALI TIBBON/AFP via Getty Images)