Menorah (Temple) Puns

I know there were 7 candle slots, 1 in the middle with 2 branches of 3 on each side. But, was it used like the Chanukiah, in which the central candle was the shamash, lighting the other 6 candles, and thus, no candle was lit on Shabbat? Or, was it simply 1 candle lit per day of the week, with 7 being lit on Shabbat?

Hey all,

I just finished an historical fiction novel, and I just want to clarify which aspects are true and which were made up.

The story's main plot centers around 2 people trying to locate the Temple Menorah from Herod's reign in Jerusalem, the 8 foot menorah made of solid gold. The story goes that Josephus, after surrendering to Rome and working his way up to Titus's right hand man, was a double agent who managed to sneak the menorah out of Jerusalem (and have it replaced with a replica) before Titus could sack the city and steal it for himself from the Temple Mount. Josephus then brought the menorah back to Rome where it was hidden inside the first Arch of Titus by the slaves of Jerusalem who constructed it.

Is there any weight to any of this being a real theory, or was it all just a designed plot?

The reason I ask is because the author notes that all references to texts and artifacts are legitimate, and he often references passages from Josephus's work that are "hidden clues" and "secret messages" as to where he hid the menorah, and I'm just kinda curious if that's based on reality at all or not.

Google has been wishy washy, so I figured I'd ask the people in this subreddit what the information is.

Thanks!

From reading Wikipedia, I understand that after the siege of Jerusalem, the Menorah from Herod's Temple was seized by the Romans. It was then taken to Rome and placed within the Temple Of Peace as a war trophy. What I find particularly fascinating is that it seemed to remain within the Temple until the sack of Rome by the Vandals some 380 years later. Would ordinary citizens of Rome and the Empire been able to visit the Temple of Peace to see the Menorah, and especially as the centuries passed, have understood the historical significance of the item? And known where it came from?

(I'm assuming there wasn't a written description of the Menorah, or curators of it, such as in a modern museum!)

I visited a Jewish cemetery today to do some genealogy and I noticed a lot of the tombstones had 5 candled menorahs.

What is the significance of these? I understand a 7 candled menorah is the Temple menorah, but what is the 5 candled menorah?

Also a number of the stones in the area were toppled and there was some litter. Any advice on the best way to report that to the cemetery office? I’m guessing it wasn’t vandalism but just…neglect…as there was no spraypaint (lol). But anythings possible in this day and age..

every year, during chanukkah, me my family use a gorgeous brass menorah which came from a (jewish) aunt who used to trade antiques. i don't have a photo but i'll attach one of a similar one.

ours is in a lot worse shape, it's very tarnished.

according to her, it had come from a man who had survived the Warsaw ghetto and managed to smuggle it to safety along with him in America. later in life, he sold it to her since he didn't have any family to give it to.

the jewish parts of my family were lucky enough to have immigrated to America pre-ww2, and so i don't carry that experience of being directly affected. we're also very reformed, only saying prayers and lighting candles on the occasional shabbat when we're with extended family, as well as on major holidays and we've only been to temple once or twice. i guess what i'm trying to say is, i don't feel "jewish enough" to keep this piece of history that has affected others so much more deeply than me. would it be a good move to give it away to a school or temple, or a friend who wants it and understands the history of it? or maybe i should just try and respect the menorah and its history and acknowlege that privilege i have?! who knows!