عدد المساهمات : 38006
تاريخ التسجيل : 21/09/2009
|موضوع: Dec. 05, 2015 Biblical King Hezekiah's official seal found in ancient landfill Discovered in الإثنين 07 ديسمبر 2015, 6:18 am|| |
Dec. 05, 2015
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Biblical King Hezekiah's official seal found in ancient landfill
- اقتباس :
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Discovered in what is essentially an ancient landfill, experts are certain that King Hezekiah used the seal personally
LOS ANGELES. CA (Catholic Online) - Discovered in what is essentially an ancient landfill, experts are certain that King Hezekiah used the seal personally.
"The seal of the king was so important. It could have been a matter of life or death, so it's hard to believe that anyone else had the permission to use the seal." Eilat Mazar, who directs excavations at the City of David's summit, tells reporters.
- اقتباس :
Discovered in what is essentially an ancient landfill, experts are certain that King Hezekiah used the seal personally.
A third generation archaeologist, Mazar declares that this "This is the greatest single item I have ever found."
Called the oval bulla, half-an-inch wide, was discovered by a team from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem led by Mazar. The researchers were excavating an ancient dump in the Silwan neighborhood beside the wall that surrounds Jerusalem's Old City.
In either case, experts said it will be a most unlikely place to find a artifact of this importance, in an Eight Century B.C. seal for a papyrus document signed by one of the kings of Judah. The impression on the clay bears an inscription in ancient Hebrew script that translates as: "Belonging to Hezekiah [son of] Ahaz king of Judah." A two-winged sun, with wings turned downward, flanked by two ankh symbols symbolizing life are inscribed on the bulla.
It's believed to be the first-ever seal, also referred to as a "bulla" from an Israeli or Judean King to be discovered by archaeologists.
The dig, although historical and ostensibly apolitical - has been met with controversy. Conducted in an Israeli archaeological dig in a Palestinian neighborhood in East Jerusalem, opponents say the dig is politically motivated to extend Jewish claims over East Jerusalem and the Old City. They maintain that archaeological finds become historical justifications.
Other bullas bearing the name of King Hezekiah have been seen on the antiquities market. According to Mazar, these examples are not as important because they were not found by archaeologists and therefore may not be genuine.
"The bible describes King Hezekiah as one of the most important kings after King David," said Mazar. "He was rich, daring, stood up against Assyrians. A very impressive king," she added.
Reigning from about 727 to 698 B.C., King Hezekiah is portrayed very favorably in the Bible. The Book of Kings II 18:5 says of Hezekiah: "After him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among them that were before him."