According to a team of experts from the Israel Antiquities Authority and the University of Friborg, this unusual amulet seal is at least 2,800 years old (first temple period).
A 2,800-year-old amulet seal excavated from the Tel Rekesh ruins in Israel. Image credit: Israel Antiquities Authority.
“The scarab, made of a semi-precious stone called carnelian, depicts either a mythical griffin creature or a galloping horse with wings,” said archaeologist Professor Osmar Kiel of the University of Friborg. .
“Similar scarabs are dated to the 8th century BC.”
“A beautiful scarab beetle was discovered at the foot of the mountain.” Tel Rekesh, one of the most important stories in Galilee. ”
“The location is identified as the town of ‘Anahrat’ in the territory of the tribe of Issachar (Joshua 19:19).”
“This is one of the most important finds at Tel Rekesh, dating from the Iron Age (7th-6th century BC),” added Dr. Itzik Paz, an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority.
“At that time, a large fortress appears to have been under the control of the Assyrian Empire, which was responsible for the destruction of the northern kingdom of Israel.”
“Thus, the scarab found at the foot of Tell very likely proves Assyrian (or perhaps Babylonian) rule at the site.”
“The griffin motif on seals is a known artistic motif in ancient Near Eastern art and is commonly seen on Iron Age seals.”
“If we can actually date the seal, it may be possible to link it to the Assyrian presence at the Tell Rekesh fortress. This is a very important discovery.”
A 2,800 year old amulet seal. Image credit: Israel Antiquities Authority.
“The scarab is a type of seal that was widely used in the ancient world from the 4th millennium BC onwards,” the researchers explained.
“The scarab seal is shaped like a dung beetle, hence its name. The Egyptians considered the scarab to be a symbol of the creator god, so the Egyptian name comes from the verb 'to become' or 'to be created.' ” is derived from. ”
“Although scarabs were made from a variety of stones, including semi-precious stones such as amethyst and carnelian, most scarabs are made from steatite, a soft gray-white talcum stone, usually coated with a blue-green glaze. I was there.”
“Glaze persists only in dry climates such as Egypt, so the scarab found in Israel has very little trace of glaze. In this context, the deep orange color of this scarab is both unusual and striking. ”
The Assyrian scarab-shaped seal was discovered by Erez Abrahamov, 45, a resident of Peduel.
“I had two days off from working in the Israeli Defense Forces Reserve, so I decided to take advantage of the sunny days and go hiking,” Abrahamov said.
“As I was walking, I saw something shiny on the ground. At first I thought it was a bead or an orange stone.”
“When I picked it up, I noticed it was carved to look like a scarab or beetle.”
“I called the Israel Antiquities Authority and reported my amazing discovery.”
Source: www.sci.news
