Israeli archeologists find
rare ancient stone seal
DPA
Jerusalem,
Oct 30 (DPA) Israeli archeologists said Thursday they have
found a rare stone seal in an ancient building being excavated
near the Wailing Wall, a remnant of the Jewish Biblical temple
within the historic, walled Old City of Jerusalem.
The
1.2 cm by 1.4 cm black stone has an engraving of an archer
shooting a bow and arrow. The Biblical Jewish name Habab appears
next to the archer in ancient Hebrew script.
Its
ancient owner probably held a military position, possibly
that of army commander of the Biblical Kingdom of Judah, the
Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) said in a statement.
It
said the seal was the first one made by a private person,
bearing a Hebrew name and decorated in the Assyrian style
found in Israel. It attests to the "strong" influence
of the Assyrian empire in Jerusalem in ancient times, the
IAA said.
It
said the stone dates back to the latter part of what is known
in Jewish history as the First Temple Period, or the 10th
to 6th century BC - the time between when King Solomon began
construction of the first Jewish Biblical temple in Jerusalem
and the holy structure's subsequent destruction by the conquering
Babylonians four centuries later.
The
seal was found in a building dating from the seventh century
BC, which is currently being uncovered near the Wailing Wall,
the only still standing remnant of the second Jewish Biblical
temple, built in 516 BC and destroyed by the Romans in 70
AD.
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