2,700-Year-Old Seal with Winged 'Genie' Discovered Near Jerusalem's Temple Mount
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Reported by Ancient Origins:
A rare and extraordinary 2,700-year-old stone seal from the First Temple period has been unearthed near the Southern Wall of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, shedding light on the Assyrian influence in Judah during this era.
The seal, made of black stone and adorned with a winged figure alongside an inscription in paleo-Hebrew script, offers a unique glimpse into the cultural and artistic exchanges between the Neo-Assyrian Empire and the Kingdom of Judah.
The discovery, announced by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), is being hailed as one of the most significant finds in recent years. The seal features a winged figure, likely a "genie", a protective demon common in Neo-Assyrian art from the 9th to 7th centuries BC.
This is the first time such a figure has been discovered in Israeli archaeology, marking it as an "extremely rare and unusual" find, according to Dr. Filip Vukosavovic, an Assyriologist and archaeologist with the IAA, reports the Jerusalem Post.
The seal also bears the inscription "LeYehoʼezer ben Hoshʼayahu," translating to, "For Yehoʼezer son of Hosh'ayahu."
The researchers claim this inscription is significant not only for its connection to the biblical era but also for its unusual structure. The name "Yehoʼezer" appears in the Bible in its abbreviated form as "Yoʼezer," one of King David's warriors, while "Hosh'ayahu" is reminiscent of names mentioned in the Book of Jeremiah.
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