News from Israel and its surroundings have obviously been dominated by tragedy and violence, so it is a relief to share the announcement of a recent archaeological discovery that connects with Biblical history.
Despite military mobilisation, local tensions and threat of missiles, archaeological excavations continue in the Holy Land. The well-known excavations around the Temple Mount have shed a great deal of light on the New Testament period and the time of Jesus. But the recent announcement takes us back much further, to the Old Testament time of the first Temple.
The discovery, near the Western Wall of the Temple Mount, is of a beautiful stone seal. It would have been worn as an amulet and used to stamp official documents much like a signature. Many such seals have been found with varied degrees of artistic skill and some bearing the names of their owners. The excavation directors describe this one as ‘one of the most beautiful ever discovered.’ It bears the image of a striding winged creature, variously interpreted as a demon, genie or king. It is in the typical Assyrian style from 2,700 BC.
