The boy Yair Whitson from Haifa discovered during a trip a bronze ring with the goddess Athena engraved on it * The impressive ring was handed over to the State Treasures * Yair and his family came on a tour of the new National Archeology Museum of Israel in Jerusalem, during which he was awarded a certificate of appreciation for his good citizenship
13-year-old Yair Whitson, a resident of Haifa, went for a walk near his home - quality time with his father, who returned from four months of reserve duty. During the trip, near the 'Ancient Quarries' site at the foot of the Shlala ruins in Carmel, he suddenly came across an intriguing object. "I'm interested in fossils and rocks and like to collect them," shares Whitson. "During the trip I noticed a small green object and picked it up. It had corrosion on it, so I thought at first it was a screw nut. I thought about melting it, but luckily, I realized it was a ring. At home I recognized that a figure appeared on it. At first glance, I thought it was a warrior."
The family turned to Nir Distelfeld, the inspector of the robbery prevention unit at the Antiquities Authority, who transferred the ring to the state treasures. It was examined and researched by the Antiquities Authority with the assistance of Prof. Shua Amoray-Strek, an expert on ancient rings, dimples and amulets from the Kay Academic College of Education. Yair and his family came on a tour of the new National Archeology Museum of Ai in Jerusalem, during which Yair was awarded a certificate of appreciation for his good citizenship.
"On top of the beautiful ring, which has been preserved in its entirety, appears a naked figure with a helmet on its head. In one hand she holds a shield, and in the other hand a spear," explain Distelfeld and Dr. Eitan Klein from the Antiquities Authority's Robbery Prevention Unit. "Yair's identification of the figure as a warrior is very close to reality . The figure is - apparently, the goddess Minerva from Roman mythology, who is also known as Athena in Greek mythology. This goddess, who was very popular during the Roman period in the Land of Israel, is considered, among other things, the goddess of war and military strategy, and also the goddess of wisdom."
The small ring, made of metal - most likely bronze, probably belonged to a woman or a girl and dates from the Roman period (3nd-2rd centuries AD). It was found at the foot of the Shalala archaeological site, located on a hill where there are remains of a Roman-era mansion and near an ancient rock quarry There are two burial openings at the end of the quarry. It is possible, then, that the ring belonged to a woman who lived in the same estate, or it may have been used as a burial offering in the nearby graves." say the researchers.
The Shalala ruin, near which the ring was found, is located on top of a hill in the center of the Carmel mountains. The ruin is surrounded on three sides by Nahal Oran and near it is Ein Alon, a permanent water source. The place was previously investigated by researchers of the British Survey Fund, by Prof. Ruth Amiran and by a delegation from Bar-Ilan University led by Prof. Shimon Dr. "The ring joins data from previous excavations and surveys conducted there and sheds additional light on the place," Distelfeld and Dr. Klein conclude.
According to Eli Escozido, director of the Antiquities Authority, "The admirable act of Yair, who immediately reported the discovery and handed the ring over to the state treasures, demonstrates responsibility and respect for our past. We were very happy to host Yair and his family at the new National Archeology Center in Jerusalem and to present him with a seal impression that we made from the ring. Yair told us that he wants to be an archaeologist in the future , and we reserve a place of honor for him here."
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