A hiker discovered an ancient and rare Assyrian seal amulet in the Nahal Tabor Nature Reserve in the Lower Galilee

The amulet may testify to the presence of an Assyrian (or perhaps Babylonian) official in the place almost 2,800 years ago * The rare find was transferred to the state treasures and the traveler received a certificate of appreciation from the Antiquities Authority

Erez Abrahamov, a 45-year-old resident of Paduel, recently took a walk in the Nahal Tabor Nature Reserve in the Lower Galilee, and found a scarab amulet dating back to the First Temple period about 2,800 years ago. "I received a two-day leave from the reserves and decided to take advantage of the two sunny days for a trip." Abrahamov says, "During the trip, I saw something shimmering in the ground. At first I thought it was a bead or an orange stone. After I picked it up, I noticed that it had engravings that resembled a beetle. I called and reported the amazing find to the Antiquities Authority."

According to Nir Distelfeld, the supervisor of the robbery prevention unit at the Antiquities Authority, "I received a call from Erez, and I realized that he had found something special. I told him to take a good look at the other side - the flat side of the same scarab he found and check if there is an engraving on it. I immediately heard exclamations of admiration on the phone, and he informed me that he recognized a figure there."

According to Prof. Emeritus Othmer Kiel From the University of Friborg in Switzerland: "On the scarab, made of a semi-precious stone called carnelian, is depicted a griffon (mythological animal) or a winged horse at a gallop. Similar scarabs have been dated to the 8th century BC."

"We thank Erez, who demonstrated good citizenship and handed over the rare scarab to the state's treasures," says Distelfeld. "We awarded me a certificate on behalf of the Antiquities Authority for demonstrating exemplary citizenship. Such a rare find can certainly expand our knowledge of the past." Distelfeld adds that "the beautiful scarab was found at the foot of Tel Rachsh, one of the most important mounds in the north of the country. The site is identified in the research with the city of "Anharat" (Yohshua 19:XNUMX) within the territory of the tribe of Issachar."

According to Dr. Itzik Paz, an archaeologist with the Antiquities Authority who excavated at Tel Rachsh, "One of the most important remains in the mound, dates back to the Iron Age (6th-7th centuries BC). During this period, a large citadel stood at the top of the mound, where plastered bathing facilities, halls and ceremonial rooms were found, which belonged to the Assyrian rule. This rule was, as we know, responsible for the destruction of the Kingdom of Israel. The scarab that has now been discovered at the foot of Tel Rachsh, may belong to the period of Assyrian rule and may indicate the presence of Assyrian (or perhaps Babylonian) officials at Tel Rachsh during this period. The griffon that appears on the seal is a well-known artistic motif in the art of the ancient Near East, and is common on seals from the Iron Age. In light of the paucity of findings that have been discovered, so far, within the citadel, and if it is indeed possible to date the seal - based on artistic aspects, to the late Iron Age, there may be a possibility of linking the seal to an Assyrian presence in the citadel of Tel Rachsh, which may be a discovery of great significance!"

The scarab is a type of seal that was widely used throughout the ancient world from the 4th millennium BC onwards. The scarab seals were shaped like a dung beetle, hence their name. The name in Egyptian is derived from the verb "to be created", or "to be created", and this is because the Egyptians considered a scarab to be A symbol of the incarnation of God the Creator.

The scarabs were fashioned from a wide variety of stones, including semi-precious stones such as amethyst and carnelian, but most of the scarabs were made from steatite - a soft talc stone, usually covered with a blue-green glaze. The glaze survived only in the dry climate of Egypt, therefore in the scarabs that were discovered in the country, it is almost impossible to find remains of glaze and the color of the original stone color is mostly gray-whitish. Against this background, the orange color of the scarab stands out.

According to Eli Escozido, director of the Antiquities Authority: "Like every winter, with the arrival of the rainy season, antiquities begin to "float" and rise above the surface. I implore the public to obey the Antiquities Law, and request - if you come across an archaeological find, report it to the Antiquities Authority from the field. The exact location of the artifact is extremely important for Extracting the knowledge about it. The special scarab will be kept in the state treasures, where we can study and learn more about it We thank Erez Abrahamov for delivering the important bargain."

More of the topic in Hayadan:

• A rare scarab seal, belonging to a senior official in the Kingdom of Egypt in the 13th dynasty of pharaohs (17th-18th centuries BC) was found in Tel Dor
• A mystery in Jerusalem: What were the mysterious canal facilities from the days of Kings Jehoash and Amaziah that were uncovered in the City of David National Park used for?
• Start Up Nation in Old Canaan