CANADA: A team of archaeologists has revealed that they successfully excavated a rare seal belonging to biblical-era. The seal discovered in Jerusalem has an impression bearing the name of King Hezekiah.
A team of experts from the Institute of Archaeology in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, led by Dr. Eilat Mazar, said they have found an oval seal impression. The seal’s impression measures about 9.7 by 8.6 mm (0.4 inches by 0.3 inches) and was inscribed on a 3 mm (0.1 inch) thick soft bulla, or piece of clay.
Experts said they found a depression around the object that they believed might have been due to the frame of a ring in which the seal would have set.
The seal had a unique impression on it, which was written in ancient Hebrew script. Experts after studying the impression found that they belong to the time of King Hezekiah [son of] Ahaz king of Judah.
Researchers also found an engraved image of a two-winged sun. Its wings were downward and on its side were two ankh symbols that represented life.
Mazar said, “It’s always a question, what the real facts [are] behind the biblical stories. Here we have a chance to get as close as possible to the person himself, to the king himself”.
According to researchers, the bulla on which the impressions were inscribed may have been used to seal a papyrus scroll. It is also believed that the seal might have once enclosed a document signed by the king himself.
