Image: Israeli man discovers 2,800-year-old Assyrian scarab amulet while hiking

The scarab was discovered at the foot of Tel Rekhesh

Tel Aviv:

An Israeli Army reservist stumbled across a 2,800-year-old Assyrian scarab amulet while hiking in the Nahal Tabor Nature Reserve in northern Israel on his day off, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced Wednesday.

“I took two days off from the reserve and decided to take advantage of the two sunny days to travel,” said Erez Abrahamov, 45, a resident of Paduel.

“While traveling, I saw a shiny thing on the ground. At first, I thought it was a bead or an orange stone. When I picked it up, I found it had beetle-like carvings. I called to report it This shocking situation was reported to the Antiquities Authority,” Abrahamov said.

A hiker discovers a scarab amulet dating to the First Temple period in the Nahal Tabor Nature Reserve in the Lower Galilee >>
“I asked him to look at the other side and see if there were any carvings on it,” said Nir Distelfeld, an inspector with the Antiquities Authority’s anti-theft department. “I immediately heard exclamations of admiration on the phone.”

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— Israel Antiquities Authority (@AntiquitiesIL) February 7, 2024

The nature reserve area has been inhabited for thousands of years, and there are numerous archaeological sites scattered around the park, including ancient ruins and tombs.

Analysis by Othmer Kiel, professor emeritus at the University of Friborg, revealed that the scarab, made of carnelian and depicting a gryphon or a galloping Pegasus, is related to the 8th century B.C. Similar cultural relics are consistent.

The Antiquities Authority said the scarab was found at the foot of Tel Rekhesh, one of the most important mounds in northern Israel. Research identified the site as Anaharath, a city mentioned in the Book of Joshua that was within the territory of the tribe of Issachar.

Itzik Paz, an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority who conducted excavations at the Tel Lekhsh site, said: “The scarab recently discovered at the foot of Tel Lekhsh may belong to the period of Assyrian rule. , may indicate the presence of the Assyrians, or possibly the presence of the Assyrians.” Babylonians, Tel Rekhesh officials of this period. “

Paz explains that the scarabs indicate the possible presence of Assyrians or Babylonians in a castle excavated at Tel Rekhsh.

“Gryphons are a well-known artistic subject in ancient Near Eastern art and are common on Iron Age seals. Given the paucity of finds found within the castle to date, and if indeed the seal can be artistically dated to the late Iron Age , it would be possible to link the seal to the Assyrian presence in the castle of Tel Rekhsh, which could be a discovery of great significance.”

Scarab seals were widely used in ancient civilizations and are symbols of various cultures and religious beliefs. Made from materials such as carnelian, these artifacts were used both as decorative ornaments and as functional seals.

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