The Numismatic Bibliomania Society

PREV ARTICLE       NEXT ARTICLE       FULL ISSUE       PREV FULL ISSUE      

V24 2021 INDEX       E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 24, Number 22, May 30, 2021, Article 16

ANCIENT AMULET: SOLOMON'S SEAL

This one's not numismatic, but close enough and interesting nonetheless. It's an ancient amulet called 'Solomon's Seal' -Editor

Solomon's Seal amulet front ISRAELI archaeologists have highlighted the discovery of a 1,500-year-old amulet believed to have once protected women and children from the "evil eye".

The ancient trinket was unearthed in northern Israel in the Biblical region of Galilee, near the Sea of Galilee. Tova Haviv, one of the first residents of the village of Arbel stumbled upon the necklace pendant some 40 years ago. A family member has now handed the artefact to the Israel Antiquities Authority, allowing experts to marvel at the discovery.

Archaeologists have dated the trinket to the fifth or sixth centuries AD, believing it is a so-called "Solomon's Seal".

These types of pendants and amulets were a popular way of warding off evil spirits in Galilee and Lebanon.

The pendant is roughly triangular or pear-shaped, with intricate inscriptions on either side.

The front is adorned by a haloed rider sitting atop a horse.

The rider is featured throwing a spear towards a female figure that experts have identified as Gello - a female demon from Greek mythology.

An inscription around the rider reads in Greek: "The One God who Conquers Evil".

Below the horse, you can just make out the Greek letters "I A W T", which spell out the name of the Hebrew God Y-H-W-H or Yahweh.

Solomon's Seal amulet back On the amulet's reverse, is an eye pierced by multiple arrows and surrounded by two lions, a snake, a scorpion and a bird.

Another Greek inscription features on this side and reads: "One God."

According to Dr Eitan Klein, the deputy director of the IAA's Antiquities Theft Prevention Unit, the amulet may have been worn to protect women and children from the influence of the evil eye.

The archaeologist said: "The amulet is part of a group of fifth to sixth-century CE amulets from the Levant that were probably produced in the Galilee and Lebanon.

To read the complete article, see:
Israeli archaeologists unveil 'Solomon's Seal' - an ancient amulet protecting from evil (https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1442731/archaeology-news-solomon-seal-amulet-protect-evil-israel-galilee-discovery-evg)

THE BOOK BAZARRE

AUTHORS AND PUBLISHERS: Are your books carried by Wizard Coin Supply? If not, contact us via www.WizardCoinSupply.com with details.


Wayne Homren, Editor

Google
 
NBS (coinbooks.org) Web

The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org.

To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com

To subscribe go to: https://my.binhost.com/lists/listinfo/esylum

PREV ARTICLE       NEXT ARTICLE       FULL ISSUE       PREV FULL ISSUE      

V24 2021 INDEX       E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

Copyright © 1998 - 2021 The Numismatic Bibliomania Society (NBS)
All Rights Reserved.

NBS Home Page
Contact the NBS webmaster
coin