Hebrew seal bearing the name 'Matanyahu' uncovered in Jerusalem

Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs ^ | 1 May 2012 | Israel Antiquities Authority

[SunkenCiv]

The remains of a building dating to the end of the First Temple period were discovered below the base of the ancient drainage channel that is currently being exposed in Israel Antiquities Authority excavations beneath Robinson's Arch in the Jerusalem Archaeological Garden, adjacent to the Western Wall of the Temple Mount. This building is the closest structure to the First Temple found to date in archaeological excavations. According to Eli Shukron, excavation director on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, "the name Matanyahu, like the name Netanyahu, means giving to God. These names are mentioned several times in the Bible. They are typical of the names in the Kingdom of Judah in latter part of the First Temple period - from the end of the eighth century BCE until the destruction of the Temple in 586 BCE. To find a seal from the First Temple period at the foot of the Temple Mount walls is rare and very exciting. This is a tangible greeting of sorts from a man named Matanyahu who lived here more than 2,700 years ago. We also found pottery sherds characteristic of the period on the floor in the ancient building beneath the base of the drainage channel, as well as stone collapse and evidence of a fire."

Photo: Clara Amit, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority

[SunkenCiv]

...typical of the names in the Kingdom of Judah in latter part of the First Temple period - from the end of the eighth century BCE until the destruction of the Temple in 586 BCE... We also found pottery sherds characteristic of the period on the floor in the ancient building beneath the base of the drainage channel, as well as stone collapse and evidence of a fire."

Of course, this conventional pseudochronology is wrong by a few hundred years. One of *those* topics.

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[SunkenCiv]

GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother & Ernest_at_the_Beach	join list or digest view topics view or post blog bookmark post a topic subscribe
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[LtKerst]

When you dig under Jerusalem...you only find Jewish artifacts...

Unless you are a Muslim, them you destroy them and hide them. and your mullahs lie.

Jerusalem is a Holy Jewish City for thousands of years
with NO Islam relics what so ever.

[lonevoice]

This is a tangible greeting of sorts from a man named Matanyahu who lived here more than 2,700 years ago.

How splended that it came from Matanyahu, and not from someone with a name as ridiculous as Mahmoud.

[huldah1776]

“only Jewish artifacts”

So obvious I could kick myself. Too old for that now, but whenever I am out and about in liberal land I will always post this simple fact. thanks!

[Pollster1]

How splended that it came from Matanyahu, and not from someone with a name as ridiculous as Mahmoud.

The Jewish culture built, produced, and created, leaving a vast treasure of artifacts. I imagine you could recognize the ancestors of another culture by the number of 9-12 y/o girls buried after dying in childbirth, by the burning and looting of cities that built too close to barbarians or dropped their guard because they assumed others were as peaceful as they were, and by the total absence of internally-generated progress. What I don't understand is why anyone would voluntarily join such a culture.

[Bellflower]

The meaning of Matanyahu is likely “gift of God”.

[SunkenCiv]

[Jack Hydrazine]

Maybe it was really Matisyahu, the original Chasidic reggae singer!

“Close My Eyes”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHznspbYTT4
Lyrics (since it is difficult to understand him.)
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/matisyahu/closemyeyes.html