[SunkenCiv]

Video and editing by Eliyahu Yanai, City of David

A gem seal depicting a portrait of Apollo, a god in Greek mythology, dating from 2,000 years ago, was found in the drainage canal in the City of David. It was discovered in the sifting project in the Tzurim Valley National Park within archeological soil that was removed from the foundations of the Western Wall.

A Gem Seal Bearing the Portrait of Apollo | 1:16 | City of David | 74.9K subscribers | 17,151 views | Premiered October 29, 2022

[gundog]

How do we know what Apollo looks like?

[nicollo]

I believe these are used similarly today:

[higgmeister]

I had to look this up because I had no clue what a Gem seal was.

What is gem seal?

Gem-Seal - High Gloss, Wet Look Sealer - Brickform Brickform Gem-Seal is a premium quality, solvent-based acrylic sealer designed to protect architectural concrete surfaces. A light coating of Brickform Gem-Seal helps to protect the concrete surface and provide resistance to oil, grease, and food stains.

Wait, no that can't be right.   What is a Gem Seal?

[higgmeister]

The site of the dig contained soil that was once part of the foundation of the Western Wall, which surrounded the Second Temple in the City of David (modern Jerusalem). When the Romans came in AD 70, they destroyed the wall, leaving its foundation to crumble.

In the Hebrew Bible, the period of the Israelites is described; it identifies Bethlehem as the birthplace of David as well as the city where he was anointed as the third monarch of the United Kingdom of Israel, and also states that it was built up as a fortified city by Rehoboam, the first monarch of the Kingdom of Judah.[7]

The Hebrew Bible also calls it Beth-Lehem Judah,[26] and the New Testament describes it as the "City of David".[27]

[fidelis]

A devout Jew at that time and place would not have used such a pagan seal, but a Roman soldier or other official assigned there might.

[Red Badger]

Maybe it was a self-portrait.......................