Rare Trove of Ancient Coins Found in Israel: "Archaeological Hanukkah Miracle"

CBS News ^ | December 31, 2024 | Emily Mae Czachor

[nickcarraway]

A rare collection of ancient coins was discovered last week by Israeli researchers, who called the find an "archaeological Hanukkah miracle."

The coins are more than 2,000 years old and believed to belong to King Alexander Jannaeus, the second ruler of the Hasmonean dynasty that presided over Judea in the final centuries leading up to the common era, according to the University of Haifa in Israel.

Archaeologists found the hoard of about 160 of the coins during ongoing excavations in the Jordan Valley, which runs between the Israeli-occupied West Bank and the eastern border of Jordan. The project is headed by researchers at the University of Haifa and the Zinman Institute of Archaeology, the university said in a news release translated from Hebrew.

The ancient coins were unearthed Friday, coinciding with the third day of Hanukkah. Researchers noted the significance of that timing, since Alexander Jannaeus descended from leaders of a revolt in 167 B.C.E. that the Talmud says led to the restoration of the temple in Jerusalem and the first celebration of the Hanukkah holiday.

Each coin bears inscriptions that include an eight-pointed star and the phrase "King Alexander 25" written in Aramaic, one of the world's oldest known languages that originated in the region around what's now Syria and is closely related to both Arabic and Hebrew. These types of coins date back to about 80 B.C.E., according to the University of Haifa.

"The site where the treasure was discovered is, apparently, a way station, which had not been recognized in research until now," said Shai Bar, one of the leaders of the excavation, in a statement to the university. Bar said the station included a purification bath, used for religious ritual, and a water storage area in addition to other buildings. It's located along a main road leading to the Alexandrion fortress, built atop a mountain in the Jordan Valley by Alexander Jannaeus.

Bar told the university that students and volunteers were involved in the dig that uncovered the monarch's ancient coins. He said they were particularly excited to find the trove during Hanukkah.

"This added special meaning to the holiday for them, including in the difficult days our people are going through at the moment," Bar said. "I hope that the place will become a site that attracts a crowd, and will be added to the archaeological and heritage sites of our country."

Hanukkah began Dec. 25 this year and is observed over the course of eight days, ending this Thursday, Jan. 2.

[nickcarraway]

Now, that is gelt.

Video at the site.

[sevlex]

Looks like the chocolate melted.

[kiryandil]

of interest ping

[july4thfreedomfoundation]

“B.C.E.” my a$$!

[BlueLancer]

“B.C.E.” my a$$!

Heck, nothing's changed. I just read that as "Before Christian Era" ...

[SaveFerris]

I expect there could be several discoveries
leading up to the construction 🚧🚧🚧🚧 of The Third Temple

It will not turn out as
the world 🌏 will hope

_______________

(This will in the middle of the 7 years of ‘Peace and Security’)

Matthew 24:15-22
New King James Version

The Great Tribulation

15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand),

16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.

18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.

19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!

20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.

21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.

22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the [a]elect’s sake those days will be shortened.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2024%3A15-22&version=NKJV

[Redcitizen]

That’s the original bitcoin.

(Ping)

[Herakles]

I’m glad they found my money no if they just send it to me

[Vermont Lt]

A “Hanukkah Miracle?”

These writers are really stretching it these days. Ha Ha.

[TheThirdRuffian]

You would prefer the Jewish calendar and year?

I think it is nice they translate halfway into something gentiles can understand.

[HereInTheHeartland]

Take those the local bank and run through the coin machine.
Might get a couple of bucks

[GingisK]

Somebody should have washed them before taking the picture.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks nickcarraway. Facts in the ground.

[SunkenCiv]

Bar said the station included a purification bath [mikveh], used for religious ritual, and a water storage area in addition to other buildings.

• Excavations in the City of Oświęcim, in the Region of Małopolska, Poland, Have Uncovered a Wooden Mikveh That Dates From 300-years-ago. [02/27/2023]
• Ancient 'ritual bath' and elite villa unearthed by Jerusalem's Western Wall [08/11/2022]
• The Palestinians' Most Dangerous Enemy Is Archaeology [10/10/2020]
• Archaeologists Find Ancient Collector's Hoard of Hasmonean Coins [06/14/2016]
• Archaeology Discovery: Rare Artifacts From Jesus' Time Found at Orphanage in Jerusalem [03/21/2016]
• Construction project leads to discovery of ancient Jewish ritual bath with mysterious writing [08/12/2015]
• 'Ancient Hebrew inscriptions' baffle Israeli archaeologists [08/08/2015]
• Jerusalem family finds 2,000-year old mikveh underneath living room [07/01/2015]
• Shocking Anti-Mikveh Video Provokes Anger (überliberals in Israel) [10/13/2014]
• Expellees' Appeal: Save the Synagogue [09/02/2012]
• Israeli researcher: Mikvehs show that Galilee cave dwellers were likely kohanim [04/28/2012]
• Biblical Pool Uncovered in Jerusalem [08/09/2005]
• Group Discovers John the Baptist Cave [08/16/2004]

[SunkenCiv]

:^)