2,000-year-old gold earring found in Jerusalem

AP ^ | 10 Nov 2008 | SHAWNA OHM

[BGHater]

Israeli archeologists have discovered a 2,000-year-old gold earring beneath a parking lot next to the walls of Jerusalem's old city, the Israel Antiquities Authority said Monday.

The discovery dates back to the time of Christ, during the Roman period, said Doron Ben-Ami, director of excavation at the site. The piece was found in a Byzantine structure built several centuries after the jeweled earring was made, showing it was likely passed down through generations, he said.

The find is luxurious: A large pearl inlaid in gold with two drop pieces, each with an emerald and pearl set in gold.

"It must have belonged to someone of the elite in Jerusalem," Ben-Ami said. "Such a precious item, it couldn't be one of just ordinary people."

In a statement released Monday, the authority said the piece of jewelry was "astonishingly well-preserved." Finds from the Roman period are rare in Jerusalem, Ben-Ami said, because the city was destroyed by the Roman Empire in the first century A.D.

Shimon Gibson, an American archaeologist who was not involved in the dig, said the find was truly amazing, less because of its Roman origins than for its precious nature.

"Jewelry is hardly preserved in archaeological context in Jerusalem," he said, because precious metals were often sold or melted down during the many historic takeovers of the city.

"It adds to the visual history of Jerusalem," Gibson added, saying it brings attention to the life of women in antiquity.

Though Gibson dates the piece slightly later than the antiquities authority, to sometime between the second and fourth centuries A.D., he said its quality and beauty were impressive.

[BGHater]

Bling ping.

[itsthejourney]

Oh, so that’s where I lost it!

[Puppage]

It's mine, it's mine!!!

[rabscuttle385]

You sick puppy.

[rabscuttle385]

Warning...Helen Thomas picture on this thread. Ping with caution.

[Dysart]

[Gitche Gumee]

[SunkenCiv]

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	Gods Graves Glyphs	Thanks BGHater. The only part of the movie "Ben Hur" that I watch (generally) is the Roman galley and sea battle stuff. C.B. loved details nowadays seldom included, and had dozens of one-line speaking roles, including the idiot who looked out the oarhole and shouted, "we're going to be rammed!" :') Anyway, the theme music is pretty great in spots, particularly whenever the JC character is seen from the rear (the actor's face is never shown). Pardon my digression, all. Roman-era artifact from Jerusalem, left in the dust (lost? or buried to come back for?) prior to Vespasian / Titus' reduction of the City. Later on, Hadrian really leveled the place, but then, he found the practice of circumcision abominable, and used to complain about the Jews no end as he was mounting the boy Antinoos instead of the Empress. To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother, and Ernest_at_the_Beach
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[Monkey Face]

Hmmm...I guess I could have lost it there, too. Do you remember where we were, that time?

[NYer]

The discovery dates back to the time of Christ, during the Roman period, said Doron Ben-Ami, director of excavation at the site. The piece was found in a Byzantine structure built several centuries after the jeweled earring was made, showing it was likely passed down through generations, he said.

Yet more evidence of the conversions to christianity. That's one beautiful piece of jewelry!

[Joe 6-pack]

Golden Earring

[fortunecookie]

Yet more evidence of the conversions to christianity. That's one beautiful piece of jewelry!

Amen to that. Both a wonderful evidence of conversions to Christianity, and a beautiful earring, the gold work is so intricate. What a great find.

[fortunecookie]

LOL, thanks for the link (now stuck in my head...). ;-)

[Clemenza]

"Der...der...der...DEEEEERRR!!! Der.der.der.der (drum roll)"

No more speed I'm almost there!

[Joe 6-pack]

"LOL, thanks for the link (now stuck in my head...)."

This ought to clean it right out of there; it's like Pine-Sol for the mind. You can thank me later ;-)

[Gitche Gumee]

"Do you remember where we were, that time?"

In the desert?

[Berlin_Freeper]

It’s beautiful.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Blah! just when i least expected that... it hurts...

[Puppage]

Blah! just when i least expected that... it hurts...

Better put some on ice that.

I am a baaaad man.