Pontius Pilate’s ring discovered from site near Bethlehem

World Israel News ^ | 11/29/2018 | staff

[Karliner]

sweet post.

[Pride in the USA]

Thanks for the ping!

[Buckeye Battle Cry]

I’ve often thought of opening an exercise studio and calling it “Pontius Pilates”. The slogan on all marketing materials would read: “Crucifying workout-Heavenly results!”

[skimbell]

A couple of years ago there was a mini series around Easter, 11 or 12 episodes I think, dealing extensively with Pilate's part in the matter.

I can't remember much about it, but I do remember that as the story was told here, Pilate's wife really ragged his azz about letting Jesus go. Pilate was conflicted but he eventually told his wife to buzz off and he condemned Jesus for political expediency at the behest of Caiaphas.

[Verginius Rufus]

His family name (nomen) was Pontius. Pilatus was a cognomen. In the Republican period cognomina were used to distinguish different branches of the same family but in the imperial period often members of the same immediate family have different cognomina. Pilate was from the equestrian order (equites) rather than of a senatorial family--but equestrians were still pretty wealthy compared to most Romans. Minor provinces like Judaea were often assigned to members of the equestrian order.

Pilate was removed in 36 by Lucius Vitellius, governor of Syria, the father of the later emperor Vitellius (one of the four emperors of A.D. 69).

[Reily]

Thanks for the info!
From you FR name you’re obviously a Romano-phile! (if there actually is such a word!)

[Ezekiel]

The ring was originally found by Hebrew University Professor Gideon Forster shortly after the Six-Day War in 1968-69, Ha’aretz reports.

In any case, where's it been for 50 years, lost in a US government warehouse?

[M Kehoe]

Good afternoon.

It was common in history to inscribe different languages on one’s own currency. Latin and Greek being popular. We do it to this day on ours.

Did anyone ping Sunken civ?

5.56mm

[Vermont Lt]

Well I know that stuff is found. But finding the ring of a king just laying around? You would think someone would have thought it had value?

[aspasia]

That’s right. Rings are never lost.

[Vermont Lt]

Whatever.

[Pelham]

Yep, that's it. PILATO. Or in Greek capital letters, ΠΙΛΑΤΟ

Took me awhile to figure out that you read it clockwise, starting from the Pi at around 3 o'clock.

Of course as a signet ring, the wax imprint would be counter-clockwise.

[SJackson]

We do it to this day on ours.

I'm sure you're right. The ATM, the real currency for small transactions, I went to today offered 3 choices, English, Spanish, French. In that order. I was shocked when I went to one a few years ago. 1-Spanisn, 2-English. But at least I had a choice, didn't start in Spanish.

I may have forgotten to ping Sunken, I will a little later or you can if you've the time before I do.

[bkopto]

Yeah, I studied the graphic for a little while trying to get “Pilate” out of it. I should have said the PI located at the 3 o’clock position. The IOTA looks a little messed up to me, also.

[Pelham]

There is some kind of scratch mark next to the iota, it’s probably just damage of some sort.

I must have looked at the picture a dozen times before I figured out how to make sense out of it by going clockwise. And the article says the ring spells out “Pilatus” which added to the confusion.

[a little elbow grease]

Pontius Pilate’s ring discovered from site near Bethlehem

_____________________

Speaking of this, one other excellent FReeper earlier mentioned that this ring's discovery may be bad juju.

Only because I love this relatively new Steeler football player and it's a nice play on words, may I add:

************

Here is some 'good juju'.

_______

Juju Smith-Schuster

[a little elbow grease]

see post 96 ........

[Pelham]

I don’t get it.