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Gold treasure trove unearthed at base of Temple Mount
TImes of Israel ^ | September 9, 2013 | Ilan Ben Zion

Posted on 09/09/2013 5:38:20 AM PDT by SJackson

Byzantine-era coins and unique menorah medallion found by Hebrew University archaeologists at site abutting Southern Wall


Byzantine-era gold coins found near the Southern Wall of the Temple Mount (photo credit: courtesy Ouria Tadmor/Hebrew University)

Hebrew University researchers on Monday announced the discovery of a rare trove of Byzantine-era gold and silver artifacts, the most impressive of which is a 10-centimeter solid gold medallion emblazoned with a menorah and other Jewish iconography.

The find, unearthed in the area adjacent to the Southern Wall of the Temple Mount, was dated to the early 7th century CE, in all likelihood the time of the brief Persian conquest of Jerusalem.

Professor Eilat Mazar described the discovery as a unique find with “very clear Jewish symbols.” She posited that the hoard of gold and silver objects, found beneath the floor of a Byzantine-era house meters from the massive walls of the Temple Mount, was brought by Jews who returned to the city after the Persians conquered it from the Byzantines in 614 CE.

“I have never found so much gold in my life!” she said with obvious excitement at a press conference on Mount Scopus. “I was frozen. It was unexpected.”

The centerpiece, a medallion that Mazar posited may have been used as ornamentation for a Torah scroll, is emblazoned with a seven-armed candelabrum — a menorah — a Torah scroll, and a shofar, a ram’s horn.


Close up of a Byzantine-era sold gold menorah medallion found near the Southern Wall of the Temple Mount (photo credit: courtesy Ouria Tadmor/Hebrew University)

The Torah scroll, she explained, is a unique icon that is not commonly found in artifacts from this time period.

Excavators also found a collection of 36 gold coins marked with the visages of Byzantine emperors from Constantine II to Mauricius, ranging over 250 years, and gold bracelets, earrings, a silver ingot and a gold-plated hexagonal prism.

Mazar stated that her supposition was that the hoard was a communal treasure, meant to help the sparse Jewish community survive hard times or rebuild what the Jews hoped would be a free community under Persian rule. “What is certain is that their mission, whatever it was, was unsuccessful,” she said.

The Byzantine Empire — the Eastern Roman Empire — ruled the Holy Land from Constantinople almost unimpeded until Muslim armies under Omar ibn Khattab conquered the city in 634 CE.


Hebrew University professor Eilat Mazar displaying a Byzantine-era gold menorah medallion found near the Southern Wall of the Temple Mount (photo credit: courtesy Ouria Tadmor/Hebrew University)

Mazar, a third-generation Israeli archaeologist, has overseen the excavations of Jerusalem’s City of David, the lower slope of the Temple Mount, since 2005. The digs, while contentious for taking place in East Jerusalem’s Silwan neighborhood, have yielded the earliest known artifacts in the city, dating as far back as the 12th and 11th centuries BCE and, according to Mazar, evidence of the Biblical King David.


TOPICS: Israel; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: israelgoldcoins; templegoldcoins; templemount
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1 posted on 09/09/2013 5:38:20 AM PDT by SJackson
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To: dennisw; Cachelot; Nix 2; veronica; Catspaw; knighthawk; Alouette; Optimist; weikel; Lent; GregB; ..
Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume

If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

..................

2 posted on 09/09/2013 5:39:37 AM PDT by SJackson ( The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself. BF)
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To: SJackson

The barbarians will riot.


3 posted on 09/09/2013 5:40:29 AM PDT by mountainlion (Live well for those that did not make it back.)
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To: mountainlion

Wait a minute, didn’t Abu Mazen say it was not the Jewish Menora but rather the FATAH Eagle that was found on those gold coins?

PLO: WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! That was ours!
Israel:


4 posted on 09/09/2013 5:54:10 AM PDT by Netz
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To: SJackson

The Arabs will deny it.


5 posted on 09/09/2013 5:55:23 AM PDT by lurk
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To: Netz

When did islam come into existence?


6 posted on 09/09/2013 5:56:51 AM PDT by spudville
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To: SJackson
She posited that the hoard of gold and silver objects, found beneath the floor of a Byzantine-era house meters from the massive walls of the Temple Mount, was brought by Jews who returned to the city after the Persians conquered it from the Byzantines in 614 CE.

Why would they hide it under the floor, then?

7 posted on 09/09/2013 5:59:08 AM PDT by skeeter
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To: skeeter

I agree..the statement doesn’t make sense.

One would think it was hidden during the initial attack of the Persians.


8 posted on 09/09/2013 6:03:37 AM PDT by EBH (America is not judge, jury, and executioner for the world.)
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To: SJackson

Wow...a Huge Menorah, flanked by a Shofar and a Torah Scroll.

How can that be? According to WAQF, there has never been a Jewish Presence on Haram al Sharif!

LOL. I see some big tap-dancing about to occur.


9 posted on 09/09/2013 6:04:32 AM PDT by left that other site (You Shall Know the Truth, and the Truth Shall Set You Free...John 8:32)
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To: SJackson

The Menorah means the tribe of Mohammed can’t claim it’s theirs.


10 posted on 09/09/2013 6:06:29 AM PDT by raybbr (I weep over my sons' future in this Godforsaken country.)
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To: EBH

Her explanation fits the typical narrative of liberal western academics on the Crusades. IMO.


11 posted on 09/09/2013 6:09:32 AM PDT by skeeter
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To: SJackson
Lots more on this subject here. Some of the funding for the dig and 1/3 of the diggers came from this church in Oklahoma.www.thetrumpet.com

There are several articles and many links to info on this dig.

12 posted on 09/09/2013 6:11:59 AM PDT by SpeakerToAnimals (I hope to earn a name in battle)
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To: SJackson; SunkenCiv

Ping!.............


13 posted on 09/09/2013 6:15:17 AM PDT by Red Badger (It is dangerous to be right in matters where established men are wrong. .....Voltaire)
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Comment #14 Removed by Moderator

To: SJackson

——— ranging over 250 years———

The byzentine gold was the stable currency for a very long time

We will revert to the gold standrd


15 posted on 09/09/2013 6:27:14 AM PDT by bert ((K.E. N.P. N.C. +12 ..... Travon... Felony assault and battery hate crime)
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To: SJackson

Now let's take it to the Map Room and find out where the Ark Of The Covenant is buried.

16 posted on 09/09/2013 6:27:21 AM PDT by Dr.Deth
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To: skeeter

Actually, this was well prior to the first Crusade which took place in about 1096 thru 1099 AD.


17 posted on 09/09/2013 6:27:42 AM PDT by Afterguard (Liberals will let you do anything you want, as long as it's mandatory.)
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To: SisterK

oops
bimbo moment


18 posted on 09/09/2013 6:30:09 AM PDT by SisterK
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To: SJackson

That is a big medallion. I am glad she found it and not the barbarians in the area!


19 posted on 09/09/2013 6:47:23 AM PDT by Red_Devil 232 (VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
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To: SJackson; SunkenCiv

I see a Christian monarch with a cross on the crown and holding a cross.


20 posted on 09/09/2013 6:51:31 AM PDT by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both.)
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