Open Collections

Smoak, Jeremy

Database of Religious History (DRH)

This is an elite mortuary complex located on the western shoulder of the Hinnom Valley in Jerusalem. The site was excavated by the Institute of Archaeology of Tel Aviv University for five seasons (1975, 1979, 1980, 1988 and 1989). Excavations focused upon seven rock-cut tombs which were created in the late Iron Age but continued in use through the late Hellenistic period. The tomb complex closely resembles other elite tombs such as those at St. Etienne in Jerusalem dating to the late Iron Age. One particular tomb complex and its repository (Cave 24, Chamber 25) yielded over a thousand grave items, including two inscribed amulets containing versions of the biblical Priestly Blessing (Numbers 6:24-26) and other formula known from the biblical texts (Deut. 7:9; Neh. 1:5; Dan. 9:4). These amulets were manufactured from thin sheets of silver and rolled into scrolls for use as jewelry. Their inscriptions appear on the interiors of the tiny metal scrolls and likely contained the names of their wearers.

Other

eng

Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library

10.14288/1.0438240

Non UBC

Unreviewed

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/