A 2,000-year-old ancient clay token discovered near Jerusalem’s Temple Mount may have been used as money by Jewish pilgrims visiting Jerusalem “to exchange for offerings during their sacred visit.” high, according to an organization studying the tokens and other items.
According to the newspaper, the clay token features “an imprint of a wine bottle with a Greek inscription” and is “somehow connected to the activities that took place in the temple” in the centuries before the birth of Christ. There is a high possibility that Temple Mount Sieving Project.
The Second Temple, also known as the Temple of Zerubbabel, was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD, leaving only the western wall.
Such discoveries are rare.
“[The token] A vase of wine is depicted, consistent with Mishnaic texts that discuss Nesahim“This is a term used to describe the liquor of wine poured on temple altars, and was also used to refer generally to the components of all offerings,” the archaeologist said. “This token was intended for Greek-speaking pilgrims, possibly including Jews from the diaspora.”
Importantly, the Jewish Mishnah points out in another chapter of the Shekarim booklet (3:2) that the treasury baskets were inscribed with Greek letters, and that there were Greek letters in the Temple. They pointed out that this confirms that
This and another token with an Aramaic inscription were likely used “to exchange offerings during sacred visitations,” the archaeologist said.
Clay tokens engraved with Greek letters differ from common clay seals (byllae) in that they are “pinched on the back,” which is “unlike a seal attached to a knot that secures the seal; It was a kind of token handed over by hand to the recipient.” documents or containers,” they added.
The inscription on the token indicates that the owner’s name is Doures.
“This name was common in Thrace, Macedonia, and the northern Black Sea regions where Jews settled from the late Hellenistic period to the early Roman period.”
Image credit: Temple Mount Sifting Project. Used with permission.
Michael Faust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years.His story is published below baptist press, Christianity Today, christian post, of leaf chronicle, of toronto star And that Knoxville News Sentinel.
