Israeli archaeologists find “Jerusalem” in Hebrew on 2,000-year-old column
Israeli archaeologists announced 31st October, 2018 the discovery of the full name of Jerusalem carved in Hebrew on a stone column, which the Israel Antiquities Authority said dates back 2,000 years to the Roman era and is one of the oldest examples of the city’s full name ever discovered.
The stone inscription, which was found during excavations made before paving a new road at Jerusalem’s International Convention Centre, is to go on display at the Israel Museum.
“First and Second Temple period inscriptions mentioning Jerusalem are quite rare. But even more unique is the complete spelling of the name as we know it today, which usually appears in the shorthand version,” IAA archaeologist Yuval Baruch and Ronny Reich of Haifa University said during a press conference.
“This is the only stone inscription from the Second Temple period where the full spelling appears. This spelling is only known in one other instance, on a coin from the Great Revolt against the Romans (AD 66-70),” the two added.
The IAA experts said the column’s inscription reads “Hanania son of Dodalos from Jerusalem.”
