New Exhibit: 2,000 Year-Old Temple Mount Coins
A
very special exhibition opens next week in Jerusalem, revealing to the public
for the first time all of the ancient coins uncovered in excavations at the
foot of the Temple Mount.
The
exhibit was organized by the Israel Antiquities Authority and the East
Jerusalem Development Company with funding from the William Davidson and
Estanne Fawer Foundation. It is intended to be the first of several exhibitions
to be presented at the Davidson Center in the Jerusalem Archaeological Garden.
Among
the artifacts to be displayed next week is a rare collection of 2,000-year-old
coins that were burnt during the Great Revolt by the Jews against the Roman
occupation, in which the Second Holy Temple was destroyed. The Western Wall,
which was outside the Temple and not a part of it, is the only remaining part
of the immediate area that remained standing following the destruction. The
collection includes unique coins that were minted in Jerusalem during the
Second Temple period.
One
extraordinary find to be presented to the public for the first time is an
extremely rare shekel that was minted by the Jewish rebels during the last
months of the revolt, in the year 70 CE.
Also
on display will be other coins that were found in different excavations in the
region and have a wide geographic origin, from Persia, via North Africa and as
far away as France. These coins attest to the centrality of Jerusalem for all
of the people who visited the city thousands of years ago, while leaving behind
a "souvenir" in the area.
It
is interesting to note the difference between the Jewish coins and others on
display. Contrary to pagan coins, the ruler was not usually depicted on coins
of Jewish origin, due to the Jewish prohibition against making a "graven
image" or idol. According to an IAA statement, it is for this reason that
a variety of symbols of inanimate objects, such as a wreath or scepter and
helmet, appear on many Jewish coins.
Source: israelnationalnews.com