Israel Antiquities Authority Archives

Israeli archaeologists retrieve 1850-year-old stone ossuaries with Greek writing

Three 1850-year-old stone ossuaries were retrieved to prevent antiquity looting near Kafr Kanna in Galilee,…

2,200-year-old Greek sling bullet discovered in Israel

The inscriptions were part of psychological warfare… to terrorize the opponent and unite the warriors’…

Hellenistic fortified structure uncovered during excavations in Lachish Forest in Israel

Greek Building site discovered at Lachish forest in Israel in Ancient city of Marisa

A Hellenistic ( Greek ) fortified structure destroyed and burned by Hasmoneans during the Maccabean…

1,400 Year Old Amethyst Ring Found in Israel Thought to Be the Result of Ancient Greek Superstition

A 1,400 year old amethyst ring found by archeologists was most probably worn by a wealthy wine taster in an attempt to ward off a hangover – a myth that originated in Greece and was widely shared in the ancient world.

Written in Greek by two scribes, it dates from the period of the Bar Kokhba revolt, almost 1,900 years ago, when Jewish rebels fled with their families and hid from the Romans in the caves.

New Dead Sea scroll fragments written in Greek found in Israel

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In a stunningly rare discovery, dozens of 2,000-year-old biblical scroll fragments have been excavated from Judean Desert caves during a daring rescue operation. Most of the newly discovered scroll fragments — the first such finds in 60 years — are Greek translations of the books of Zechariah and Nahum from the Book of the Twelve Minor Prophets, and are written in two scribal hands. Only the name of God is written in Hebrew in the texts.

1,400-year-old burial stone with Greek inscription discovered in Israel

The inscription was deciphered by Dr. Leah Di Segni of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and it refers to “Blessed Maria, who lived an immaculate life” and died on February 9th. The stone dates from the late sixth–early seventh centuries CE.