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‘Matanyahu’ Seal found near the Temple Mount in Jerusalem
The Israel Antiquities Authority reports that in archaeological work it is conducting in the 2,000 year old drainage channel between the City of David and the Jerusalem Archaeological Garden:
Remains were Discovered of the Closest Building to the First Temple Exposed so Far in Archaeological Excavations, and on its Floor – a Hebrew Seal Bearing the Name ‘Matanyahu’
People used personal seals in the First Temple period for the purpose of signing letters and they were set in a signet ring. The seals served to identify their owner, just as they identify officials today.
According to Eli Shukron, excavation director on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, “the name Matanyahu, like the name Netanyahu, means giving to God. These names are mentioned several times in the Bible. They are typical of the names in the Kingdom of Judah in latter part of the First Temple period – from the end of the eighth century BCE until the destruction of the Temple in 586 BCE. To find a seal from the First Temple period at the foot of the Temple Mount walls is rare and very exciting. This is a tangible greeting of sorts from a man named Matanyahu who lived here more than 2,700 years ago. We also found pottery sherds characteristic of the period on the floor in the ancient building beneath the base of the drainage channel, as well as stone collapse and evidence of a fire”.
In a previous illustrated post I reported on walking through this drainage channel. The finding of a seal within building remains is exciting news.
In another post, I published this plan of the drainage channel near the southwest corner of the Temple Mount:Plan of the drains at the southwest corner, as discovered by Warren, and their relationship to the square Temple Mount and the subsequent extensions. From: The Quest, Revealing the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, p. 234.
This plan shows that the drain cut through two tombs, which, according to the late Prof. Benjamin Mazar, belong to the Iron Age, as both have a ‘nefesh’ hole in the ceiling. There are several other tombs in this area with a similar design, one of which was converted into a mikveh in the Hellenistic period. These tombs are evidently part of a cemetery from the Iron Age.
As tombs are usually found outside the city walls (apart from the tombs of the kings), they probably date from before the time of King Hezekiah, who was the first king to include this area within his expanded city, when he built a wall round the Western Hill of Jerusalem. The building remains probably date to a time when pressure of space turned this location into a residential area, which could only have happened from the time of Hezekiah and onward.
To pay more attention to the drain system of ancient Jerusalem can be helpful. After all, it is known that the altar at the temple was cleaned with water. It’s also known that there are several cistern on the temple mount, some of which very probably date back to the time of the second temple. So, there had to be a way to prevent the bloody water from the altar from contaminating the water in the cisterns. Thinking of this, I’d like to know which evidence, if any, is there of the “early drain” running along the line that is shown on the map? Isn’t it actually more reasonable to suspect it continues in the same direction it has when leaving the Southern wall and leads directly to the court in front of the temple? Hmm, where can we find more information about the “early drain”. who found that? Prof Mazar?
To pay more attention to the drain system of ancient Jerusalem can be helpful. After all, it is known that the altar at the temple was cleaned with water. It’s also known that there are several cistern on the temple mount, some of which very probably date back to the time of the second temple. So, there had to be a way to prevent the bloody water from the altar from contaminating the water in the cisterns. Thinking of this, I’d like to know which evidence, if any, is there of the “early drain” running along the line that is shown on the map? Isn’t it actually more reasonable to suspect it continues in the same direction it has when leaving the Southern wall and leads directly to the court in front of the temple? Hmm, where can we find more information about the “early drain”. who found that? Prof Mazar?