Archaeologists unearth ancient 2300-year-old gold ring in Israel.
In the fourth century BC, Alexander the Great aided in the distribution of luxury items like gold, even in the Near East. Recently, a 2,300-year-old gold ring with a red garnet was uncovered in Jerusalem. This artifact came from the Hellenistic period in the region, according to the Israeli Antiquities Authority. The ring's gold material is incredibly durable, leaving no visible signs of wear.
A worker stumbled upon the ring while digging in the soil, "I noticed something sparkling all of a sudden," she recalled. "I screamed out, 'I found a ring!' The entire team was thrilled. "It's an incredibly emotional artifact, you don't come across something like this regularly." Upon examining the ring, the researchers speculated that it belonged to a child or a young girl based on its small size. It wouldn't have fit any adult woman's finger.
The jewelry piece was handcrafted by attaching thin gold leaves to a metal base using a hammer. Stylistically, the ring dates back to the Persian and early Hellenistic period, around the late 4th to early 3rd century BC. At that time, people favored golden pieces with embedded stones, instead of plain, decorated gold. Gold jewelry was highly sought-after in the Hellenistic world, largely due to Alexander the Great's rule. "His conquests were instrumental in spreading and transporting luxury items," the statement explained.
Alexander the Great was born in 356 BC and became the ruler of Macedonia from 336 to his death in 323 BC. His reign marked the start of the Hellenistic era. Alexander expanded his empire through military victories, and it included the current-day Israel and Jerusalem. The people living in Jerusalem during that time seemed to embrace the popular Hellenistic style, the researchers said.
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The discovery of the ancient gold ring in Jerusalem has either been a lost property or was intentionally buried, as its owner was likely unaware of its historical significance during the Hellenistic period in Israel. The historical importance of the Ring of Jerusalem, as some archaeologists might call it, lies in its link to the popular Hellenistic style that flourished under Alexander the Great, who expanded his empire to include Israel and Jerusalem. Modern archaeology plays a crucial role in preserving and interpreting such historical artifacts, shedding light on past civilizations and their lifestyles. In a sense, the Ring of Jerusalem serves as a testament to the interconnectedness of ancient civilizations, attributable to trade and cultural exchange driven by science, technology, and historical greats like Alexander the Great.
Source: www.ntv.de
