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13-year-old Yair Whitson, a resident of Haifa, found a 1,800-year-old ring in Carmel

(Archaeology Lives) A ​​ring about 1,800 years old, on which the goddess of war was engraved, was discovered by a boy in Carmel.

Yair Whitson from Haifa found a ring with the goddess of war on it (photo by Emil Eljam, Israel Antiquities Authority)

Photo: Emil Eljam, Antiquities Authority


The boy Yair Whitson from Haifa discovered during a trip a bronze ring with the goddess Athena engraved on it.
The impressive ring was handed over to the state treasures, Yair and his family came on a tour of the new National Archeology Museum of Israel in Jerusalem, during which Yair was awarded a certificate of appreciation for his good citizenship. The ring will be shown to the public as part of the summer tours at the National Museum in Jerusalem.

13-year-old Yair Whitson, a resident of Haifa, went for a walk near his home - quality time with his father, who returned from four months of reserve duty. During the trip, near the 'Ancient Quarries' site at the foot of the Shlala ruins in Carmel (the ancient city of Carmel), he suddenly came across an intriguing object.

Yair Whitson:

"I'm interested in fossils and rocks and like to collect them," shares Whitson. "During the trip I noticed a small green object and picked it up. It had corrosion on it, so I thought at first it was a screw nut. I thought about melting it, but luckily, I realized it was a ring. At home I recognized that a figure appeared on it. At first glance, I thought it was a warrior.

The family turned to Nir Distelfeld, the inspector of the robbery prevention unit at the Antiquities Authority, who transferred the ring to the state treasures. It was examined and investigated by the Antiquities Authority with the assistance of Prof. Shua Amorai-Strek, an expert on ancient rings, figurines and amulets from the Kay Academic College of Education.
Yair and his family came for a tour of the new National Archaeological Museum of Ai in Jerusalem, during which Yair was awarded a certificate of appreciation for his good citizenship.

The ring of the goddess of war with a helmet on her head

the ring Probably bears the image of the goddess Minerva or Athena. Photo: Anastasia Shapiro, Antiquities Authority

Distelfeld and Dr. Eitan Klein from the Robbery Prevention Unit at the Antiquities Authority explain: "On top of the beautiful ring, which has been preserved in its entirety, appears a naked figure with a helmet on his head. In one hand she holds a shield, and in the other hand a spear." Yair's identification of the figure as a warrior is very close to reality. The figure is - apparently, the goddess Minerva from Roman mythology, who is also known as Athena in Greek mythology. This one, which was very popular in the Roman period in Israel - Israel is considered, among other things, the goddess of war and military strategy, and also the goddess of wisdom.

The small ring, made of metal - most likely bronze, probably belonged to a woman or a girl and dates from the Roman period (3nd-2rd centuries AD). It was found at the foot of the Shalala ruins site, located on a hill where there are remains of a Roman-era mansion and near an ancient rock quarry There are two burial openings at the end of the quarry. It is possible that the ring belonged to a woman who lived in the same estate, or it may have been used as a burial offering in the nearby graves."

The Shalala ruin, near which the ring was found, is located on top of a hill in the center of the Carmel mountains. The ruin is surrounded on three sides by Nahal Oran and near it is Ein Alon, a permanent water source. The place was previously investigated by researchers of the British Survey Fund, by Prof. Ruth Amiran and by a delegation from Bar-Ilan University led by Prof. Shimon Dr. "The ring joins data from previous excavations and surveys conducted there and sheds additional light on the place," Distelfeld and Dr. Klein conclude.

According to Eli Escozido, director of the Antiquities Authority, "Yair's admirable act, who immediately reported the discovery and handed the ring over to the state treasures, demonstrates responsibility and respect for our past. We were very happy to host Yair and his family at the new National Archeology Center in Jerusalem and to give him a seal that we created from the ring. Yair He told us that he wants to be an archaeologist in the future, and we reserve a place of honor for him here."

The National Curia for Archeology in Jerusalem, where the ring will be shown to the general public as part of the summer tours. Photo by Emil Elgem, Antiquities Authority

The ring that Yair found will be shown to visitors as part of the summer tours at the National Archaeological Museum of the J. and Gini Schottenstein Foundation, in Jerusalem. Details on the Antiquities Authority website

the ring Probably bears the image of the goddess Minerva or Athena. Photo: Anastasia Shapiro, Antiquities Authority

contact: At watsapBy email

Noga Carmi
Noga Carmi
Nega Karmi - Director of Haifa News Corporation - News of Haifa and the surrounding area - message on WhatsApp: 052-2410689 Players Sending an email to the system: [email protected]

Articles related to this topic

11 תגובות

  1. A country that robs its citizens. Not everything belongs to the state! And if the state wants something, the state should pay and not just enslave the citizens.

  2. All the best to Yair and his family.
    Obeying the laws of the country, in matters of antiquities and in general, is probably no longer a matter of course.

  3. A charming and cute boy with values ​​and education will multiply like him in the State of Israel and from all sectors and species.

  4. Kudos to Yair for his good citizenship, curiosity and knowledge that made him find the ancient ring and also understand what the find means.

  5. I wish Yair the healing and wisdom that has been preserved in the ring for hundreds of years which probably caused it to be revealed precisely in these ravaged days that flooded the ring above the ground during the abundant rainy season that we have passed, and brought it to light, precisely now, an amazing fascinating story that surpasses all imagination, pure karma in action and in its embodiment, all from Allah !!!!!

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