A girl discovered an Egyptian amulet about 3,500 years old ► Watch

During a family trip near an archaeological site in Hod Hasharon, 12-year-old Dafna Filsteiner found an ancient scarab amulet with scorpions on it.

An Egyptian amulet about 3,500 years old ► Watch

12-year-old Dafna Filsteiner was recently walking at the Nahal Kana antiquities site in Hod Hasharon, when suddenly, to her surprise, she discovered an unusual find - an Egyptian scarab-type amulet, about 3,500 years old. "I looked in the ground for porcupine spines and pebbles," she says. "And suddenly I picked up an interesting stone. I showed it to my mother and she said it was just a stone or a bead, but I saw a decoration and insisted, so we looked on the Internet. There, we identified more photos of stones similar to what we found, we realized that it was something special and immediately called the Antiquities Authority."

The family turned to Mor Wiesel, an archaeologist at the Antiquities Authority, who thanked the girl and the family, awarded them a certificate of excellence for good citizenship, and transferred the scarab to the state treasures, at the National Archeology Library of AI J.S. J. and Jeanie Schottenstein. The find was examined by Dr. Yitzhak Paz, an expert on the Bronze Age at the Antiquities Authority. It dates back to the New Kingdom period in Egypt, about 3,500 years ago, and two scorpions appear on it, standing head to tail. According to Dr. Paz, "The scorpion symbol was a symbol of the Egyptian goddess Serkat, who is responsible, among other things, for protecting maternity.

Another decoration that appears on the amulet is the nefer symbol, which in Egyptian means "good" or "chosen." Also, another symbol appears, reminiscent of a ruler's staff." A scarab is an amulet designed in the shape of a dung beetle. This beetle, which was considered sacred in the eyes of the ancient Egyptians, was a symbol of new life, because of the ball of dung it created and laid its eggs in, from which new life hatched. The name In Egyptian, it is derived from the verb "to be created", or "to be created", and this, because the Egyptians saw the scarab as a symbol of the embodiment of God The scarab amulets found in Israel - and were sometimes used as a seal - are evidence of the Egyptian rule in our region about 3,500 years ago, and its cultural influence on the region. It may have been dropped from the hands of an important and authoritative figure who passed through the area, or it may have been buried on purpose.

Since the find was discovered on the surface, it is difficult to know its exact connection," says Dr. Paz. Tel Kana, near which the scarab was found, is an archaeological site of great historical importance. According to Dr. Amit Dagan from the Martin (Zos) Department of AI Studies and Archeology at Bar-Ilan University and Dr. Ayelet Dayan from the Antiquities Authority, who are conducting an archaeological dig at the mound, "The find is exciting and significant. The scarab and the unique pictorial features on it, along with other finds that were discovered at Tel Cana with similar motifs, provide new insights into the nature of the Egyptian influence in the region in general and in the space The Yarkon in particular."

"I would like to commend Dafna for reporting the discovery of the scarab and handing it over to the state treasures. Thanks to her, we are all exposed to an interesting and valuable archaeological item," said Eli Escozido, director of the Antiquities Authority. "Dafna received a certificate of appreciation from the Antiquities Authority, and now the scarab is on display for the public at the J. and Jeannie Schottenstein National Archeology Center in Jerusalem - where the whole public can enjoy it. Everyone is welcome to come and visit!"