A rare collection of ancient coins found in Israel: “The Archaeological Miracle of Hanukkah”

Israeli researchers discovered a rare collection of ancient coins last week, describing the discovery as an “archaeological miracle of Hanukkah.”

The coins are more than 2,000 years old and are believed to have belonged to King Alexander Jannaeus, the second ruler of the Hasmonean dynasty that presided over Judea in the final centuries before the Common Era, according to the University of Haifa in Israel.

Archaeologists found a treasure containing about 160 coins during ongoing excavations in the Jordan Valley, which extends between the Israeli-occupied West Bank and the eastern border of Jordan. The project is headed by researchers at the University of Haifa and the university’s Zinman Institute of Archaeology He said In a press release translated from Hebrew.

The ancient coins were discovered on Friday, coinciding with the third day of Hanukkah. Researchers pointed out the importance of this timing, as Alexander Jannaeus descended from the leaders of the revolt of 167 BC, which the Talmud says led to the restoration of the Temple in Jerusalem and the first celebration of Hanukkah.

Each coin bears inscriptions including an eight-pointed star and the phrase “King Alexander 25” written in Aramaic, one of the oldest known languages ​​in the world that originated in the region surrounding what is now Syria and is closely related to Arabic and Hebrew. These types of coins date back to about 80 BC, according to the University of Haifa.

Shai Bar, one of the leaders of the excavations, said in a statement to the university, “The site where the treasure was discovered appears to be a road station, which has not been identified in research yet.” Barr said that the station includes a purification bath used for religious rituals, a water storage area, in addition to other buildings. It is located along the main road leading to Alexandrion Castle, built by Alexander Jannaeus on a mountaintop in the Jordan Valley.

Barr told the university that students and volunteers participated in the excavations that uncovered the king’s ancient coins. He said they were especially excited to find the treasure trove during Hanukkah.

“This added a special meaning to the holiday for them, including in the difficult days our people are going through right now,” Barr said. “I hope that the place will become a site that attracts the public, and will be added to the archaeological and heritage sites in our country.”

Hanukkah began on December 25 of this year, and is celebrated over eight days, ending on Thursday, January 2.