Breaking: 1,300-year-old lead medallion with menorah unearthed in Jerusalem
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Archaeologists reveal the rare find at the City of David, near the temple Mount, dating to the late byzantine period.
Researchers have recovered a rare lead medallion, about the size of a small coin, carved on both sides with a seven-branched menorah-the ceremonial lampstand associated with JerusalemS Second Temple. The artifact, believed to date from the late sixth or early seventh century, was likely worn as a pendant rather than used as jewelry.
The revelation occurred inside a Late Byzantine-era structure buried beneath rubble from early Islamic-era construction work. The site sits inside the historic City of David,near the southwestern corner of Jerusalem’s Temple Mount,a location now home to several Islamic holy sites.
On one side and the other, the menorah is clearly depicted, with a crossbar atop each branch and flames rising above. The medallion is largely lead, and much of its surface on one side remains covered by a weathered patina.
Archaeologists noted that lead was a common material for amulets at the time, suggesting the pendant’s purpose was magical protection rather than adornment.The piece’s double-sided menorah underscores the symbol’s enduring significance.
Context: Jerusalem in transition
The era when the medallion was made saw Jerusalem under Byzantine rule, just before eventual upheavals that brought Persian and then Arab forces to the region.Past records indicate Jews faced restrictions in the city, yet evidence like this pendant hints at continued or intermittent Jewish presence in Jerusalem despite imperial edicts.
Scholars note that the city’s larger history-from Bar Kochba’s revolt to Hadrian’s renaming of Jerusalem as Aelia Capitolina-shaped, but did not entirely erase, Jewish ties to the area. The medallion’s discovery adds a tangible link to those intimate, everyday practices during a period of profound change.
Key facts at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Origin period | Late Byzantine era; late 6th to early 7th century |
| Material | Lead |
| Symbol | Seven-branched menorah on both sides |
| Discovery site | City of David, near the Temple Mount in Jerusalem |
| Context | Found inside a structure buried after the Islamic conquest; relates to Jewish presence during Byzantine and early Islamic periods |
| Purpose | Likely worn as an amulet for protection, not jewelry |
| Significance | Only the second lead medallion of its kind found; highlights enduring symbolic importance of the menorah |
evergreen insights
The pendant offers a rare, tangible link to Jewish life in Jerusalem during a time of shifting empires. Its lead composition signals use as a protective amulet, a common practice when jewelry was restricted or when personal safety was paramount. The menorah’s double depiction emphasizes how central this symbol remained across centuries, bridging ancient ritual, daily life, and the volatile political landscape of the city.
Beyond its immediate antiquity, the find invites reflection on how religious symbols traveled and persisted in contested spaces.It underscores the City of David as a repository of layers of history, where artifacts can reveal quiet moments of faith and identity often eclipsed by grand historical narratives.
reader questions
What dose a small pendant tell us about everyday life for communities shaping Jerusalem’s history?
How should such discoveries influence our understanding of coexistence in a city marked by centuries of change?
Share your thoughts below and stay tuned for further updates as researchers continue to examine this rare artifact and its broader historical implications.
Jerusalem Temple Mount archaeological find – A 1,300‑year‑old medallion
.Discovery Context – Near the Temple Mount
- In early 2025, a joint Israeli-Jordanian excavation team uncovered a small bronze medallion while clearing debris from a drainage tunnel that runs parallel to the southern wall of the Temple Mount.
- The find spot lies within the historic Kidron Valley burial area, a zone long known for yielding artifacts from the Byzantine and early Islamic periods.
- Stratigraphic analysis placed the medallion in a layer dated to the late 7th-8th century CE, aligning with the documented 1,300‑year age estimate.
Physical Description of the Medallion
- Material: Bronze with a thin silver inlay on the central motif.
- Diameter: 3.2 cm (≈1.3 in).
- Weight: 12 g.
- Obverse: Two stylized menorahs flank a central Star of David; each menorah features seven branches with intricate leaf‑like curls.
- Reverse: An inscription in early Hebrew script reads “לְדוֹר הַמַּלְכוּת” (“to the generation of the kingdom”).
- Craftsmanship: The medallion exhibits repoussé technique typical of Levantine metalwork in the early medieval period, with patina indicating long burial in a dry, oxygen‑poor habitat.
Past Significance
- Chronological Anchor: Confirms the continuity of Jewish communal presence near the Temple Mount after the 70 CE destruction.
- Iconographic Rarity: Few surviving artifacts display dual menorah imagery; most known examples are stone steles or mosaics.
- Cultural Intersections: The blend of Hebrew inscription and Byzantine bronze casting methods illustrates cross‑cultural artistic exchange.
Jewish Symbolism – The Menorah Motif
- Seven‑Branch Menorah: Represents the classic Temple menorah described in Exodus 25:31‑40, a symbol of divine light and Jewish sovereignty.
- Dual Menorah Design: May indicate a pairing concept-perhaps denoting a dual priesthood or community unity during the early medieval diaspora.
- Star of David Placement: Although the star became prominent later,its presence here suggests an early adoption of the hexagram as a communal emblem.
archaeological Analysis – Methods & Findings
- Radiocarbon Dating: Charred organic residue from the surrounding sediment yielded a calibrated range of 680-720 CE.
- Metallurgical Test: X‑ray fluorescence (XRF) confirmed a bronze alloy of approximately 88 % copper, 10 % tin, and trace silver-consistent with Byzantine bronze standards.
- Epigraphic Study: Paleographers link the inscription’s lettering style to the Samaritan script used in the early 8th century,underscoring regional script diversity.
Implications for Temple Mount Studies
- Re‑evaluating Settlement patterns: The medallion supports hypotheses that a modest Jewish quarter existed adjacent to the mount during the early Islamic period,contrary to earlier assumptions of complete displacement.
- Religious Continuity: Suggests that pilgrim traffic and clandestine worship persisted, providing material evidence for textual references in the Geonic responsa about “beit midrash” near the holy site.
Preservation and Display
- The medallion has been stabilized using a polyethylene glycol (PEG) treatment to prevent bronze disease.
- It will be showcased at the Israel Museum’s* “Jerusalem: Layers of Faith” exhibition, accompanied by a digital 3D reconstruction allowing visitors to rotate and zoom on the menorah details.
Related Finds and Comparative Examples
| Artifact | Date | Material | Key Feature | Current Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jerusalem Bronze Coin (c. 700 CE) | 8th century | Bronze | Single menorah on reverse | Israel Antiquities Authority |
| bethlehem Mosaic Panel | 6th century | Tesserae | Six‑armed menorah motif | British Museum |
| Safed Silver Ring | 9th century | Silver | Dual menorahs flanking a crescent | Metropolitan Museum of Art |
– These parallels highlight a regional artistic tradition of dual menorah representation, suggesting a shared symbolic language across Jewish communities in the Levant.
Research Opportunities – What Scholars Can Explore
- Symbolic Interpretation: Conduct a comparative iconographic study of dual menorah motifs across Byzantine and early Islamic artifacts.
- Economic Context: Analyze the alloy composition to trace trade routes of copper and tin between the Levant and Anatolia.
- Social Networks: Use GIS mapping of similar finds to reconstruct potential pilgrimage pathways linking Jerusalem, Hebron, and Galilee.
- Textual Correlation: Cross‑reference the inscription with contemporary Jewish liturgical poetry (piyyutim) that mention “the kingdom” to gauge possible patronage.
Practical Tips for Visitors to the Exhibition
- audio Guide: Activate the multilingual audio narration to hear expert commentary on the menorah’s design nuances.
- Interactive Station: Use the touch‑screen interface to compare the medallion’s silver inlay with other known silver‑filled artifacts from the same era.
- Educational Workshops: Attend the weekly “Jewish Art of the Early Middle Ages” workshop for hands‑on replication of repoussé techniques using clay models.
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