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Jewelry, Roman Period Jewelry, Roman Period

The desire for self-decoration was one of the strongest instincts of ancient humans, and this led to the production of jewelry. Jewelry was intended to both adorn and draw attention to the wearer. At times, jewels were also intended to emphasize the wealth and status of their wearer.  Ancient societies also recognized a magical use of jewelry.

As society evolved, jewelry became more and more sophisticated and reached impressive levels of artistic accomplishment and diversity. Because of their small size, ancient jewels have been preserved better than many other objects. Jewelry provide an important mechanism for understanding early cultures and customs.

A seal made of hard colored stone, depicting a proto-Ionic capital, typical of First Temple public buildings. Below the capital, the inscription "To Padajah,son of the King", 597 BCE.A seal made of hard colored stone, depicting a proto-Ionic capital, typical of First Temple public buildings. Below the capital, the inscription "To Padajah,son of the King", 597 BCE.

The museum's collection of West Semitic seals, dating from the 8th to 6th centuries BCE, illuminate various aspects of the history of the Land of Israel and its neighboring cultures. Seals provide information about the development of writing, language, names, administration, society, religion, and art.

In addition to Hebrew seals, this collection also includes Phoenician, Ammonite, Moabite, and Aramaic seals. Hebrew seals, however, were much more widespread, indicating that many people in the Israelite society were likely literate. The most important of the Hebrew seals are those bearing titles indicating the owner's rank and function in the royal administration.

Bronze oil lamp handle in the shape of a vine leaf Mishnaic, (Late Roman) periodBronze oil lamp handle in the shape of a vine leaf Mishnaic, (Late Roman) period

The Book of Deuteronomy (8:8) elaborates on the seven plants of the field and vine with which the Land of Israel is blessed: “A land of wheat and barley, and vines and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of olive oil and honey.” Ripened yields of these seven species were brought to the Temple in Jerusalem. These crops and fruits represented in ancient Jewish art as decorative motifs. These motifs can be found in synagogues and on everyday objects, such as coins, seals, rings, lamps, jewelry, and glass vessels.

 

Carved stone from the Hulda Gate Temple Mount. Courtesy of the Israel Antiquities AuthorityCarved stone from the Hulda Gate Temple Mount. Courtesy of the Israel Antiquities AuthorityFor many years, scientific excavations of archaeological sites in Jerusalem were impossible. Excavations in the city began in the 19th century, but were carried out with many restrictions and at relatively few sites. Nevertheless, archaeological material was discovered from the Chalcolithic period onwards.

The archaeological secrets of the city remained concealed until the Six Day War of 1967. Since then, extensive and fundamental excavations have added considerably to our knowledge of ancient Jerusalem. These excavations have primarily concentrated on the areas of the Western and Southern Walls of the Temple Mount, the Jewish Quarter in David's Citadel, Mount Zion, and the City of David.

Pulling toy in the shape of a clay fowl from a grave at Mghar al-Sharif (Sharon plain) Courtesy of the Israel Antiquities AuthorityPulling toy in the shape of a clay fowl from a grave at Mghar al-Sharif (Sharon plain) Courtesy of the Israel Antiquities AuthorityBoth archaeological finds and written sources demonstrate that various types of games and toys occupied a respected place in the leisure culture of adults and children in the ancient world. Both children and adults enjoyed games and amused themselves with sports competitions, games with pets, dances, songs, and various musical instruments. 

Children's toys included dolls (which differed in shape from fertility goddesses), everyday miniature objects, miniatures of animals, wheeled toys, and more.

Artifacts from the Cemetery at Achziv. Courtesy of the Israel Antiquities AuthorityArtifacts from the Cemetery at Achziv. Courtesy of the Israel Antiquities AuthorityAchziv, located on the northern coastal plain south of the mouth of the Keziv Stream in Israel, was an important Phoenician port city. It was first settled in the Middle Canaanite (Bronze) II period.

Phoenician settlement began on the Lebanese coast at the end of the 2nd millennium BCE and, during the 1st millennium BCE, it spread southward along the coast of the Land of Israel, as well as westward to Cyprus and to other islands of the Mediterranean.

Ancient oil lampAncient oil lampThe earliest known lamps were adapted from ordinary, plain pottery bowls filled with oil, in which the wick was simply placed in oil and lit. Later on, the oil lamps evolved to include a pinched rim, which ensured a steady and controlled supply of oil to the wick. The pinched rim eventually developed into a pinched spout. During the Middle Canaanite Period, most oil lamps had four spouts. In later periods, however, oil lamps rarely had more than one spout.

Etruscan cultureEtruscan culture

The Etruscan civilization first appeared in central Italy in the 8th century BCE. The Etruscan's distinctive material record and indecipherable language add to the mystique of this particular culture. The Etruscans boasted the most highly developed culture in Italy before the Roman period. Despite the strong Greek influence on their culture, inscriptions and artifacts indicate that the Etruscans were not originally Greek. 

Hoard of shekels from the time of the Jewish War against the Romans 66-70 CEHoard of shekels from the time of the Jewish War against the Romans 66-70 CE

The coin collection is an important and meaningful component of the archaeological collection at the Hecht museum. It includes coins commissioned by Jewish rulers during the Second Temple period, beginning with the coins of YHD, the Persian Province of Judah (approximately mid-4th century BCE), and ending with the coins of Bar Kokhba (132-135 CE). 

Especially impressive are the shekels and half-shekels from the period of the Great Revolt, and the sela and dinar coins that were minted during the Bar Kokhba War. These coins were decorated with motifs common in Jewish art, such as pomegranates, clusters of grapes, goblets, and musical instruments.

Cyprus archeological find Cyprus archeological find Cyprus, situated in the eastern basin of the Mediterranean Sea, was culturally influenced by both Greece and Phoenicia. The intermingling of these two gave birth to a rich, diversified culture, whose technological and artistic level was especially high.

The culture of Cyprus greatly influenced the material culture of the land of Israel. The wealth of archaeological finds discovered in excavations in Israel testifies to the ties between the two countries.

Stone weights from Judah, Late Israelite (Iron) period 8th - 6th centuries BCEStone weights from Judah, Late Israelite (Iron) period 8th - 6th centuries BCEIn ancient times, the use of weights was confined to weighing precious metals. These metals, which included silver and gold, served as a means of payment before the invention of coins. Weights were also used to weigh special products, such as spices and medicines. 

The Museum's collection contains weights made of stone, bronze, lead, and glass. These weights belonged to the different weighing systems commonly used among the cultures of the Ancient Near East, from the early Canaanite period to the end of the Byzantine period. The weights in this collection include a variety of shapes, the most noticeable being animal shaped weights made of bronze or hematite. The assemblage of Judean stone weights from the end of the First Temple period (8th to 6th centuries BCE) is a large and important component of this collection.

Colored stele relief, with Egyptian inscription MES (= child) Egypt 19th DynastyColored stele relief, with Egyptian inscription MES (= child) Egypt 19th DynastyIn isolated Egypt, surrounded on all sides by desert or sea, a magnificent, well-developed culture evolved and flourished. The richness of the Nile and its bountiful harvests likely brought about the cultural prosperity of this region that endured for more than three thousand years. 

The archaeological study of Egypt began two hundred years ago, and its results illuminate a glorious past.  Egypt's history is linked to several important chapters in the history of the Land of Israel and the People of Israel. For this reason, finds from the Nile Valley are an important means for understanding the archaeology of the Biblical period.

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