In honor of Lag B’Omer, which commemorates the life of anti-Roman Tanna Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) on Monday revealed the discovery of a rare bronze coin from the period of the Bar Kochba revolt (circa 132 C.E.).
The coin was uncovered during excavations in the William Davidson Archaeological Park between the Har Habayis and Ir David in Yerushalayim. The excavations are conducted by the IAA and funded by the Ir David Foundation/City of David, which operates the site.
The IAA says that it is the only coin from the period found in the ancient part of the Holy City that bears the name “Yerushalayim.”
According to IAA archaeologists, “It is possible that a Roman soldier from the Tenth Legion found the coin during one of the battles across the country and brought it to their camp in Yerushalayimas a souvenir.”
The obverse of the coin is decorated with a cluster of grapes and the inscription, “Year Two of the Freedom of Israel.” Its reverse side features a palm tree and the inscription, “Yerushalayim.”
IAA coin-department head Donald Tzvi Ariel, who has examined more than 22,000 coins discovered in excavations in the Old City in Yerushalayim, said that only four of these date to the period of the Bar Kochba revolt.
The Bar Kochba Revolt lasted three-and-a-half years. During that time, more than 1,000 Jewish towns and 50 fortresses were destroyed, and hundreds of thousands of Jews were killed.
Rabbi Akiva, the mentor of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, was one of many rabbinical leaders who supported Bar Kochba, and believed that he would be a Moshiach for the Jewish people.
(JNS)
{Matzav.com}
