Intricate 2,000-Year-Old Ring Found Could Have Witnessed Historic Ritual

In the heart of ancient Jerusalem, archaeologists have discovered a 2,300-year-old gold ring with a red stone. The elaborate jewel, hidden beneath the building's floor, may be a trace of a forgotten Greek ritual.

The Israel Antiquities Authority and the City of David Foundation have announced the discovery of a gold ring with a red stone — most likely a garnet — dating back to about 2,300 years ago. The find was found just steps from the site of the former Temple in Jerusalem .

This is the second ring of this type found at this site. The previous one, almost identical, was discovered exactly one year earlier. Both artifacts come from a time when Jerusalem was strongly influenced by Greek culture and lifestyle .

2,300-Year-Old Gold Ring Discovered in Jerusalem / Reut Vilf, City of David, FB Israel Antiquities Authority

Both the newest ring and its twin from last year were discovered under the floor of a monumental public building . A bronze earring was also found in the same spot. Such an accumulation of jewelry could not have been accidental.

"The gold was of great value, so it is unlikely that not one but two rings were accidentally dropped during the construction of the floor. The fact that other pieces of jewelry were also found suggests that they were buried intentionally," Dr. Marion Zindel of the Israel Antiquities Authority told The Times of Israel.

Jerusalem: 2,300-Year-Old Gold Ring / Reut Vilf, City of David, FB Israel Antiquities Authority

Due to their small size, researchers believe the rings belonged to a child – perhaps a young girl on the verge of adulthood.

"One of the hypotheses we are investigating is that these objects were buried as part of a Greek ritual in which girls buried things related to their childhood on the eve of their wedding," she added.

The discoveries add to the growing picture of life in Jerusalem during the Hellenistic period. This period, from Alexander the Great’s conquest in 333 BC to the beginning of Roman domination in the first century BC, was characterized, as researchers point out, by a distinctive style of combining precious metals with intensely colored stones . The aesthetics that delighted the elites of the time, it turns out, can also captivate contemporary lovers of beauty.

Among the finds are also seals – some of them depict figures that raise further questions about the cultural identity of the inhabitants.

- For example, one of the discovered seals depicts a woman, perhaps the Greek goddess Athena – notes Prof. Yuval Gadot from Tel Aviv University, quoted by The Times of Israel.

The Givati ​​discoveries are not only a valuable insight into an ancient way of life, but also a subtle story about identity, religion and cultural change. Did the rings belong to a wealthy Judean woman ? To a Greek girl preparing for marriage ? Or to someone who combined both worlds?