The first earring of the Hellenistic period discovered in Jerusalem

Last summer, Israeli archaeologists discovered in Jerusalem a 2,200-year-old gold earring 4 cm long. It was found in the Old City 200 meters south of the Temple Mount.

According to archaeologists, this is the first earring of the Hellenistic period, discovered in Jerusalem. The artifact is decorated with a horned animal, perhaps an antelope or deer. The earring was made using filigree technique. This method of creating jewelry was not common in Israel at that time.

Scientists could not find the second earring. Earring could wear a woman or a rich man. Perhaps the owner of the jewelry was a Greek living in Jerusalem or a Jew influenced by Hellenistic culture.

The peculiarity of the Hellenistic period is the wide spreading of the Greek language and culture in the territories included in the Diadochi states that were formed after the death of Alexander the Great in the territories conquered by them, and the interpenetration of Greek and Eastern cultures.