The Ophel excavations² at the foot of the southern wall of the Temple Mount, conducted by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Institute of Archaeology³ under the direction of Dr. Eilat Mazar, have unearthed⁴ an impression of the royal seal of King Hezekiah (727-698 BCE). Measuring 9.7 X 8.6 mm, the oval impression was imprinted⁵ on a 3 mm thick soft bulla (piece of inscribed⁶ clay) measuring 13 X 12 mm. Around the impression is the depression left by the frame of the ring in which the seal was set. 

 

The impression bears an inscription⁷ in ancient Hebrew script: "Belonging to Hezekiah [son of] Ahaz king of Judah," and a two-winged sun, with wings turned downward, flanked by two ankh symbols symbolizing⁸ life.

 

The bulla originally sealed a document written on a papyrus⁹ rolled and tied with thin cords, which left their mark on the reverse of the bulla. This bulla came to light, together with many pottery¹⁰ sherds and other finds such as figurines and seals, in Area A of the excavations (2009 season), supervised by Hagai Cohen-Klonymus. 

 

The bulla was discovered in a refuse dump dated to the time of King Hezekiah or shortly after, and originated in the Royal Building that stood next to it and appears to have been used to store foodstuffs¹¹. This building, one of a series of structures that also included a gatehouse and towers, was constructed in the second half of the 10th century BCE (the time of King Solomon) as part of the fortifications of the Ophel -- the new governmental quarter that was built in the area that connects the City of David with the Temple Mount.

 

The bulla was found together with 33 additional bullae imprinted from other seals, some bearing Hebrew names, their reverse showing marks of coarse fabric¹² and thick cords that probably sealed sacks containing foodstuffs.

 

Dr. Eilat Mazar said: "Although seal impressions bearing King Hezekiah's name have already been known from the antiquities¹³ market since the middle of the 1990s, some with a winged scarab (dung beetle) symbol and others with a winged sun, this is the first time that a seal impression of an Israelite or Judean king has ever come to light in a scientific archaeological excavation¹."

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