2nd Gold Ring Unearthed in City of David Offers Glimpse Into Ancient Jerusalem’s Glamour
A glittering reminder of Jerusalem’s past has surfaced once again—this time in the form of a tiny gold ring believed to be over 2,300 years old. Excavators from the Israel Antiquities Authority and Tel Aviv University uncovered the delicate artifact during ongoing digs in the City of David, in what has quickly become one of the most dazzling archaeological discoveries of the year.
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The ring, set with a red gemstone and likely worn by a child during the Hellenistic period, was found in the same area where another gold ring was unearthed just months ago. Both pieces were recovered from beneath the floor of a large building dated to the late third or early second century BCE, a structure that archaeologists say belonged to a wealthy family.
“This is the first time that we have found in Jerusalem such a large assemblage of gold jewelry from that period,” said excavation manager Efrat Bocher. “It attests to the wealth of Jerusalem and the high standard of living of the city’s residents during this period.”
Dr. Marion Zindel, who researched the ring, suggested it may have been buried as part of a symbolic rite of passage. “One possibility we’re exploring is that the jewelry was deposited during a Hellenistic tradition in which girls on the verge of marriage would bury their childhood possessions beneath a home’s foundation,” she said.
“The discovery of the golden rings … is tangible evidence of the wealth, beauty, and importance of Jerusalem even thousands of years ago,” added Israel Antiquities Authority Director Eli Escusido.
