A rare collection of ancient coins was discovered last week by Israeli researchers, who called the discovery an “archaeological miracle of Hanukkah.”
The coins are more than 2,000 years old and are believed to belong to King Alexander Jannaeus, the second ruler of the Hasmonean dynasty that ruled Judea in the last centuries BCE, according to the University of Haifa in Israel.
Archaeologists found a hoard of around 160 coins during ongoing excavations in the Jordan Valley, which stretches between the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Jordan’s eastern border. The project is led by researchers from the University of Haifa and the Zinman Institute of Archaeology, the university he said in a press release translated from Hebrew.
The ancient coins were unearthed on Friday, coinciding with the third day of Hanukkah. Researchers have noted the importance of that time, since Alexander Jannaeus was descended from the leaders of the rebellion in 167 BC. Kr. which the Talmud says led to the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem and the first celebration of the Hanukkah holiday.
University of Haifa
Each coin has inscriptions that include an eight-pointed star and the phrase “King Alexander 25” written in Aramaic, one of the world’s oldest known languages that originated in the region around present-day Syria and is closely related to Arabic and Hebrew. According to the University of Haifa, these types of coins date back to around 80 BC.
“The place where the treasure was discovered is apparently a stopover, which has not been recognized in research until now,” Shai Bar, one of the leaders of the excavation, said in a statement to the university. Bar said the station includes a purification bath, used for religious rituals, and a water storage area alongside other buildings. It is located along the main road leading to the fortress of Alexandrion, which was built by Alexander Jannaeus on top of a mountain in the Jordan Valley.
University of Haifa
Bar told the university that students and volunteers took part in the dig that uncovered the monarch’s ancient coins. He said they were especially excited to find the treasure during Hanukkah.
“This gave a special meaning to the holiday for them, including the difficult days that our people are currently going through,” said Bar. “I hope that the place will become a place that attracts crowds, and that it will be added to the archaeological and cultural sites of our country.”
Hanukkah started this year on December 25th and is celebrated for eight days, ending this Thursday, January 2nd.
