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'Ancient Hebrew inscriptions' baffle Israeli archaeologists

ramonmercado

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'Ancient Hebrew inscriptions' baffle Israeli archaeologists

Israeli archaeologists say they are trying to decode ancient inscriptions written in Hebrew script discovered at a dig in Jerusalem.

The writing was found on the walls of a room containing the remains of a Jewish ritual bath, or mikveh, believed to be about 2,000 years old.

Experts are now trying to decipher words and symbols including a boat and palm trees.

They say the markings may be graffiti or have some religious significance.

One of the symbols could be a menorah - the seven-branched candelabrum which stood in the two Biblical Jewish Temples in Jerusalem - and some of the inscriptions might indicate names, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA).

The find was made when antiquity officials inspected the site slated for a nursery in the Arnona district.

On its walls were letters in Aramaic - the common language spoken in the time of Jesus - written in Hebrew script, and a series of symbols either smeared on with mud, or cut into the plaster.

"There is no doubt that this is a very significant discovery," said excavation directors Royee Greenwald and Alexander Wiegmann.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-33790405
 
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