Stunning discovery in biblical city 'home to Ark of the Covenant'
The ring was found in the City of David, which was established by King David, who brought the sacred, gold-covered wooden chest to the city around 3,000 years ago.
According to Christian tradition, the Ark of the Covenant held the Ten Commandments given to Moses by God, but it later vanished from Jerusalem and has never been found.
Today, the City of David continues to reveal wonders from ancient times.
Researchers with the Israel Antiquities Authority believe the small gold ring likely belonged to a child and dates back about 2,300 years.
The striking artifact features a red gemstone at its center, set in a band of gold that has become slightly bent from being buried for centuries.
The discovery offers a rare glimpse into daily life during the Second Temple period, a significant era in Jewish history.
This is the second gold ring of its kind discovered at the site within the past year, both showcasing similar craftsmanship and gemstone design.
Dr Marion Zindel, who led the research, said the discovery of two small gold rings and other jewelry beneath the floor of an ancient building suggests they may have been intentionally buried.
'One possibility we're exploring is that the jewelry was placed there as part of a known Hellenistic tradition,' Dr Zindel said.
'In that custom, young women who were engaged to be married would bury their childhood belongings—like jewelry—under the foundations of their future homes as a symbol of leaving childhood behind and entering adulthood.'
Researchers noted that the style of the jewelry reflects the fashion trends of the time, which were heavily influenced by Eastern cultures such as India and Persia.
This cultural exchange was made possible by the conquests of Alexander the Great, which opened trade routes between these regions.
The excavation, a joint effort by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) and Tel Aviv University, also uncovered several ancient bronze earrings featuring the image of a horned animal and a decorated gold bead.
These discoveries underscore the wealth and sophistication of Jerusalem's residents during that era.
Efrat Bocher, the excavation manager, stated: 'This is the first time such a significant collection of Hellenistic gold jewelry has been found in Jerusalem. It's an extraordinary discovery, revealing the affluence and lifestyle of the city's inhabitants during this era.'
This is the second gold ring of its kind discovered at the site within the past year, both showcasing similar craftsmanship and gemstone design
Located just south of the Old City walls, the City of David remains a crucial archaeological site that continues to shed light on Jerusalem's rich and complex past.
According to biblical history, the Ark of the Covenant was constructed around 1445 BC specifically to house the Ten Commandments—a set of divine laws given to Moses by God, including directives such as 'Thou shalt not kill' and 'Honor thy father and mother.'
Some historians believe the Ark remained in the ancient Temple of Jerusalem for centuries.
During this time, only the High Priest of Israel was permitted to approach it—and only once a year on Yom Kippur, Judaism's holiest day.
Then, at some point in history, the Ark vanished—its location still unknown.
The mystery of the Biblical relic was renewed in March after a DailyMail.com article detailed how the CIA may have located it.
The CIA conducted experiments in the 1980s with individuals who claimed they could perceive information about distant objects, events or other people.
The report details one of these tests where Remote Viewer No. 032 was given coordinates to locate a target, and they described the Ark of the Covenant hiding in the Middle East.
'The target is a container. This container has another container inside of it,' the document states. 'The target is fashioned of wood, gold and silver.... and it is decorated with [a six-winged angel].'
The remote viewer continued to say that the coffin-shaped object is 'located somewhere in the Middle East' and saw people in the area speaking Arabic.
The remote viewer, however, was not told that they were searching for the lost covenant before the experiment began. The document describes a training exercise conducted on December 5, 1988.
The psychic described nearby buildings that resembled Mosque Domes and individuals 'clothed in virtually all white' with 'black hair and dark eyes.'
'One figure I homed in on wore a moustache,' they wrote.
'The target is hidden — underground, dark and wet were all aspects of the location of the target.
'The purpose of the target is to bring a people together. It has something to do with ceremony, memory, homage, the resurrection.
'There is an aspect of spirituality, information, lessons and historical knowledge far beyond what we now know.
'The target is protected by entities and can only be opened (now) by those who are authorized to do so — this container will not/cannot be opened until the time is deemed correct.'
The psychic goes on to say that when this time comes, the 'mechanics of the lock system will be found to be fairly simple,' and that anyone who attempts to open the container by prying or striking will be 'destroyed by the container's protectors through the use of a power unknown to us.'
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