The 'Hyrcanus inscription" is an ancient bowl fragment.[1][2][3]
Hyrcanus inscription | |
---|---|
Writing | Hebrew |
Created | ~100 BCE |
Discovered | Israel |
Present location | Israel Antiquities Authority |
Period | Hasmonean period |
In 2015, during an excavation in the City of David Givʽati Parking Lot in Jerusalem, archaeologists unearthed a fragment of a chalk bowl engraved with the name "Hyrcanus."[4] Chalk vessels like this were commonly used by Jews due to their resistance to ritual impurity.[5] The name was common during the Hasmonean period, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact person.[6][7] There were two prominent figures with this name: John Hyrcanus and John Hyrcanus II.