Yeho'ezer ben hosh'ayahu seal

Yeho'ezer ben hosh'ayahu seal is a rare 2,700-year-old seal of the First Temple Period discovered in the city of Jerusalem.

Discovery

The black stone seal was discovered in the Jerusalem Archaeological Park near the southern wall of Temple Mount. The seal features a Paleo-Hebrew inscription of the name: LeYeho'ezer ben hosh'ayahu along with the image of a winged figure.

The excavation directors shared their thoughts regarding the discovery and said:

“extremely rare and unusual stone seal... bearing a name inscribed in paleo-Hebrew script and a winged figure . . . one of the most beautiful ever discovered in excavations in ancient Jerusalem.”

Artifact

The stone seal itself was likely created by a local artist within Judae. It is curved outward and has a hole drilled through it so it could be put on a string then wear it as a chain around the neck. On the seal is the profiled winged figure of a man with long curly hair, wearing a crown or a hat, a long tonic, as one of his arms is reaching out forward with an open palm. On the left- and right-hand side of the figure an inscription can be seen in Paleo-Hebrew letters.    

It seams that the seal belonged to a man by the name of "Hosh'ayahu". His son "Yeho'ezer" inherited the seal then added his name alongside his father's name hoping to benefit from the stone magical powers.

The names inscribed on the stone seal is are known from the bible. The name "Yeho'ezer" that is an abbreviation of the name Yo'ezer appears in the Book of Chronicles. I 12:7, as the name of one of King David's heroes. The name "Hosh'ayahu" appears in the Book of Jeremiah 43:2, as he describes that time period and mention a man by the of "Azariah ben Hoshʼaya".

The art and style shown on the stone seal by using a winged figured man on such a talisman, is a clear indication of how the Assyrian Empire had influenced the areas and kingdoms that came under its conquest.