Archeological digs in North unearth rare signet ringThe article also mentions the Alexander the Great gemstone, on which more here. If an important mosaic floor has been excavated at Tel Dor recently, I'm afraid I must have missed it.
By BEN HARTMAN (Jerusalem Post)
09/20/2010 05:19
The rare find at the major port bears an intricate impression of Apollo, the Greek god of the sun, light, and music.
An ancient bronze signet ring excavated recently in Tel Dor, near Zichron Ya’acov, indicates that well-heeled elites were living in the area during the Hellenistic era, archaeologists from the University of Haifa reported on Sunday.
The rare find at the major port bears an intricate impression of Apollo, the Greek god of the sun, light, and music. According to Dr. Ayelet Gilboa, head of the university’s Department of Archeology, “A piece of highquality art such as this, doubtlessly created by a top-of-the-line artist, indicates that local elites developing a taste for fine art and the ability to afford it were also living in provincial towns, and not only in the capital cities of the Hellenistic kingdoms.”
The true nature of the find was only revealed after it was taken to be examined by Dr. Jessica Nitschke, professor of classical archeology at Georgetown University in Washington and Dr. Rebecca Martin, assistant professor of art at Southeast Missouri State University. Upon further examination, both scholars confirmed that the image on the ring is that of Apollo.
The signet ring dates to the 4th or 3rd century BCE.Rings of its type were used as seal or as an offering to the god whose image adorns them.
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UPDATE (21 Spetember): Joseph I. Lauer notes that the full press release from the University of Haifa is here.