Thursday, March 14, 2019

Halutza ("Elusa") inscription

EPIGRAPHY: Archaeological Excavations Reveal 1700 Year-Old Inscription of City Named ‘Elusa’ (Halutza) in the Negev (Jewish Press News Desk).
The name of the city of Elusa appears in a number of historical documents and contexts, including the Madaba mosaic map, the Nessana papyri and other historical references. However, this is the first time that the name of the city has been discovered in the site itself. The inscription mentions several Caesars of the tetrarchy which allow to date it around 300 CE.
According to the Jerusalem Post, Halutza is also one of two possible sites for the biblical city of Ziklag.

Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.