Gold jewelry excavated at Hippos-Sussita

ANCIENT BLING: Roman-era gold jewelry found at Hippos testifies to wealth of city likely visited by Jesus. Although found out of context, unearthed ring and earrings shed light on ancient Galilean affluence in the first centuries of the Common Era (Rossella Tercatin, Times of Israel).

An exquisite golden ring and a pair of earrings dating to the Roman period (1st-3rd centuries CE) have recently been unearthed during archaeological excavations at the Sussita (Hippos) National Park, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority announced Thursday.

The artifacts help shed light on the affluence that once defined this ancient city overlooking the Sea of Galilee – one of the 10 cities of the Decapolis alliance where, according to the Gospels, Jesus preached, Dr. Michael Eisenberg told The Times of Israel in a phone interview.

“The ring was found a few days ago, while the earrings were uncovered a few months ago,” said Eisenberg, co-director of the Hippos (Sussita) Excavations Project with Dr. Arleta Kowalewska, both from the University of Haifa.

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For many PaleoJudaica posts on artifacts and architecture recovered in and around the site of Hippos-Sussita, start here and follow the links. Another less-impressive ring was found in Sussita National Park a couple of years ago.

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