In Jerusalem found millennial Muslim amulet
Israeli archaeologists found in the city of David near Jerusalem’s Muslim rare amulet made about a thousand years ago, in the era of the Baghdad Caliphate. As reported on the website of the National Park “City of David”, the artifact was written for blessing or personal prayer, a certain Karim.
The city of David is located South of the Old town, outside still surrounding Jerusalem city walls of the XVI century. According to legend, here king David built a Palace and founded a capital. Subsequently, Jerusalem was conquered by the Babylonians and the Romans, it was ruled by the Byzantine Empire, and in the year 638 it was captured by the Arabs. The city was part of the Caliphate, first of Damascus (661-750) and then Baghdad (750-1258).
Excavations in the City of David are from the mid-nineteenth century. Here were found the walls of the large building, which, according to some archaeologists, was built during the reign of David (other researchers attribute it to a later time). Archaeologists have found buildings and artifacts of the era of the First Temple and subsequent periods in the history of the city. Since 2007, excavations have been conducted at the former givati Parking lot, located at the Western entrance to the City of David. Here were found the ruins of the building of the first century, which may have been the residence of the Empress Helena, the mother of Roman Emperor Constantine the Great. Nearby, archaeologists found a building from the Byzantine period and more than 200 gold coins in the seventh century.
A new artifact was found, archaeologists from the Israel antiquities authority and tel Aviv University. On a piece of baked clay with a length of one centimeter was cut two lines in Arabic: “believe in Allah Kareem. Allah is the ruler of the Universe.” The first line was familiar to researchers in the roadside graffiti VIII—X centuries cow on the pilgrims ‘ route to Mecca, and also from the inscriptions on the amulets made of semiprecious stones. The second line is partially worn off, and scientists have restored the phrase in the inscriptions on the seals, and similar quotes from the Koran.
The researchers found the amulet on the floor of the building residential or household purposes, between layers of plaster. Recently next to the building archaeologists found the remains of a large market, the ruins of which were built houses and a small factory. Perhaps, found the building belonged to this complex. Along with the artifact were found a ceramic lamp, typical for the age of the Baghdad Caliphate. Her style of calligraphy on the amulet, scientists have dated it to the IX—X centuries. ekami. It is unknown whether the lost artifact the owner Karim, or he deliberately hid it in the construction of “luck”. Apparently, the man wore the amulet or in some capacity, or it was attached to the suspension, which was lost.
Recently in Israel, found the Christian amulet ring XII—XV centuries. cow with the image of St. Nicholas. Perhaps it was lost pilgrim, who visited Nazareth or the sea of Galilee.