- December 19, 2025
- 12:57 pm
- Israel
An item has been discovered in Jerusalem that breaks the usual historical scheme. In the archaeological park “Davidson Center” in December 2025, a pendant with the image of a menorah — a Jewish seven-branched candelabrum — was found. And this is not just a piece of jewelry, but a find directly related to the period when Jews were officially forbidden to be in the city.
The excavations are being conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority in collaboration with the “City of David” organization and the Jewish Quarter Development Company. It was during these works that archaeologists stumbled upon a small but symbolically extremely important artifact.
The context in which it appeared
The pendant dates back to the early 7th century AD — the time of Byzantine rule. During this period, Jerusalem was considered a forbidden city for Jews: imperial decrees restricted or completely prohibited their presence in the holy place.
Nevertheless, the find itself suggests otherwise. It is assumed that the owner of the pendant consciously violated the ban and was in Jerusalem, while maintaining a connection with Jewish tradition.
Where exactly it was found
The image of the menorah was discovered in an eight-meter cultural layer, which was used as a foundation for monumental structures of the Umayyad period. This layer completely covered earlier ruins — including an architectural ensemble next to which a paved street of the Byzantine period ran.
It was in this “archaeological silence,” hidden under later construction, that the pendant lay for more than a thousand years.
What the artifact represents
The pendant is made in the shape of a disk with a hole for a chain. The menorah is embossed on both sides.
On one side, the image is preserved almost perfectly, on the other — covered with patina, but is read quite clearly. The central branch is framed by three branches on each side, corresponding to the classical canon of the temple menorah image.
An analysis conducted by restorer Ilya Reznik showed that the pendant is made of almost pure lead — about 99%.
A rarity of world level
Lead pendants with a menorah are an exceptional rarity. Archaeologists emphasize: this is only the second known specimen of this type in the world.
The first is kept in the Baltimore Museum of Art in the USA, but its origin is unknown. Unlike it, the Jerusalem find has a clear archaeological context.
According to researchers Yuval Baruch, Philip Vukosavovic, Esther Rakov, and Shulamit Terem, the presence of the menorah on both sides of the pendant emphasizes its significance as a symbol of connection with Judaism even after the destruction of the Second Temple.
An amulet, not a decoration
The material plays a key role here. Lead was rarely used for decorative jewelry but was widely used in amulets.
According to Yuval Baruch, this indicates the protective function of the pendant. It was not an element of external appearance, but a personal item carrying identity and memory.
“In the Byzantine period, the menorah becomes a symbol of national memory and the aspiration to revive Jewish presence in the Land of Israel,” the scientist emphasizes.
The significance of the find today
This small pendant is not just an archaeological object. It serves as indirect but convincing evidence that Jewish presence in Jerusalem did not disappear even during periods of official prohibitions.
The history recorded in lead turns out to be stronger than imperial decrees and political boundaries. It is such finds that change our understanding of the past and make us look anew at the complex fabric of Jerusalem’s history — which remains the focus of NAnews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency.
