Child Finds Impressive 1,800-Year-Old Ring Engraved With Goddess Minerva On Mount Carmel, Israel

Jan Bartek - AncientPages.com - An ancient ring, approximately 1,800 years old, has been discovered on Mount Carmel in Israel. The artifact was found by 13-year-old Yair Whiteson from Haifa during a walk near the "ancient quarry" site below Khirbet Shalala (Mishmar HaCarmel Farm).

The ring features an engraving of the Roman goddess Minerva, and has generated considerable interest among archaeologists. This discovery occurred in a region known for its historical significance, adding to the area's rich archaeological record.

Credit: Israel Antiquities Authority

Minerva, a prominent deity in Roman mythology, holds multiple significant roles. She is primarily recognized as the goddess of wisdom, justice, law, and victory. Additionally, she serves as a patron of arts, trade, and strategy. While Minerva is associated with warfare, her domain focuses on strategic aspects rather than the violent nature typically attributed to gods like Mars. From the second century B.C. onwards, Romans began to associate Minerva with the Greek goddess Athena, drawing parallels between their respective attributes and roles in their respective pantheons.

Mount Carmel, Israel. Credit: Chadner - Public Domain

"I am curious about fossils and rocks and love to collect them,” shares young Whiteson. “While hiking, I noticed a small green item and picked it up. It was corroded, and at first, I thought it was just a rusty bolt. I thought about heating it, but then, fortunately, I understood it was a ring. At home, I saw an image on it. At first glance, I thought it was a warrior."

Credit: Israel Antiquities Authority

The family took the appropriate action by contacting Nir Distelfeld, an Inspector at the Israel Antiquities Authority's theft Prevention unit. Distelfeld then transferred the ring to the National Treasures Department for further examination. The Israel Antiquities Authority conducted a thorough investigation of the artifact, enlisting the expertise of Prof. Shua Amorai-Stark from Kaye Academic College, who specializes in ancient rings and amulets.

As a gesture of appreciation for their responsible behavior, Yair and his family were invited to tour the recently established Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel. Additionally, they received official recognition for their exemplary citizenship.

Credit: Israel Antiquities Authority

“On this beautiful ring, preserved in its entirety, is the image of a helmeted naked figure. In one hand she holds a shield, and a spear in the other," explain Distelfeld and Dr. Eitan Klein, from the Israel Antiquities Authority's Unit for the Prevention of Antiquities Robbery in a press release.

"Yair's identification of the figure as a warrior is very close to reality. The figure is - apparently, the goddess Minerva from Roman mythology, known also as Athena in Greek mythology. This goddess, who was very popular during the Roman period in the Land of Israel, was considered, among other things, as the goddess of war and military strategy, and also as the goddess of wisdom."

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“The small ring, whose metal seems to be bronze, probably belonged to a woman or girl during the Late Roman Period (2nd-3rd Century CE). The findspot was below Khirbet Shalala, sited on a hilltop where there are Roman period farmstead remains – and near an ancient rock quarry. There are two burial caves on the quarry’s edge.

The ring may have belonged to a woman who lived on this farm. Or, it might have fallen from a quarry worker, or it may have been a burial offering from these nearby graves. There are many possibilities,” say the researchers.

Written by Jan Bartek - AncientPages.com Staff Writer