‘Ancient Hebrew inscriptions’ baffle Israeli archaeologists
August 08, 2015 (Source: http://www.bbc.com/news)
Israeli archaeologists say they are trying to decode ancient inscriptions written in Hebrew script discovered at a dig in Jerusalem.
The writing was found on the walls of a room containing the remains of a Jewish ritual bath, or mikveh, believed to be about 2,000 years old.
Experts are now trying to decipher words and symbols including a boat and palm trees.
They say the markings may be graffiti or have some religious significance.
One of the symbols could be a menorah – the seven-branched candelabrum which stood in the two Biblical Jewish Temples in Jerusalem – and some of the inscriptions might indicate names, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA).
The find was made when antiquity officials inspected the site slated for a nursery in the Arnona district.
On its walls were letters in Aramaic – the common language spoken in the time of Jesus – written in Hebrew script, and a series of symbols either smeared on with mud, or cut into the plaster.
