Heavy rains in northern Israel unearthed a clay figurine of a horse's head, which was discovered by a mother and her two daughters out searching for mushrooms. The lady just happened to work for the Israel Antiquities Authority, and immediately recognized its significance. The horse figurine was found in Kfar Ruppin in the Beit She'an Valley, and dates to the Iron Age II (ninth to seventh centuries BC). A broken hand can be seen on the horse's neck as well as the harness, and the remains of red paint on the mane can be detected. A second horse figurine dating to the Hellenistic era was also discovered near Tel Akko by another hiker. Biblically, Beit She'an is best known for being where the Philistines impaled the bodies of King Saul and his sons on the city wall. The Bible also describes horses in Iron Age Israel, with King Solomon importing them from Egypt and trading them to the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria (1 Kgs 10:29). Heavy rains in northern Israel unearthed a clay figurine of a horse's head, which was discovered by a mother and her two daughters out searching for mushrooms. The lady just happened to work for the Israel Antiquities Authority, and immediately recognized its significance. The horse figurine was found in Kfar Ruppin in the Beit She'an Valley, and dates to the Iron Age II (ninth to seventh centuries BC). A broken hand can be seen on the horse's neck as well as the harness, and the remains of red paint on the mane can be detected. A second horse figurine dating to the Hellenistic era was also discovered near Tel Akko by another hiker. Biblically, Beit She'an is best known for being where the Philistines impaled the bodies of King Saul and his sons on the city wall. The Bible also describes horses in Iron Age Israel, with King Solomon importing them from Egypt and trading them to the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria (1 Kgs 10:29).
Off-site Links:
- https://www.timesofisrael.com/driving-rain-uncovers-2-rare-horse-statues-in-north-of-israel/
- https://www.jewishpress.com/news/archaeology-news/heavy-rains-unearth-ancient-horse-figurines-in-northern-israel/2019/01/22/
- http://thejewishvoice.com/2019/01/23/israels-heavy-rains-reveal-ancient-horse-figurines
