5th-century amulet depicting biblical figure King Solomon spearing the devil discovered in Turkey
Turkish archaeologists say they have discovered an ancient amulet depicting a biblical figure fighting the devil.
The rare artifact, which dates back to the fifth century, was discovered during an ongoing excavation project in the ancient city of Hadrianopolis near Karabuk.
Hadrianopolis was used as a settlement in different historical periods, including the Roman and Byzantine Empires. Excavation and restoration work has been ongoing here since 2003, and more than a dozen buildings have been discovered and restored. multiple huge mosaics Discovered over the years.
According to an archaeologist, the pendant was made of bronze and was engraved with an image of King Solomon. Press release from Karabuk University, Türkiye. Dr. Ersin Çelikbaş, associate professor at the university, said ancient rulers defeated devils while riding horses and armed with spears. Solomon appears in many religions, including Judaism, Catholicism, and Islam.
Karabuk University
“The depiction of the prophet Solomon on this necklace surprised us and revealed the importance of this artifact for Anatolian archeology,” ÇelikbaÅŸ said. Anatolia is a region of Türkiye.
One side of the amulet reads “Our Lord has conquered evil” and the other side has the names of four biblical angels – Azrael, Gabriel, Michael and Israfil. The pendant can be used as a talisman to ward off evil or danger, ÇelikbaÅŸ told LiveScience.
Celikbas added that the amulet was related to the city’s military nature, noting that previous excavations had “identified the presence of a cavalry unit in Hadrianopolis.” ÇelikbaÅŸ said this is the first such pendant found in Türkiye, although similar pendants have been found in Jerusalem.
“The presence of similar works in these two distant regions suggests that Hadrianopolis was an important religious center in ancient times,” Celikbas said.
