"(Belonging) to Ya’azanyahu servant of the king"
Iron Age II, late 7th - early 6th century BCE
W: 1.9; Th: 1.2; Diam: 1.8 cm
Israel Antiquities Authority
Accession number: IAA 1932-2525
In ancient times, when only a small minority could read and write, seal impressions such as this one were used as a mark of ownership and as a means of authenticating documents, similar to signatures today. Some of these seals and impressions bear titles or names of officials mentioned in the Bible.
Hestrin, Ruth, Dayagi-Mendels, Michal, Inscribed Seals: First Temple Period, The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, 1978/9
Digital presentation of this object was made possible by: The Ridgefield Foundation, New York, in memory of Henry J. and Erna D. Leir