Imagine yourself taking a leisurely stroll on a weekend with your family, and you come across a valuable historical artifact dating from Antiquity. This is exactly what happened to Dafna Filshteiner, a 12-year-old hiker, who spotted a tiny object during her hike which turned out to be a precious relic of ancient Egypt in the Tel Aviv area.
A remarkable intuition in the face of an ancient treasure
While her mother considered the object a simple decorative pebble, Dafna Filshteiner persisted in his investigations. Her internet searches confirmed her suspicions, prompting her to contact the Israel Antiquities Authority, the government agency responsible for protecting, studying and managing the country’s archaeological heritage.
Her instinct had not deceived her: the object turned out to be an Egyptian scarab-amulet dating back 3,500 years. Because, yes, Egyptian influence extended over several centuries, with periods of more or less marked domination, from the Middle Kingdom (around 2055-1650 BC) to the New Kingdom (around 1550). -1075 BC).
More than just a beetle
The analysis carried out by Yitzhak Paz (Bronze Age expert at the Israel Antiquities Authority) on the amulet proves that the object contained strong symbolic power. In ancient Egypt, the scarab was considered a sacred symbol representing rebirth and creation, associated with the god Khepri, and was often used as an amulet to bring protection and good fortune. “ The scarab beetle is certainly a distinct Egyptian feature, but its wide distribution extended far beyond the borders of Egypt. It could have been left by an important and influential personality passing through the region, or it could have been deliberately buried » he explains.
The copy found by Dafna features complex iconography : two scorpions arranged head to tail, the hieroglyph “ nefer » meaning “ Good ” Or “ elected », as well as a motif evoking a royal scepter. In Egyptian mythology, scorpions represented the goddess Serket, protector of pregnant women. This coin has been dated to the New Kingdom, a period during which the pharaohs led numerous military campaigns to subdue local city-states and consolidate Egyptian power.
The Israel Antiquities Authority awarded young Dafna and her family a certificate of excellence for their exemplary citizenship. The scarab, now preserved in the national archives, will be on display at the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archeology of Israel, allowing the public to admire this unique testimony relations between ancient Egypt and the regions of the Levant.
- A 12-year-old girl found a 3,500-year-old Egyptian scarab amulet near Tel Aviv.
- The scarab, richly decorated, represents sacred motifs linked to creation and protection.
- The amulet will be on public display Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archeology of Israel.
