Israeli archaeologists celebrate gift of Talmudic era magic amulet – The Forward forward.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from forward.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Dafna Gazit/Israel Antiquities AuthorityThe Israeli Antiquities Authority recently released an announcement about their acquisition of an ancient magical amulet, reportedly from Arbel in Northern Israel, that bears the Divine Name of God. The fifth-sixth century CE magical device, which was worn to ward off evil, was apparently found at the site of an ancient synagogue. The discovery is making waves because—in popular understandings at least—ancient Jews were not supposed to participate in magic
Usually associated with Christians and Gnostics, the fact that the amulet was found near an ancient synagogue in the Galilee suggests the Jews of that period also used them, say researchers.