Israel, 13-year-old boy finds ring with 1,800-year-old goddess Athena

In Israel, a young man from Haifa made an extraordinary discovery while exploring Mount Carmel. Yair Whiteson, only 13 years old, found an 1,800-year-old bronze ring depicting the goddess Athena. This important find was turned over to theIsrael Antiquities Authority, and Yair received a commendation as a “Good Citizen.”

The Discovery

The excursion took place near the site of the “ancient quarry” under Khirbet Shalala, also known as Mishmar HaCarmel Farm. Khirbet Shalala, located on a central hill of Mount Carmel, is a site of great archaeological interest, bordered on three sides by Nahal Oren and near the perennial water source Ein Alon. The site was explored in the 19th century by the Palestine Exploration Fund and later by Professor Ruth Amiran and Bar-Ilan University.

Yair, an avid collector of fossils and rocks, noticed a small green object among the stones. He initially thought it was a rusty bolt, but once home he realized it was a ring with an engraved image, which at first glance looked like a warrior. The site is now further enhanced by the discovery of the ring.

Analysis of the Ring

The Whiteson family contacted Nir Distelfeld, inspector of the Israeli Antiquities Authority’s Theft Prevention Unit. The ring was examined by Professor Shua Amorai-Stark, an expert on ancient rings and amulets at Kaye Academic College. Through collaboration between the Israel Antiquities Authority and experts, it was confirmed that the ring dates back to Roman times and is a find of great historical value.

“On this beautiful ring, preserved in its entirety, is an image of a nude figure wearing a helmet. In one hand he holds a shield and in the other a spear,” explain Distelfeld and Dr. Eitan Klein, of the Israel Antiquities Authority’s Antiquities Robbery Prevention Unit. “Yair’s identification of the figure as that of a warrior is very close to reality. The figure is apparently the goddess Minerva of Roman mythology, also known as Athena in Greek mythology. This goddess, very popular during the Roman period in the Land of Israel, was considered, among other things, the goddess of war and military strategy, and also the goddess of wisdom.”

“The small ring, whose metal appears to be bronze,” the researchers add, “probably belonged to a girl from the late Roman period (2nd-3rd century AD). The site of the find was under Khirbet Shalala, located on a hill where there are remains of Roman-era farms - and near an ancient rock quarry. There are two burial caves on the edge of the quarry. The ring may have belonged to a woman who lived on this farm. Or it could have fallen off a worker at the quarry, or it could have been a funerary offering from these nearby graves. There are many possibilities.”

Public Display

The bronze ring will be displayed at the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for Israel Archaeology in Jerusalem. Yair and his family were invited for a tour of the campus, where they received a commendation for their contribution to the preservation of cultural heritage. Visitors can view the ring during summer tours organized by the Israel Antiquities Authority. More details about the exhibit are available on the Authority’s website.

For Yair Whiteson, this discovery represents an unforgettable adventure and a significant contribution to the history and archaeology of Mount Carmel. His curiosity and attention to detail allowed a piece of ancient history to be unearthed, further enriching our knowledge of Israel’s past.

Israel, 13-year-old boy finds ring with 1,800-year-old goddess Athena

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