Dozens of rare bronze coins from the Great Revolt by the Jews against Roman rule in the first century have been discovered in a cave just south of the Temple Mount in recently renewed excavations by Hebrew University of Jerusalem archaeologist Dr. Eilat Mazar.
The coins were left by Jewish residents of besieged Second Temple Jerusalem who hid in the 7-meter by 14-meter (23-foot by 46-foot) cave during the revolt in 66-70 C.E., according to a press release from the Hebrew University.
Most of the newly discovered coins date from the revolt's final year, 69-70 C.E., known as Year Four, and are markedly different from coins from the revolt's earlier years.
The coins are decorated with Jewish symbols, including the four plant species associated with the holiday of Sukkot, and a chalice that may have been used by priests in the Temple.
They also display a paleo-Hebrew inscription that arguably reflected the mood of the rebels, with the inscription in earlier years saying "For the Freedom of Zion" and in Year Four saying "For the Redemption of Zion."
"A discovery like this – ancient coins bearing the words 'freedom' and 'redemption' – found right before Passover, the Jewish festival of freedom, begins is incredibly moving," Mazar said.
She said the cave had been undisturbed since the Second Temple period, creating a "time capsule" of Jewish life during the revolt.
Until the find, most of the revolt coins found have dated from Year Two, when the Romans made great strides against the Jewish rebels.
