A unique scroll, known as the "Horoscope," has been discovered in the Judean Desert, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced this week.
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The artifact provides a glimpse into the astrological beliefs and practices of an ancient sect, combining historical and mystical elements.
Written in Hebrew from left to right, an unusual direction, the scroll includes Greek, Aramaic, and ancient Hebrew scripts, along with coded messages. Dr. Oren Ableman, a curator-researcher with the Judaean Desert Scrolls Unit, suggests that the scroll's writing style was intended for a select audience, likely the sect's leadership. "The texts seem secretive, accessible only to those meant to understand them," he said.
The scroll presents a worldview in which a person's birth date influences their physical traits and the balance of light and darkness in their soul. Each date is associated with specific levels of these qualities, affecting individuals born on those dates.
According to Ableman, the scroll might have been used as part of an initiation process for new members of the community, who referred to themselves as "sons of light." Prospective members were evaluated based on their birth date and physical characteristics, such as head shape, to determine their suitability. "Belief in the sect's doctrines was not sufficient for acceptance; one's birth date and physical appearance were also considered," he noted.
This discovery has sparked interest among scholars and the general public, prompting discussions on ancient astrological practices, the IAA said.
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