In the past few months, Israeli archaeologist have carried undersea excavations in the Mediterranean. Ynet reports on their recent discoveries:
The Israel Antiquities Authority said in the underwater dig off the Caesarean coast they found hundreds of silver coins from the 13th to 16th centuries, along with silver and bronze coins from the Roman period. The affluent central Israeli town inherits its name and much of its territory from the ancient city of Caesarea Maritima, which was built by Herod the Great roughly between 25 and 13 BCE as a major port.
The findings also include a bronze figurine that looks like an eagle, which was the symbol of the Romans, a pantomime mask from the Roman theater, and bronze bells that were used to scare away evil spirits. These items were most likely on [two] ships that sunk some 1,700 years and 600 years ago, [respectively].
The wrecked ships also had rare personal items of people who were on them but did not survive. Among other things, a red gemstone was uncovered, designed to be set on a ring, and on the top side of it, a musical instrument was carved, known as the harp of David in the Jewish tradition. Another artifact that was found was a thick gold ring, shaped in an octagonal form, with a green gemstone, on which a young boy, a shepherd, dressed in a tunic, with a deer or sheep on his shoulders is carved. This image, of the Good Shepherd, is known in ancient Christian art as a symbol of salvation.
Read more on Ynet: https://www.ynetnews.com/travel/article/rkde88xik