Israeli archaeologists
in Jerusalem say they've found an ancient coin that played a role in Jewish ritual at the biblical Second Temple.
| Temple Times |
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| Ancient quarry used for Second Temple discovered / Neta Sela |
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Israel Antiquities Authority uncovers 1.23 acre quarry on hills north of Jerusalem's Old City, believed to have provided massive stones for construction of Second Temple, other Jerusalem structures |
| Full Story |
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The silver coin is a shekel denomination. In the Bible, Jews are commanded to contribute half a shekel each for maintaining the Temple in Jerusalem.
The archaeologists say the coin they found near the Old City of Jerusalem is the type the ancient Jews used to pay the tax.
The Second Temple was built in the sixth century BC and was standing in the time of Jesus.
The coin was found in a 2,000-year-old drainage ditch. The archaeologists say the coin must have been dropped there by accident - just as sometimes a coin drops out of someone's pocket today and gets flushed down a sewer.
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