Incised LMLK Oil Jar

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Here is an unprovenanced (O. Golan collection--the same person under suspicion of forging ancient inscriptions on the Jehoash Tablet & James Ossuary) Type 484 jar (58cm tall) with the words "LMLK SMN SPR" written on it (inscised after firing) followed by 2 horizontal strokes, which can be interpreted as "2 units (each horizontal stroke = 1) of good (SPR) oil (SMN) to/for the king (LMLK)" (although "LMLK" could also be an adjective for either "2 royal units" or "royal oil").  The estimated volume is 48.6 litres, so each of the "2 units" would be about 24.3 litres.  According to the authors of "Windows to the Past" where it was first published, horizontal strokes in Hebrew & Phoenician represent 10, so a more accurate interpretation of the quantity is "20 units".  Twenty 'issarons equal 2 baths. In spite of the suspicions surrounding Oded Golan, on 10-25-03 Robert Deutsch reiterated: "The storage jar is perfectly genuine and I am confident as to the antiquity of the inscription.  He never agreed to sell this item despite of offers which he had." From "Windows to the Past" by R. Deutsch & M. Heltzer: The photo above also appears in Hasmodia 2004-8-18 (ad by The Living Torah Museum) = רפש ןמש ךלמל "I thought it good to declare the signs & wonders that the Most High God has worked for me."--Daniel 4:2

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This page was created on May 31, 2002, & last updated on June 8, 2006