LMLK Seals from Beth Shemesh
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Note:  Large dot indicates approximate location of Beth Shemesh (Ain Shems or Tell er-Rumeileh).

General statistics:
  • 32 HBRN
  • 02 MMST
  • 01 SUKE
  • 05 ZYF
  • 00 Generic
  • 31 cannot classify by inscription


  • 10 2-winged
  • 22 4-winged

Note--All of these statistics are from firsthand examination of handles, published photos as seen below, & unpublished plaster casts at the Magill Library; at least 3 others are listed at the Rockefeller Museum in IEJ vol. 34 (cross-referenced in the IAA inventory); & personal correspondence from Zvi Lederman who confirmed that 28 handles were excavated during the 1990s.

Specific statistics: Generic HBRN MMST SUKE ZYF
2-Winged (Rigid & Top-Register) 0 0 0 0 0
2-Winged Divided   0 0 0 0
2-Winged Undivided   5 2 0 3
4-Winged Lapidarist   14 0 1 0
4-Winged Cursory (many; all Type 484s)   4     2
4-Winged Cursory (few; mostly pithoi)     0   0

    H2U

  1. H2U, 1:00, AGG, 0 at the University of Pennsylvania Museum (museum ID# 34-22-23; click for detailed photos)

  2. H2U, 3:00, SGC, 0 at the University of Pennsylvania Museum (handle ID# 1312; museum ID# 61-14-1178; click for detailed photos)

  3. H2U, 3:00, xxx, 0 Reg. #1272 at the IAA (#I.8662):


  4. H2U, 6:00, SGC, 0 at the University of Pennsylvania Museum (handle ID# 225; museum ID# 61-14-1192; click for detailed photos)

  5. H2U, x:00, xxx, x plaster cast at the Magill Library (website ID# AS-3)

  6. H4C

  7. H4C, 6:00, xxx, 0 at the IAA (#P.420):


  8. H4C, 12:00, AGC, 0 at the University of Pennsylvania Museum (museum ID# 61-14-1193; click for detailed photos)

  9. H4C, 12:00, AGG, 0 at the University of Pennsylvania Museum (handle ID# 1264; museum ID# 61-14-1184; click for detailed photos)

  10. H4C, 12:00, AGG, 0 at the University of Pennsylvania Museum (handle ID# 1265; museum ID# 61-14-1185; click for detailed photos)

  11. H4L

  12. H4L, 6:00, SGG, 0 at the University of Pennsylvania Museum (handle ID# 955; museum ID# 61-14-1191; click for detailed photos)

  13. H4L, 6:00, SGG, 0 at the University of Pennsylvania Museum (handle ID# 1262; museum ID# 61-14-1189; click for detailed photos)

  14. H4L, 7:00, AGG, 0 at the University of Pennsylvania Museum (museum ID# 61-14-1181; click for detailed photos)

  15. H4L, 7:00, SCC, 0 at the University of Pennsylvania Museum (handle ID# 1261; museum ID# 61-14-1183; click for detailed photos)

  16. H4L, 7:00, xxx, 0 Reg. #1172 at the IAA (#I.5869):


  17. H4L, 7:00, xxx, 0 Reg. #1271 at the IAA (#I.8666):


  18. H4L, 12:00, AGG, 0 at the University of Pennsylvania Museum (handle ID# 1001; museum ID# 61-14-1190; click for detailed photos)

  19. H4L, 12:00, SGC, 0 at the University of Pennsylvania Museum (handle ID# 954; museum ID# 61-14-1188; click for detailed photos)

  20. H4L, 12:00, SGC, 0 at the University of Pennsylvania Museum (handle ID# 1311; museum ID# 61-14-1179; click for detailed photos)

  21. H4L, 12:00, xxx, 0 from "New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land volume 1 (A-El)" edited by Ephraim Stern, distributed by The Israel Exploration Society:

  22. H4L, 12:00, xxx, 0 Reg. #131 at the IAA (#I.422):


  23. H4L, 12:00, xxx, x from Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (20 Nov 2000; ID# 086r0):

  24. H4L, x:00, xxx, x plaster cast at the Magill Library (website ID# AS-1)

  25. H4L, x:00, xxx, x plaster cast at the Magill Library ("under II 31" noted on cast; website ID# AS-2)

  26. M2U

  27. M2U, 5:00, AGG, 0 at the University of Pennsylvania Museum (handle ID# 380; museum ID# 61-14-1195; click for detailed photos)


  28. Note:  This impression also appears in "Ain Shems Excavations Part IV" by Elihu Grant & G. Ernest Wright

  29. M2U, x:00, xxx, x from "The Hebrew Scripts, Part Two, The Plates, 1954-1957 " by Solomon A. Birnbaum (handle ID# 1171; IDAM I-5871):


  30. Note:  This impression caused some scholars to speculate that it was made from a unique seal misspelled "LNMLK" in the top register, but by using a clear film line drawing, it was obviously double-stamped using the standard M2U seal.

    S4L

  31. S4L, 12:00, AGG, 0 at the University of Pennsylvania Museum (museum ID# 61-14-1194; click for detailed photos)

  32. x4L

  33. x4L, 12:00, AGG, 0 at the University of Pennsylvania Museum (museum ID# 34-22-2; click for detailed photos)


  34. Note:  Probably an H4L; possibly an M4L

    Z2U

  35. Z2U, 3:00, SGG, 0 at the University of Pennsylvania Museum (handle ID# 953; museum ID# 61-14-1187; click for detailed photos)

  36. Z2U, 4:00, SGG, 0 at the Magill Library (handle ID# 951; click for detailed photos)

  37. Z2U, 10:00, AGG, 0 at the University of Pennsylvania Museum (handle ID# 952; museum ID# 61-14-1180; click for detailed photos)

  38. Z4CI

  39. Z4CI, 6:00, AGC, 0 at the University of Pennsylvania Museum (museum ID# 34-22-3; click for detailed photos)

  40. Z4CI, 12:00, SGG, 0 at the University of Pennsylvania Museum (museum ID# 61-14-1182; click for detailed photos)

"And they of Beth Shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley; & they lifted up their eyes & saw the ark, & rejoiced to see it."--1Samuel 6:13
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This page was created on January 30, 2003, & last updated on October 10, 2005