Photo by Yoli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority
Bar Kokhba Takes Off to the Stars
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The Jewish rebels who inscribed the words “Year Two of the liberty of Israel” (sh b lhr is) on a coin more than 1,900 years ago while fighting for their freedom and lives couldn't imagine that one day this little coin would make its way outside the atmosphere by a Jewish astronaut who lives in the State of Israel!
We are thrilled to share that Eli Eskosido, head of the Israel Antiquities Authority, presented an Ancient Jewish Coin from the Bar Kokhba Revolt Against the Romans, bearing the Name of Its leader, Shim‘on, to Eytan Stibbe in Jerusalem this week.
The 1900-year-old Jewish coin will fly with Eytan Stibbe into space on his upcoming ‘Rakia’ (firmament) mission. The coin, minted in year two of the revolt, was recently uncovered in the Cave of Horror during the challenging Judean Desert Survey and Excavations Project carried out by the Israel Antiquities Authority, along with youth and volunteers. The project covered about half of the Judean Desert caves in search of ancient remains. This state-sponsored project was undertaken in collaboration with the Staff Officer for Archaeology – Civil Administration of Judea and Samaria and funded by the Ministry of Jerusalem and Heritage.
The קרן רמון - Ramon Foundation and the Israel Space Agency in the Ministry of Science and Technology are sending the second Israeli, Eytan Stibbe, into space, on a historic mission. The purpose of the ‘Rakia’ mission is to inspire the younger generation while advancing and expanding the Israel Aerospace Industry.
We were happy to show Stibbe around >>> we visited the Israel Antiquities Authority Dead Sea Scrolls laboratory in Jerusalem, where he had a chance to learn and observe the 2000-year-old scroll fragments of the Book of Enoch, written in Aramaic. The script tells the story of Enoch, the great-grandfather of Noah, who ascended to the heavens and was accompanied by angels who showed him the sun, the moon and the stars.
The Israel Antiquities Authority researchers also showed Stibbe a unique camera that was developed with NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration technology, which was modified for documenting the scrolls and thus improving their preservation.
At the end of the visit, Eli Eskosido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, presented Stibbe with the coin for guardianship while on his trip to space. Both sides of the coin bear Jewish symbols typical of the Second Temple period: a palm tree with the inscription “Shim‘on”, of which only the letters m’n (“m‘on”) are discernable, on one side; and a vine leaf with the inscription “Year Two of the liberty of Israel” (sh b lhr is) on the other side.
Israel Antiquities Authority
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