Inscription dedicated to Roman emperor Hadrian unearthed in Jerusalem

Jerusalem, Oct 21 (EFE). — Israeli archaeologists Tuesday revealed the discovery of a stone engraved with a 2000yearold Latin inscription dedicated to Roman emperor Hadrian.

The fragment, considered one of the most important Latin inscriptions in Jerusalem, was discovered during recent excavations north of the Damascus Gate by the Israel Antiquities Authority.

Dr. Rina Avner, who led the excavation, said the relic from the Roman period is “very rare” and was uncovered at the entrance of a deep water tank.

The size of the inscription and the clarity of the letters indicate it had great historical significance, the experts said.

It consists of six lines of Latin text engraved on hard limestone, according to Avner Ecker, who helped to translate it.

Further analysis revealed that the fragment is just the right half of a complete inscription, the other part of which was discovered in the 19th century by French archaeologist Charles ClermontGanneau and is currently on display in the courtyard of the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum Museum in Jerusalem.

Only a small number of ancient Latin inscriptions have been discovered so far in archaeological excavations in Israel in general and in Jerusalem in particular.