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Mme. Biasi, courtesy of Cabinet Des Medailles
Encrusted with patina, the ring still holds the agate seal mounted on it. The seal’s inscription comprises three lines of mirror-image, paleo-Hebrew writing—reversed on the seal so that when pressed into clay the inscription will read correctly. The lines of writing are separated by two, straight, parallel lines. The inscription declares, “(Belonging) to Hanan, son (of) Hilqiyahu, the priest.” It has been dated to the seventh century B.C., based on the shape of the letters.
A light blue vein adds a dash of color to the agate seal, and a double cable-circle surrounds the bezel of the ring. Five knobs, adjacent to both sides of the bezel, also decorate the ring; they are arranged with three above two in triangular areas enclosed by cable circles.