Image Details

Zev Radovan

This inscription reads lmkm, “for the shrine,” and contains the Phoenician sign for the letter tet (a cross inside a circle at upper left in photo), standing for tevel, or produce designated for tithing; below the tet are three horizontal lines, which represent 30 in the Phoenician numbering system. In addition to showing again the influence of a surrounding culture, this inscription indicates that there was a shrine at Ekron to which people brought offerings and suggests there was a priesthood serving in Ekron’s temple.