A small stone artifact linked to Zeus-Dushara, a deity once worshipped across the ancient Negev, was discovered by an eight-year-old boy during a family hike through the Ramon Crater in Israel. The Israel Antiquities Authority announced the find on Monday.
The fragment dates to the Roman period, roughly 1,700 years ago. It measures about six by six centimeters (2.3 x 2.3 inches) and shows the upper torso of a male figure draped in a sculpted outer garment with detailed folds.
Researchers believe it may represent the Roman god Jupiter (Greek Zeus). Another possibility is Zeus-Dushara. He was originally a Nabatean god named Dushara, who later became associated with the Greek god Zeus, after Nabatean and Greco-Roman cultures met and influenced each other across the region.
How an eight-year-old spotted the ancient fragment
Dor Wolynitz, eight, from Rehovot, spotted the object near Khan Saharonim while on a weekend excursion organised for families of IDF paratroopers. He said that he was scanning the ground for interesting items to bring back to class when a small stone with visible stripes caught his attention.
Akiva Goldenhersh, a supervisor with the IAA’s Antiquities Theft Prevention Unit, was also on the trip. After Dor showed him the piece, Goldenhersh said that his first reaction was that it looked like a fossil. The carved fabric folds quickly changed his mind and left him excited.
He identified the garment as a himation, a heavy outer cloak associated with classical Greek and Roman dress. No undergarment was visible beneath it. He said that the precision of the carving and the choice of material reflect a highly skilled craftsman.
Zeus-Dushara artifact connects to the Negev’s ancient trade past
IAA geologist Dr. Nimrod Wieler examined the fragment and identified it as phosphorite, a mineral widely found across the Negev. Goldenhersh said that finding points to the statuette being made locally rather than brought in from elsewhere.
The site sits along the former Spice Route. It was a major trading path that carried frankincense, myrrh, and other goods between southern Arabia and Mediterranean ports.
The Nabateans, whose capital was Petra, maintained trade stops, water systems, and fortifications across the desert. They were active in the region from the third century BCE to the second century CE.
Dor and his family handed the artifact to the IAA’s National Treasures Department, which gave him a certificate for his actions.
Heritage Minister Rabbi Amichai Eliyahu praised the boy, saying the discovery would help document the history of communities that once passed through the region. Goldenhersh said that all ancient finds belong to the shared heritage of the land and should be reported to the IAA.
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