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Ivory Pomegranate

Ivory Pomegranate, also known as the Jerusalem Pomegranate, is a thumb-sized ornamental artifact acquired by the Israel Museum. Although commonly called ivory, it is actually made of hippopotamus bone and bears an inscription reading, “Holy (Sacred) to the Priest of the House of God (YHWH).” At the time of its discovery, it was believed to have decorated the High Priest’s sceptre in the Holy of Holies and was seen as possible evidence for Solomon’s Temple. However, experts at the Israel Museum later declared the inscription a modern forgery and dated the object to the 14th or 13th century BCE, long before Solomon’s time.

Ivory Pomegranate reconstruction with an inscription around its rounded body
The Ivory Pomegranate reconstruction shown upright on a black base, with an ancient inscription etched around its body.
March 2010 © · Public domain
Ivory Pomegranate replica with a narrow neck, petal-like top, and faint ancient inscriptions on a rounded body.
The Ivory Pomegranate replica shows a pale, tapered form with faint inscriptions etched around its midsection.
© · Public domain
Circular arrangement of ancient characters from the Ivory Pomegranate inscription on a plain background.
A hand-drawn recreation of the inscription on the Ivory Pomegranate artifact.
March 2010 © · Public domain
Paleo Hebrew inscription on the Ivory Pomegranate.
Ancient-style Hebrew inscription on the Ivory Pomegranate.
March 2010 © · Public domain

Identification

TitleIvory pomegranate
Alternative nameJerusalem Pomegranate
German nameElfenbein-Granatapfel
Nicknamelittle pomegranate
Object typeSmall carved pomegranate
TypeThumb-sized ornamental artifact

Historical context

DateLate Bronze Age; the inscription was proposed to date to the 8th century BCE, but the Israel Museum and the Investigative Committee of Israel dated the object itself to the 14th or 13th century BCE and the inscription to a modern forgery

Creator

MakerUnknown

Discovery and provenance

Authentication historyAuthenticated by Nahman Avigad before the museum purchase
Price on first appearanceAbout $3,000
First scholarly encounterFirst seen by André Lemaire in 1979
Discovery contextNo archaeological context or provenience was available
OriginUnknown; first publicly seen in a Jerusalem antiquities shop in 1979, then sold to an anonymous collector in France and later acquired by the Israel Museum

Physical characteristics

Height4.3 cm (43 mm)
Diameter2.1 cm
ShapeNaturalistic unripe pomegranate
ConditionThe blossom and parts of the body are damaged; two breaks run through the petals and a vertical break cuts through the inscription
Mounting featureA round hole at the bottom would allow it to be mounted on a staff

Materials

MaterialHippopotamus tooth, not ivory

Technique

TechniqueCarved object with an incised inscription

Appearance

ScriptAncient Hebrew (Paleo-Hebrew)
DecorationCircular inscription around the shoulders

Iconography and meaning

DepictionA pomegranate in blossom or unripe stage
InscriptionsThe object bears a circular inscription; its authenticity is disputed
Inscription reading"l-beyt [yahweh]h qodeš kohanim"; also read as "Belonging to the Temple [house] of YHWH, holy to the priests" or "Sacred donation for the priests of/in the Temple [house] of YHWH"
Inscription translation"Holy offering for the priests in the house of [Yahweh]" or "For the house of [Yahweh], holy to the priests"
Inscription languageAncient Hebrew
Inscription date8th century BCE proposed on palaeographic grounds
Historical interpretationAt the time of discovery it was interpreted as evidence for Solomon's Temple and as possibly belonging to the high priest's sceptre in the Holy of Holies
Current scholarly viewMost experts believe a genuine Late Bronze Age object was later inscribed with a forged Old Hebrew text and that it has no connection to the Jerusalem Temple
SymbolismThe pomegranate was a common cultic and decorative motif in the Ancient Near East and in the Solomonic Temple; its seeds and red color symbolized fertility and abundance

Location and ownership

Museum statusFormerly displayed as a highlight of the Israel Museum's Archaeological Exhibition; later removed from display
Acquired byIsrael Museum
Current ownerIsrael Museum, Jerusalem

History and restoration

Museum acquisitionBought by the Israel Museum in 1988 for $550,000
Museum acquisition basisThe museum relied on Nahman Avigad's opinion
Public displayDisplayed in a special exhibition room with dramatic lighting and was a major audience attraction for 15 years
Scholarly debateIn 2004 the Israel Museum and other scholars concluded the inscription was a modern forgery; André Lemaire defended authenticity, while Shmuel Ahituv, Aaron Demsky, Yuval Goren, and others disputed it
Re-examinationA May 2007 re-examination by Ahituv, Demsky, and Goren kept the forgery conclusion, while Lemaire maintained it was authentic
Legal caseOded Golan was charged in 2004 with forging biblical artifacts; he was acquitted of forgery on 14 March 2012 but convicted of illegal antiquities trading

Significance

Museum significanceAt one point it was considered the most important item of biblical antiquities in the Israel Museum's collection
Public receptionFor many visitors it became a quasi-religious experience

Other

Comparative contextComparable ceremonial staffs with pomegranate finials are known from the Ancient Near East; some scholars considered a priestly staff use plausible