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The 'Pilate' Ring from Herodium

Copper-alloy ring reading 'of Pilatus' in Greek, found 1968–69 and read in 2018

Herod, Yeshua & Jerusalem's Fall · jewelry / amulet, inscription · Debated · found 1969

Found 1969 — Gideon Foerster's Herodium excavation (1968–69); inscription read in 2018 by Shua Amorai-Stark, Malka Hershkovitz, Roi Porat and colleagues after cleaning and photography

Where Herodium, hilltop palace-fortress (West Bank (Palestinian Territories))

Dates from 1st century CE (before 71 CE) · Early Roman · Pilate's governorship of Judea

Now at Israel Antiquities Authority collections (studied by the Hebrew University Herodium expedition)

Names a biblical person Pontius Pilate ('Pilato'; identification with the prefect uncertain)

How The 'Pilate' Ring from Herodium was found

Found in a room of the hilltop palace among fill from the time of the First Revolt (66–71 CE). It sat in storage for about 50 years until cleaning and reflectance-transformation imaging revealed the letters.

What it is

A simple copper-alloy finger ring with an oval bezel showing a wine vessel (krater) surrounded by Greek letters read as ΠΙΛΑΤΟ, 'of Pilato'. Rings like this were used to stamp seals on documents.

Why it matters for the Bible

The name Pilatus is rare, so the ring may have belonged to Pontius Pilate or, more likely, to someone in his administration who sealed letters in his name — a cheap ring is an odd personal item for a Roman governor. It is the second ancient object bearing Pilate's name. A 2026 reconsideration questions the reading itself, so this is a find to hold loosely.

Debated: The ring is genuine and 1st-century. Its reading as 'Pilato' and any link to the governor himself are debated; a 2026 article in Palestine Exploration Quarterly reconsiders the reading. Even the 2018 publishers thought it more likely belonged to an official than to Pilate personally.

The Hebrew word: ta-BAH-at

טַבַּעַת

טַבַּעַת is pronounced ta-BAH-at and means signet ring — a symbol of delegated authority (see Genesis 41:42) (Strong's H2885).

People this discovery connects to

Places

Events

Pilate's administration of Judea · Trial of Yeshua

The 'Pilate' Ring from Herodium in Scripture

Matthew 27:2 First mention of Pilate in Scripture.

Matthew 27:24 Pilate washes his hands — the governor whose name this ring may carry.

John 18:28-29 Pilate at the praetorium; his staff would have sealed orders with rings like this one.

Questions people ask

What is The 'Pilate' Ring from Herodium?
A simple copper-alloy finger ring with an oval bezel showing a wine vessel (krater) surrounded by Greek letters read as ΠΙΛΑΤΟ, 'of Pilato'. Rings like this were used to stamp seals on documents.

When was The 'Pilate' Ring from Herodium discovered?
It was found in 1969 by Gideon Foerster's Herodium excavation (1968–69); inscription read in 2018 by Shua Amorai-Stark, Malka Hershkovitz, Roi Porat and colleagues after cleaning and photography, at Herodium, hilltop palace-fortress.

Where is The 'Pilate' Ring from Herodium today?
Israel Antiquities Authority collections (studied by the Hebrew University Herodium expedition).

Which Bible verses does The 'Pilate' Ring from Herodium relate to?
Matthew 27:2, Matthew 27:24, John 18:28-29.

Is The 'Pilate' Ring from Herodium authentic?
The ring is genuine and 1st-century. Its reading as 'Pilato' and any link to the governor himself are debated; a 2026 article in Palestine Exploration Quarterly reconsiders the reading. Even the 2018 publishers thought it more likely belonged to an official than to Pilate personally.

Related discoveries

Sources

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