Shiloh Ceramic Pomegranate
A clay pomegranate from the sacred area of Iron Age Shiloh
Found 2018 — Associates for Biblical Research (ABR), directed by Scott Stripling
Where Tel Shiloh (Khirbet Seilun) (West Bank (Palestinian Territories, Israeli-administered))
Dates from c. 1200–1050 BCE · Iron Age I · Judges; the tabernacle at Shiloh
Now at ABR / Israeli Civil Administration Staff Officer for Archaeology (Judea and Samaria); not on public display as of the last report
How Shiloh Ceramic Pomegranate was found
Found in situ during the 2018 season and announced in summer 2019; a second, smaller pomegranate was reported soon after. Found in the northern sector near the monumental Iron I building and the altar-horn stones.
What it is
A ceramic pomegranate about 20 cm long with four of its five pointed 'prongs' (the calyx) still intact. Such clay pomegranates were usually the tops of cult stands or scepter-like objects. A second, roughly 3-inch example was also recovered.
Why it matters for the Bible
The pomegranate was a priestly symbol: it hung in embroidered form from the hem of the high priest's robe (Exodus 28:33-34) and later crowned the pillars of Shlomo's (Solomon's) temple (1 Kings 7:18-20). Its presence in Iron I Shiloh fits the biblical picture of the site as Israel's sanctuary town, and it is one of the few objects from the excavation that most archaeologists agree is cultic. It does not, by itself, tell us who was worshiped or what building it belonged to.
The Hebrew word: rim-MOHN
רִמּוֹן
רִמּוֹן is pronounced rim-MOHN and means pomegranate (Strong's H7416).
People this discovery connects to
- Aaron — אַהֲרֹן (ah-hah-ROHN) — uncertain; traditional 'light-bringer'
Places
- Shiloh — שִׁלֹה (shee-LOH) — tranquil (uncertain)
Events
Priestly service at the tabernacle · Worship at Shiloh in the days of Eli
Shiloh Ceramic Pomegranate in Scripture
Exodus 28:33-34 Pomegranates alternate with golden bells on the hem of the high priest's robe — the same symbol found in clay at Shiloh.
Joshua 18:1 First mention of Shiloh in Scripture.
1 Samuel 1:3 Elkanah goes up yearly to worship and sacrifice at Shiloh, where Eli's sons serve as priests.
Questions people ask
What is Shiloh Ceramic Pomegranate?
A ceramic pomegranate about 20 cm long with four of its five pointed 'prongs' (the calyx) still intact. Such clay pomegranates were usually the tops of cult stands or scepter-like objects. A second, roughly 3-inch example was also recovered.
When was Shiloh Ceramic Pomegranate discovered?
It was found in 2018 by Associates for Biblical Research (ABR), directed by Scott Stripling, at Tel Shiloh (Khirbet Seilun).
Where is Shiloh Ceramic Pomegranate today?
ABR / Israeli Civil Administration Staff Officer for Archaeology (Judea and Samaria); not on public display as of the last report.
Which Bible verses does Shiloh Ceramic Pomegranate relate to?
Exodus 28:33-34, Joshua 18:1, 1 Samuel 1:3.
Related discoveries
- מִשְׁכָּןShiloh Monumental Iron I BuildingEast-west structure on the northern platform proposed as the tabernacle's resting place
- שׁוֹק הַיָּמִיןShiloh Animal Bone DepositsTens of thousands of bones from sheep, goats and cattle — with a bias toward the right side
- קֶרֶןShiloh Altar HornsThree horned corner stones of a four-horned altar, found in secondary use
- אוֹצָרShiloh Storage Rooms and Collar-Rim JarsPillared storehouses and pithoi along the northern wall — the sanctuary's pantry
- מִשְׁכָּןShiloh (Tel Shiloh / Khirbet Seilun)Iron I storerooms, collared-rim jars, and an altar horn at the home of the Tabernacle
- שִׁלֹהShiloh's Burnt Layer and Sacred-Precinct WallThe fiery end of Iron I Shiloh around 1050 BCE — the aftermath of Eben-ezer?
Sources
- ABR, 'Ceramic Pomegranate Discovered at Biblical Shiloh'
- ABR, 'Promised Land Pomegranates'
- Times of Israel, 'At Shiloh, archaeologist finds artifacts hinting at biblical Tabernacle' (Jan 2020)