Tell Siran Bottle
A bronze flask naming three generations of Ammonite kings, two of them known to Assyria
Found 1972 — University of Jordan excavations (Henry O. Thompson and Fawzi Zayadine) at Tell Siran on the university campus
Where Tell Siran, University of Jordan campus, Amman (Jordan)
Dates from c. 600 BCE (dynasty names reach back to the 7th century) · Iron Age IIC · Late Divided Kingdom / Judah alone (Ammonite kings)
Now at The Jordan Museum, Amman (previously displayed in the Jordan Archaeological Museum on the Citadel)
How Tell Siran Bottle was found
Found in a small excavation at Tell Siran, north of Amman; published in 1973.
What it is
A small bronze bottle about 10 cm long, still sealed, with an eight-line Ammonite inscription: 'The works of Amminadab king of the Ammonites, son of Hissalel king of the Ammonites, son of Amminadab king of the Ammonites: the vineyard and the gardens and the pool and cisterns. May he rejoice and be glad many days and years to come.' Inside were barley seeds and metal fragments.
Why it matters for the Bible
It is the only complete Ammonite royal inscription and gives a three-king dynasty; Amminadab I is named in Ashurbanipal's records around 667 BCE, which lets scholars line up the Ammonite king list against Assyrian dates. It shows Ammon as a functioning kingdom with royal gardens right up to the time Jeremiah prophesied against it — and its wish for 'many days and years' echoes biblical blessing language.
The Hebrew word: be-NAY Am-MONE
בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן
בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן is pronounced be-NAY Am-MONE and means 'sons of Ammon' — the Ammonites (Strong's H1121 + H5983).
Places
- Ammon — עַמּוֹן (Am-MONE) — of the people
Events
Ammonite kingdom in the Assyrian and Babylonian periods
Tell Siran Bottle in Scripture
Genesis 19:38 First mention of Ammon in Scripture.
Jeremiah 49:1-2 Judgment on the Ammonites and their god Milcom in Rabbah — the kingdom this bottle's kings ruled.
Ezekiel 25:2-3 Prophecy against the Ammonites for gloating over Judah's fall.
Questions people ask
What is Tell Siran Bottle?
A small bronze bottle about 10 cm long, still sealed, with an eight-line Ammonite inscription: 'The works of Amminadab king of the Ammonites, son of Hissalel king of the Ammonites, son of Amminadab king of the Ammonites: the vineyard and the gardens and the pool and cisterns. May he rejoice and be glad many days and years to come.' Inside were barley seeds and metal fragments.
When was Tell Siran Bottle discovered?
It was found in 1972 by University of Jordan excavations (Henry O. Thompson and Fawzi Zayadine) at Tell Siran on the university campus, at Tell Siran, University of Jordan campus, Amman.
Where is Tell Siran Bottle today?
The Jordan Museum, Amman (previously displayed in the Jordan Archaeological Museum on the Citadel).
Which Bible verses does Tell Siran Bottle relate to?
Genesis 19:38, Jeremiah 49:1-2, Ezekiel 25:2-3.
Related discoveries
- מִלְכֹּםAmman Citadel InscriptionThe god Milkom speaks: the earliest Ammonite monumental text
- הָעֶבֶד הָעַמֹּנִיQasr al-Abd and the 'Tobiah' InscriptionsThe Tobiad family estate east of the Jordan, with the name Tobiah carved over its caves
- גִּבֹּרKish and Its 'Flood' DepositThe city where the King List says kingship resumed after the flood
Sources
- Thompson & Zayadine, 'The Tell Siran Inscription', BASOR 212 (1973)
- Wikipedia: Tel Siran inscription
- Universes in Universe: Tall Siran Bottle, Jordan Museum