Historic Stone Capital with Menorah Set for Exhibit Ahead of Independence Day

A rare archaeological treasure will soon be unveiled just in time for Israel’s Independence Day celebrations. The Israel Antiquities Authority announced this week that a 1,500-year-old limestone capital, adorned with an intricately carved menorah, will be put on public display at the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel.

The capital, featuring an eight-branched menorah, was unearthed five years ago during bridge construction at the entrance to Jerusalem near Motza, a community steeped in historical significance. Archaeologists believe the artifact once crowned a pillar in a Roman-period building or along a bustling street.

“The stone capital from the Jerusalem hills, decorated with the eight-branched menorah design, is unique, and a rare kind of discovery,” said Yuval Baruch, deputy director of archaeology at the Israel Antiquities Authority.

He explained that in the aftermath of the Second Temple’s destruction, the menorah evolved into the unifying symbol of the Jewish people across both the Diaspora and the Land of Israel. Its presence on a monumental stone from this period speaks volumes about the resilience and continuity of Jewish life, even under Roman rule.

Historical accounts, supported by archaeological evidence, indicate that Jewish settlements in Judea especially in the Jerusalem hills suffered catastrophic losses following the Bar Kokhba Revolt in the 2nd century C.E. Many communities were destroyed or abandoned.

“Based on this reality, it is reasonable to surmise that this capital [stone] was brought from a destroyed site elsewhere merely to serve as useful building material here,” Baruch noted, suggesting the artifact’s survival through tumultuous eras.

Still, the survival of this menorah-carved stone stands as a powerful testament to Jewish endurance and faith. Its public unveiling during the nation's 77th Independence Day celebration is a fitting tribute to a people who have rebuilt their homeland from the ashes of history.

“There is no more appropriate time to reveal this find to the public than in these very days of celebrating our identity as a nation,” said IAA Director Eli Escusido. “The connection to roots and to values is the source of our strength.”

As Israel marks its national rebirth, this ancient menorah reminds the world that the Jewish connection to the land runs deep etched not only in sacred texts but in the very stones of its hills.

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