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Four coins dating back almost 1,900 age , to when the Jewish people launched a rising against the Roman Empire , have been discovered in the Judaean desert .
The coin were find in the Mazuq Ha - he’teqim Nature Reserve , which is place in the West Bank . They date to the time of the Bar Kokhba revolt ( A.D. 132 to 135 ) , when the Judaic people rose up against theRoman Empire . Although the rebellion had some initial winner , the Romans ' counterplay ensue in mass slaughter .
A coin with an ancient Hebrew inscription on it that says “Eleazar the Priest."
" Five hundred and eighty thousand men were slain in the various maraud and battles , and the number of those that perished by famine , disease and fire was past get hold out … thus nearly the whole of Judaea was made bare , " Roman historian Cassius Dio write in his book " Roman history " ( translation by Earnest Cary ) . While the truth of the death price he gives is a matter of some debate , there is no uncertainty that it was very high and many cave where refugee obliterate from the Roman army have been found in the region .
Related:‘Extremely rarified ' 2,500 - class - old disclose silver coin unearthed near Jerusalem
On the other side of the coin is another Hebraical dedication , which says , " year one of the redemption of Israel . " This indicate that the coin was minted in A.D. 132 , during the first class of the rising , the statement said . There is also an engraving of grape .
The other side of the “Eleazar the Priest” coin, showing grapes surrounded by the text “year one of the redemption of Israel” in ancient Hebrew script.
The three other new discovered coins have an lettering saying " Simeon , " which may refer to Simeon ( also spelled Simon ) bar Kokhba , the loss leader of the revolt , according to the command .
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The work will continue with an mining at Murabba’at Caves that will allow members of the public to volunteer .
