Aryel Tsion Israel Guide & Int. Speaker

26/06/2025

Rare bronze discs decorated as lion heads were found in an archaeological excavation.

A singular discovery - four rare bronze discs, designed in the form of lion heads,
about 1,900 years old and dated to the Roman era – the 1st-2nd centuries CE – were just published for the first time in the official Israel Antiquities Authority journal ‘Atiqot, No. 117. These ornamental discs were probably intended to enhance carrying handles for a coffin. Found in a 2018 salvage excavation at the Eyal interchange in the Sharon region, conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority in Khirbat Ibreika – they were lying in an orderly pile inside a grave, seemingly where once a wooden coffin stood – which was not preserved.

26/06/2025

Rare bronze discs decorated as lion heads were found in an archaeological excavation.

A singular discovery - four rare bronze discs, designed in the form of lion heads,
about 1,900 years old and dated to the Roman era – the 1st-2nd centuries CE – were just published for the first time in the official Israel Antiquities Authority journal 'Atiqot, No. 117. These ornamental discs were probably intended to enhance carrying handles for a coffin. Found in a 2018 salvage excavation at the Eyal interchange in the Sharon region, conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority in Khirbat Ibreika – they were lying in an orderly pile inside a grave, seemingly where once a wooden coffin stood – which was not preserved.

According to Excavation Managers Dr. Elie Haddad and Elisheva Zwiebel, directors of the excavation on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority who authored this article, “This is a unique and rare set of finds: the carrying handle ring, which was attached — in most of the known examples from the Roman world, through the lion's mouth — was joined in this case precisely to the disc’s vertex, at the top of the lion’s head. It seems this enabled freer and wider movement of the handles that served to lift the coffin and integrate it into a burial procession, while passing bars through the rings to better handle its transport.”

The unearthed lion heads are not identical to each other. Each face has a different expression, and each bears a different design of mane, eyes and nose. “Similar discs were discovered in several other places in Israel, such as in Netanya and Tel Dor - most of them found in a distinct burial context,” say the researchers.
This discovery raises questions about the deceased’s identity and his ethnic and religious affiliation. “Tracing the lion as symbol in the ancient world reveals that in many cultures it represented strength, protection and nobility,“ say Dr. Haddad and Zwiebel. “At this stage we do not have enough evidence to associate the lions to a particular religion.

However, the reasonable assumption is that here we have a pagan burial. In any case, these fancy, elaborate discs clearly reflect this individual’s high status.”
According to Eli Escusido, director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, “For thousands of years lions have symbolized bravery and courage. It is not by chance that the State of Israel‘s current campaign to neutralize the nuclear threat in Iran is called ‘A nation will arise like a lion’ – a phrase taken from the Bible (Numbers 23:24). Interestingly, similar rare discs were transferred about two years ago to the Israel Antiquities Authority as part of our antiquities repatriation program. At that time, a citizen who had such ancient lion objects just sitting in her living room contacted us, and requested to hand them over to Israel’s National Treasure collections. Thanks to this action, the lovely decorated discs were put into special climate conditions, which will preserve them for future generations to enjoy.”

Minister Amichai Eliyahu stated: “The discovery of the lion plaques offers us a compelling historical lesson. Although these are pagan artifacts, they reflect a recurring phenomenon throughout history—foreign cultures adopting ancient Jewish symbols. In the ancient world, the lion was not merely a decorative motif. It was, first and foremost, the emblem of the Tribe of Judah—‘Judah is a lion’s whelp.’
Pagan cultures that once inhabited this land recognized the power of Jewish symbolism and were influenced by it, even if they did not always acknowledge it. This is a phenomenon we observe throughout history: the world is shaped by Jewish values, symbols, and heritage—sometimes even unknowingly. Western civilization as a whole is founded upon values rooted in the Bible and Jewish tradition.”

26/06/2025

Amazing sunrise over the Judean desert swwn from the Hebron mountains facing the Dead Sea area.

A new dawn is dawning in Israel for tourism now the threat of Iran is broken.

So, thanks God, you can start dreaming of a (new) and making plans. We will be happy to advise ou and we are looking forward to guide and host you (again).

Welcome to Israel 🇮🇱 !!!

Israel is safe !!!. Welcome to our Judea Accomodations in the Judean Land of Psalms. Check out our updated website https://susya.org.il/en 🛫🇮🇱 🇮🇱❤️

25/06/2025

Air France announced today that it will resume operations on the Tel Aviv–Paris route starting July 7, 2025, using a wide-body Boeing 777-300 aircraft.

Today, Fly Dubai also resumed flights to Israel. The airline had the most consistent service on the DXB–TLV route among all foreign carriers. Its first flight since the war with Iran is scheduled to land at Ben Gurion Airport at 11:00 PM Israel time.

24/06/2025

23/06/2025

Update from El Al on Flight Schedules and Cancellations
By Jewish Press News Desk

Update on cancellations, refunds, outbound flights and more…


Read more at: https://www.jewishpress.com/news/travel-news/update-from-el-al-on-flight-schedules-and-cancellations/2025/06/22/

23/06/2025

Sunrise at the Sea of Gallilee

A new dawn is dawning in Israel for tourists now Israel and the USA are dealing with the main promotor of terrorism towards Israel, the current Iran regime. Now their nuclear facilities are attacked and their military bases being destroyed slowly but surely, their and their proxis which are not get refueled anymore, threat to Israel diminishes. So it wil become a much safer place to visit which will effect tourism So, thanks God, you can start dreaming and making plans.
We are looking forward to guide and host you (again).

https://susya.org.il/en/

22/06/2025

Jerusalems citywalls tonight

22/06/2025

Transportation Ministry says airspace to reopen at 2 p.m., repatriation flights to resume

Israel’s airspace is expected to reopen at 2 p.m. after a temporary halt of takeoffs and landings this morning following the US attack on Iran, the Transportation Ministry says.

20/06/2025

This morning we brought our visitors to Taba border. But not before we had our traditional Thursday night Bbq

Safe travels home !!!

https://susya.org.il/en/

20/06/2025

What an amazing sunrise in the Judean desert. On our way to Eilat, Taba border crossing to bring our Dutch guest. We helped them to book a flight from Egypt, Sharm el Sheikh airport to the Netherlands. A taxi will bring them from the border in 3 1/2 hours to the airport. Flights are affordable from there.

https://susya.org.il/en/