ArchaeologicalWidely AcceptedVerified

Hezekiah Bulla

Context

Eilat Mazar is an Israeli archaeologist who discovered a royal bulla of the Judean king Hezekiah in 2015. She has been involved in excavations in Jerusalem, focusing on sites related to ancient Israelite history.

What Was Found

The Hezekiah bulla is a clay seal impression that bears the name and title of Hezekiah. Hezekiah is described in the inscription as the son of Ahaz and king of Judah. This artifact serves as evidence for Hezekiah's reign as king of Judah and confirms details from biblical accounts.

Why This Matters

The bulla provides extra-biblical evidence for Hezekiah's existence and title as king of Judah.

Acceptance Assessment

Widely Accepted

Details

Discovered by: Eilat Mazar team (excavated 2009); Reut Ben Arieh (deciphered 2015) in 2009
Discovery location: Ophel, south of the Temple Mount, Jerusalem
Dates to: c. 715 – c. 686 BCE
Now located at: Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Type: Archaeological

Source Transparency

Source: Wikipedia: List of biblical figures identified in extra-biblical sources

How to verify: Cross-check this find in peer-reviewed archaeology journals (e.g. BASOR, Israel Exploration Journal) and museum catalogs. Search the artifact name in academic databases like JSTOR.

Verified in 11 independent sources

Reference sources