Digital Reconstruction: King Hezekiah bulla – Ancient Hebrew Archaeology
Step into the world of First Temple Jerusalem with this digital reconstruction of the royal seal impression of King Hezekiah, son of Ahaz, king of Judah. Faithfully modeled from archaeological publications, the bulla preserves the ancient Hebrew inscription reading “Belonging to Hezekiah [son of] Ahaz, king of Judah,” encircling a two‑winged sun disk flanked by ankh symbols, vivid emblems of royal authority and life.
Discovered in the Ophel excavations at the foot of the southern wall of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, the original clay bulla is less than 15 mm across, yet it is the first royal seal of an Israelite or Judean king ever found in a controlled scientific excavation. This digital reconstruction enlarges and clarifies every line, sign, and symbol, making the piece ideal for teaching ancient Hebrew epigraphy, illustrating biblical history, or enriching visualizations of Judah’s royal administration in the late eighth–early seventh century BCE.
