A beautiful ancient limestone ossuary from the 1st century with Hebrew writing on the end. The writing we believe translates to "Johanan Ben Jishua"

Measures 22 3/4" length x 13.25" x 11.25" wide. These are approximate.

Provenance: Estate of Daniel Friedenberg, purchased from prominent dealer and collector Joseph Stieglitz, Tel-Aviv 1967.

This limestone chest was used to hold the bones of a dead person or family which had been gathered together after burial in the soil, when the flesh had decomposed. The elaborate decoration may imitate a well-known building, possibly the Temple in Jerusalem started by Herod the Great and completed in AD 64.

The practice of family burial required secondary interment, that is the gathering of bones to make room for a new generation of deceased family members. Burials were usually first made in pits but the wealthy cut a tomb cave.

Herod was appointed king of Judaea by the Roman Senate in 45 BC. Under his rule Jerusalem was rebuilt and the Temple was completely remodelled. Soon after Herod died in 4 BC Judaea became a province of the Roman empire administered by procurators. Power shifted between direct Roman control and Roman recognition of Herod's successors as king. In AD 66, however, the Jews revolted. The revolt was crushed only after four years of bitter conflict. Jerusalem was besieged and subsequently the city, including the Temple, was destroyed.

See back left of image 2--this piece is just sitting there and is not attached to the rest of the wall. This can be easily repaired. There is no lid for this piece. The other repairs on this piece are old and we can not guarantee that they will remain stable. This piece can only be shipped by professionals which you will have to arrange. We will not pack, crate or even breath hard on this piece.