Jar Handle Bearing a Four-Winged Scarab
Seal Impression “lmlk hebron”
Tel Lachish, late 8th-7th century BCE
Pottery
Courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority
Must Know
Jars bearing impressions of royal seals called lmlk (“belonging
to the king”) were found throughout the Judean Kingdom
toward the end of the 8th century BCE, during the reign of
King hezekiah. The handle of the jar was stamped with a seal
bearing a four-winged scarab, or a winged disc accompanied by
a hebrew inscription lmlk and the name of one of four cities:
hebron, Sochoh, Zif or Mmst. The winged scarab is believed to be a symbol originating in Egypt yet represents the Royal Northern Kingdom of hezekiah.
The manufacturing of these seals and storage jars may have been referred to in the bible:
“These were the potters who dwelt at Netaim and Gederah; they dwelt there in the king’s service.” 1 Chronicles 4:23
More Info
Seals were made by stamping the desired icons on wet clay before firing in a kiln. LMLK is an acronym made up of the hebrew letters lamedh, mem, lamedh, and kaph, representing the words LaMelekh or ‘to the king’, ‘belonging to the king’ or ‘belonging to the Government’ [of Judah]. These royal inscriptions were assumed to indicate they were royal property of Judean cities that were part of the Royal Kingdom of hezekiah.
The varying two or four-winged icons that can be found on clay storage jars from this time symbolise particular Judean cities within the kingdom and their local religion or ideology. The ‘kingdom’ or ‘king’ referred to through these seals is believed to be King hezekiah who reigned as King of Judah from 727 to 698 BC. Many scholars believe the LMLK seals were not used after the time of hezekiah as they represented his specific reign of Judah and would only be used during his lifetime. The seals specific reference to the kingdom of hezekiah support the historical and Biblical stories of hezekiah and his preparations for war against expected Assyrian advance between the 7th and 8th century BCE.
