Archaeologists discover Solomon amulet in northern Türkiye

Archaeologists working in the ancient city of Hadrianopolis, located in northern Türkiye, have made a significant discovery—a rare 5th-century C.E. amulet that provides valuable insight into the religious and cultural practices of the time.

On one side of the amulet is an image of Solomon, the 10th-century B.C.E. king and prophet of Israel, spearing the devil, with the words “our Lord defeated evil.” The reverse side features the names of four angels: Gabriel, Michael, Israfil (known as Raphael in Christian tradition), and Azrael, the angel of death, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Although Solomon is a revered figure in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions, Ersin Çelikbaş, the archaeologist from Karabük University overseeing the excavation, believes the pendant is a Christian relic. “It is a symbol of religion and power,” Çelikbaş said in a statement.

“The depiction of Solomon on this pendant surprised us and revealed the importance of the artifact for Anatolian archaeology.” Hadrianopolis, located near the Black Sea, was transformed into a Roman city named after Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century. It became an important military post, and previous excavations have revealed evidence of cavalry stationed there. Çelikbaş suggests that the amulet may have belonged to a cavalry soldier. 

“Solomon is also known as the commander of the armies,” Çelikbaş explained. “We understand that he was also regarded as a protective figure for the cavalrymen of the Roman and Byzantine periods in Hadrianopolis.” While this is the first amulet of its kind found in Türkiye, a similar one was uncovered in Jerusalem, further reinforcing the idea that Hadrianopolis was an important religious centre in ancient times. After Emperor Constantine divided the Roman Empire in 330 C.E., Hadrianopolis became part of the Byzantine Empire, governed from Constantinople. 

With the support of Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the ancient city has been the focus of extensive excavations over the past two decades. So far, more than a dozen significant buildings have been uncovered, including churches, bathhouses, a theatre, and defensive structures. The ornate mosaics found on the floors of churches have drawn particular attention.

By Naila Huseynova