古代粘土令牌揭示了圣殿山朝圣的秘密

据信，在圣殿山筛选项目中出土的古代粘土令牌促进了两千年前逾越节期间朝圣者之间的交易。该令牌上印有双耳瓶的印章和希腊铭文“Doulês”，表明它是朝圣者（可能是散居海外的犹太人）使用的，并与描述在圣殿祭坛上提供的祭品的米西奈文本相符。该令牌的独特设计和收缩表明其预期用途是作为一种带手柄的交换机制，而不是作为文件或容器密封件。

Ancient Clay Token Uncovers Secrets of Pilgrimage and Offerings at the Temple Mount

古代粘土令牌揭开了圣殿山朝圣和奉献的秘密

A remarkable discovery has emerged from the depths of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, offering a tantalizing glimpse into the rituals and practices of pilgrims 2,000 years ago. A meticulously excavated clay token, unearthed by the Temple Mount Sifting Project, has captivated archaeologists and historians alike.

耶路撒冷圣殿山深处出现了一项非凡的发现，让我们得以一睹 2000 年前朝圣者的仪式和习俗。圣殿山筛分项目出土的一个精心挖掘的粘土令牌吸引了考古学家和历史学家。

The token, an unassuming yet remarkably significant artifact, bears the imprint of an amphora, a vessel commonly used for transporting liquids, and an intriguing Ancient Greek inscription that reads "ΔΟΥ-ΛΟ[Υ]" (DOULOU). This inscription represents the genitive case of the personal name Doulês, which was prevalent in regions such as Thrace, Macedonia, and areas around the Black Sea, where Jewish communities flourished during the Late Hellenistic and Early Roman periods.

该令牌是一件不起眼但非常重要的文物，带有双耳瓶（一种通常用于运输液体的容器）的印记，以及有趣的古希腊铭文，上面写着“ΔΟΥ-ΛΟ[Y]”（DOULOU）。这段铭文代表了个人名 Doulês 的属格，该名字在色雷斯、马其顿和黑海周边地区很流行，这些地区的犹太社区在希腊化晚期和罗马早期时期蓬勃发展。

Intriguingly, the amphora depicted on the token exhibits a form that suggests it dates back to the latter half of the first century AD. This places the token's existence within a century before the destruction of the Second Temple, a pivotal event in Jewish history.

有趣的是，令牌上描绘的双耳瓶的形状表明它的历史可以追溯到公元一世纪下半叶。这使得该令牌的存在距第二圣殿被毁仅一个世纪，这是犹太历史上的一个关键事件。

Unlike conventional clay sealings known as bullae, which were typically attached to documents or containers to secure their contents, this token exhibits a unique feature: a pinched back. This design strongly suggests that the token was intended for handling rather than being used for sealing purposes.

与传统的粘土密封（称为大疱）不同，这种密封通常附着在文件或容器上以保护其内容物，这种令牌具有独特的功能：背面被捏紧。这种设计强烈表明令牌是用于处理而不是用于密封目的。

A similar token, discovered in the vicinity of the Temple Mount, provides further context for this enigmatic artifact. That token bears an Aramaic inscription that was initially interpreted by archaeologists as "pure to God." This similarity between the two tokens has sparked the hypothesis that these artifacts were intended for pilgrims visiting the Temple Mount, possibly even Jewish pilgrims from far-flung diaspora communities.

在圣殿山附近发现的一个类似的标记，为这件神秘的文物提供了进一步的背景。该令牌上刻有阿拉姆语铭文，最初被考古学家解释为“纯洁于上帝”。两个标记之间的相似性引发了这样的假设：这些文物是为参观圣殿山的朝圣者准备的，甚至可能是来自遥远的侨民社区的犹太朝圣者。

The researchers from the Temple Mount Sifting Project posit that these tokens were employed in a system of exchange during the Passover festival. Pilgrims likely used them to facilitate offerings to the Temple. "The Aramaic token," they explain, "depicts a wine jar, aligning with the Mishnaic text that discusses nesachim, a term for the wine libation poured on the Temple altar and also used to refer to all the offering components. It is plausible that this token was intended for Greek-speaking pilgrims, possibly including Jews from the diaspora."

圣殿山筛分项目的研究人员认为，这些代币在逾越节期间被用于交换系统。朝圣者可能用它们来方便向圣殿献祭。他们解释说，“亚拉姆语标记描绘了一个酒罐，与讨论 nesachim 的米西奈文本一致，nesachim 是倒在圣殿祭坛上的酒奠酒的术语，也用来指所有的祭品组件。这似乎是合理的这个令牌是为说希腊语的朝圣者准备的，其中可能包括散居海外的犹太人。”

This remarkable discovery sheds new light on the diverse community of pilgrims who flocked to the Temple Mount, bringing their offerings and their hopes in search of divine favor. The clay token, with its intricate inscription and unique handling mechanism, serves as a tangible reminder of the rituals and beliefs that shaped the spiritual landscape of ancient Jerusalem.

这一非凡的发现为众多涌向圣殿山的朝圣者群体提供了新的线索，他们带着他们的祭品和希望寻求神的恩惠。粘土令牌具有复杂的铭文和独特的处理机制，可以切实提醒人们塑造古代耶路撒冷精神景观的仪式和信仰。