With few exceptions, the discs usually have an average size of 12 centimeters in diameter. Ancient finds in the region mostly come from long-gone eras, such as the Roman or Hellenistic periods. These elaborately carved reliefs, on the other hand, are associated with the early beginnings of modern Jerusalem.
Their production can be dated to the second half of the 19th century, the last days of Ottoman rule over the land, which ended in 1918.
The reliefs, some of which are extraordinarily well done, show not only biblical motifs from the context of the New Testament, but also depictions associated with Jerusalem, such as the tomb of Christ, the Western Wall or the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount.
As an author, I had the opportunity to study the reliefs more intensively as part of a photographic documentation of these objects. This started an exciting discussion regarding the iconography, the style and the craftsmanship and artistic quality of the works. A written testimony from a previous owner can be found on the back of one of the reliefs, and due...
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