#Byzantine ‘Magical Mirror’ Discovered in Israel

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Byzantine ‘Magical Mirror’ Discovered in Israel

The 'magical mirror' was used to protect its owner against evil spirits, according to Israel Antiquities Authority.

A 17-year-old Israeli youth leader discovered an ancient “magical mirror” in an archaeological excavation in northern Israel.

Aviv Weizman from Kiryat Motskin near Haifa, joined an archaeological excavation at the ancient site of Usha, under the supervision of Israel Antiquities Authority, where she found the 1,500-year-old “magical mirror.”

According to Navit Popovitch, Israel Antiquities Authority Curator of the classical Periods, the fragment is part of a “magical mirror” from the Byzantine period, the 4 th –6 th centuries CE.

"A glass mirror, for protection against the Evil Eye was placed in the middle of the plaque: the idea was that the evil spirit, such as a demon, who looked in the mirror, would see his own reflection, and this would protect the owner of the mirror,” Popovitch said.

“Similar mirror plaques have been found in the past as funerary gifts in tombs, in order to protect the deceased in their journey to the world to come,” Popovitch added.

Eli Escusido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority added that the young leaders, who were on a week-long trek from Mount Meron to Mount Hermon in which they joined archaeological excavations along the route, discovered “additional finds”, such as including pottery jars, coins, decorated stone fragments, and even a a water aqueduct.

“History, usually taught in the classroom, comes to life from the ground. A pupil who uncovers a find in the course of an excavation will never forget the experience. There is no better way to attach the youth to the country and the heritage,” Escusido said.

According to Saar Ganor, coordinator of the project on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, Weizman’s find “embellishes the two-way contribution of the cooperation between the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Ministry of Education Shelah Project: at the same time, uncovering the country’s past, and also providing the youth with a personal empowering experience, connecting them to their roots.”

By JOTAM CONFINO.