8 / 120
1
Ancient Judaean Stone Weight Collection. Judean Stone WeiPalinelite Period (Iron Age III,
9
th
-7
th
centuries BCE), 14 weights, and Herodian Period (1
st
-2
nd
centuries CE) 2 weights.
Includes the following:
1. Libra:
116.53g, no inscription.
2. 3/10 Libra:
83.4g, with inscription.
3. 8 Shekel:
91.35g. with inscription.
4. 4 Shekel:
43.3 9.4g. with inscription.
5. 2 Shekel:
22.7g, with inscription.
6. 1 Shekel:
11.0g. with inscription.
7 & 8. 1 Nezef (5/6 Shekel):
9.4g 2 pieces, each with inscription.
9. 1 Pim (2/3 Shekel):
8.4g with inscription.
10 & 11. 1 Beka (½ Shekel):
5.4g. with inscription and one without.
12. 8 Gerah:
4.3g. with inscription.
13. 7 Gerah:
4.1g. with inscription.
14. 6 Gerah:
3.0g. with inscription.
15. 5 Gerah.
2.9g. with inscription. 16. 3 Gerah: 2.0g. with inscription.
Lot of 16 weights.
$ 5,000
Purchased over a period from 1960s thru 1990s, from Superior Galleries, David Hendin and several European auction houses.
Accompanying this interesting lot is an archive of background material relating to these stone weights.
This 16-piece collection is one of the finest and most complete sets of Judean scale weights to appear on the market. The Israelite
weights which range from 8
shekels
to 3
gerah
, are the typical Judean limestone weights with domed tops and flat bottoms. The
bottoms were flat so the otherwise globe-shaped weights would not roll off of the balance scale pans in which they were used.These
weights were mainly used to weigh amounts of silver, often in the form of small, irregular silver ingots today referred to as
hacksilber
.
The Judean weights are based on a standard of 11.4 grams to the shekel—this is not derived from ancient literature, but rather
it the modern study, and weight averaging, of existing engraved Judean weights which are quite rare. Most of Dr. Brody’s scale
weight collection consists of inscribed Israelite period weights. Weights inscribed with the Hebrew words (in paleo Hebrew script)
nezef (5/6 shekel), pym (2/3 shekel),
and
beka (1/2 shekel)
are the rarest and of great interest since they are among the few existing
Hebrew inscriptions from the First Temple Period. There is some evidence that weights from this period without inscriptions
may have been originally inscribed with ink or paint, worn or washed away by the ages. The Judean weights of 8, 2, and one
shekels
are, interestingly, inscribed with Hieratic (Egyptian post hieroglyphic) symbols. This may suggest the close trading rela-
tionship at this period with Egypt, which the comparable weight standard at the time was called the
qedet
, and weighed about
9.1 grams. This creates an interesting situation in which the Judean
nezef
weight corresponds almost exactly to the
qedet
. This
goes further to enable convenience in trade between nations’a 4
shekel
weight is equal to 5
qedet
and an 8
shekel
weigh equals 10
qedet
(for further discussion of the Judean limestone weights see
Ancient Scale Weights
by David Hendin, pp. 80-86 and 173-182).
The two Herodian period weights are quite similar to those found at excavations in the Old City of Jerusalem, and especially similar
in shape and weight standard to one weight, found in the “Burnt House”, which was inscribed “Bar Kathros” the name of the Priest-
ly family that apparently lived there. The Herodian limestone weights are shaped like quite thick disks, and generally correspond to
a Roman weight standard (for further discussion of the Herodian limestone weights see ASW pp. 206-208.)