Rare Discovery : Engraved Gemstone Carrying A Portrait Of Alexander The Great

ScienceDaily (Sep. 22, 2009) - A rare and surprising archeaological discovery at Tel Dor: A gemstone engreved with the portrait of Alexander the Great was uncovered during excavation by an archaeological team directed by Dr. Ayelet Gilboa of the Univercity of Haifa and Dr. Ilan Sharon of the Hebrew Univercity of Jerusalem.

O rara si surprizatoare descoperire arheologica la Tel Dor. O pietricica gravata cu chipul lui Alexandru cel Mare a fost descoperita in timpul sapaturilor arheologice conduse de Dr. Ayelet Gilboa de la Universitatea din Haifa si Dr. Ilan Sharon de la Universitatea din Ierusalim.

"Despite its miniature dimentions - the stone is less then a centimeter high and its less then half a centimeter - the engraver was able to depict the bust of Alexander on the gem without omitting any of the ruler's characteristics," notes Dr. Gilboa, Chair of the Department of Archeaology at the Univercity of Haifa. "The emperor is portrayed as young and forceful, with a strong chin, straight nose and long curly hair held in place by a diadem."