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Extremely rare ancient seal with winged “genie” discovered in Jerusalem
A rare stone seal that dates back millennia has been found in Jerusalem, the Israel Antiquities Authority said Thursday.
The black stone seal has been dated back 2,700 years and was found near the Temple Mount’s southern wall, the authority said in a news release. The stone was found amid an excavation in the Davidson Archaeological Garden, where many ancient relics have been previously discovered.
The seal is engraved with what may be two names written in an ancient form of Hebrew, according to the authority, and bears the profile of a winged man wearing a hat or crown. Israel Antiquities Authority archeologist Dr. Filip Vukosavović said the figure is likely that of a winged “genie.” It’s the first time such a relic has been discovered in the region, he said, and shows the impact of the then-dominant Assyrian empire.
“This is an extremely rare and unusual discovery,” Vukosavović said in the news release.
Israel Antiquities Authority
The object was likely worn by a man who had a senior position in the administration of the ancient kingdom of Judah, the authority said. The stone seal would have been made by a local craftsman and worn as an amulet to show authority. After that man died, the amulet was passed down to his son, who added the two names on either side of the genie.
It’s possible the son even engraved the names himself, research partner Ronny Reich of the University of Haifa said in the release, because they were carved in a “sloppy manner,” a sharp contrast to the detailed work done on the genie.
The engraving work does show “further evidence of the reading and writing abilities that existed in this period,” according to Dr. Yuval Baruch, the director of the excavation and the deputy director of archaeology at the Israel Antiquities Authority.
Israel Antiquities Authority
“Contrary to what may be commonly thought, it seems that literacy in this period was not the realm only of society’s elite,” Baruch said. “People knew how to read and write – at least at the basic level, for the needs of commerce.”
More information about the stone seal will be shared during a research conference next week, the authority said.
Tupperware and some of its subsidiaries filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the once-iconic food container maker said in a statement late Tuesday.
The company has suffered from dwindling sales following a surprise surge during the COVID-19 pandemic, when legions of people stuck at home tried their hands at cooking, which increased demand for Tupperware’s colorful plastic containers with flexible airtight seals.
A post-pandemic rise in costs of raw materials and shipping, along with higher wages, also hurt Tupperware’s bottom line.
Last year, it warned of “substantial doubt” about its ability to keep operating in light of its poor financial position.
“Over the last several years, the Company’s financial position has been severely impacted by the challenging macroeconomic environment,” president and CEO Laurie Ann Goldman said in a statement announcing the bankruptcy filing.
“As a result, we explored numerous strategic options and determined this is the best path forward,” Goldman said.
The company said it would seek court approval for a sale process for the business to protect its brand and “further advance Tupperware’s transformation into a digital-first, technology-led company.”
The Orlando, Florida-based firm said it would also seek approval to continue operating during the bankruptcy proceedings and would continue to pay its employees and suppliers.
“We plan to continue serving our valued customers with the high-quality products they love and trust throughout this process,” Goldman said.
The firm’s shares were trading at $0.5099 Monday, well down from $2.55 in December last year.
Tupperware said it had implemented a strategic plan to modernize its operations and drive efficiencies to ignite growth following the appointment of a new management team last year.
“The Company has made significant progress and intends to continue this important transformation work.”
In its filing with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, Tupperware listed assets of between $500 million and $1 billion and liabilities of between $1 billion and $10 billion.
The filing also said it had between 50,000 and 100,000 creditors.
Tupperware lost popularity with consumers in recent years and an initiative to gain distribution through big-box chain Target failed to reverse its fortunes.
The company’s roots date to 1946, when chemist Earl Tupper “had a spark of inspiration while creating molds at a plastics factory shortly after the Great Depression,” according to Tupperware’s website.
“If he could design an airtight seal for plastic storage containers, like those on a paint can, he could help war-weary families save money on costly food waste.”
Over time, Tupper’s containers became popular that many people referred to any plastic food container as Tupperware. And people even threw “Tupperware parties” in their homes to sell the containers to friends and neighbors.
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