1,500-Year-Old Pendant Depicting Jewish Prophet 'Spearing the Devil on Horseback' Discovered in Türkiye

Researchers have found a stunning amulet featuring the image of Prophet Solomon in Turkey. The amulet unearthed from the ancient city of Hadrianopolis in Eskipazar district of Karabük has been estimated to be around 1500 years old, Arkeonews reported. On the amulet, it depicts Prophet Solomon as a figure on horseback who was sparring with the devil.

The artifact also bore an inscription with the names of some archangels and a declaration "Our Lord defeated evil," alongside the figurine of Prophet Solomon, All That's Interesting reported.  Researchers believe this amulet gives a glimpse of the practices and culture prevalent during the fifth century C.E.

The pendant was considered a crucial find as nothing like that had ever been excavated by archeologists in the area, ATI reported. "No similar examples have been found in this geography before. This pendant, used as an amulet, draws attention with the inscriptions on both sides and the depiction on it. The amulet depicts Solomon on a horse, holding a spear, defeating the Devil. Solomon is an important figure in all three holy religions,"  Dr. Ersin Çelikbaş who led the excavation project claimed.

The facet that captivated archeologists the most was Solomon's depiction on the pendant, Arkeonews reported. "The depiction shows the Prophet Solomon on horseback, spearing a demon. Why this depiction? Because the Prophet Solomon is important in all three major religions. He is noted as a ruler in Judaism and the Bible and in Islam, he is recognized not only as a ruler but also as a prophet. Therefore, the depiction of the Prophet Solomon, important in monotheistic religions, on this pendant both surprised us and showed us its importance for Anatolian archeology," Çelikbaş explained.

The inscription and Solomon's portrayal as a warrior on the pendant suggest that the pendant was likely worn by soldiers for protection from their enemies, ATI reported. Past excavations in the area, revealed the existence of a cavalry unit in ancient times. This further strengthens the pendant's military connection, according to researchers.

"In our previous excavations, we had determined the existence of a cavalry unit here with concrete data. Hz. Süleyman [Solomon] is also known as the commander of the armies. We understand that he was also thought of as a protective figure for the cavalrymen of the Roman and Byzantine periods in Hadrianopolis," Çelikbaş added.

The pendant featured an inscription with the names of four archangels, Azrael, Gabriel, Michael, and Raphael, ATI reported. Such elements made the artifact distinct from anything else found in Anatolian archeology. The presence of such a unique amulet in Hadrianopolis implied how important the site was as a religious center in ancient times, as per experts.

According to researchers, the inscription's content and the figure of Solomon gave a glimpse into the owner's faith, ATI reported. It further revealed the likely belief people of those times had in practices like divine protection.