Archaeologists find 2,100-year-old bullet that sent ‘sarcastic’ message to enemy forces

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Archaeologists have uncovered a 2,100-year-old sling bulletin Israelinscribed with a pointed message aimed at enemy forces.

The scientists found the bullet in a necropolis area along an ancient roadat Hippos, once a prominent bishop’s seat during the Byzantine era.The city was known as Susita during the Hellenistic period, which lasted from 323 B.C.to about 31 B.C.

The projectile, which officials date to the second century B.C., was carved with the Greek word “Learn,�

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A picture of the ancient, oval-shapedlead sling bulletshows faint traces of the Greek script.

Michael Eisenberg, a University of Haifa archaeologist who recently published his findings in the journal PEQ along with colleague Arleta Kowalewska, believes the phrase was a “sarcastic” taunt, he said.

Aerial view of Hippos, illustration of ancient slingshot

The ancient projectile, discovered at Hippos (left), dates to the second century B.C.and features the Greek word “Learn.” A depiction of a Hellenistic battle featuring slingshots is seen at right.(Dr.Michael Eisenberg, University of Haifa;Stock Montage via Getty Images)

“At Hippos alone, 69 such projectiles have been identified so far, but this isthe first in the worldto bear the inscription ‘Learn,'” Eisenberg said, per the March release.

“This represents local sarcastic humor on the part of the city’s defenders, who wished to teach their enemies a lesson with a wink: ‘Learn your lesson!’”

The artifact is roughly 3.2 centimeters long and 1.95 centimeters wide, weighing 38 grams.

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Excavators observed signs of impact damage on the projectile and believe it once weighed 45 grams.

The projectile was likely “fired by the city’s defenders from the city walls toward the enemy advancing to besiege the city,” officials said.

“To find a sling bullet with an inscription is very rare;to find this Greek word on a sling bullet is the first time in the world.”

Lead bullets were considered a cheap but lethal form of ammunition at the time.

“Sling bullets were produced by casting lead in stone molds in a relatively simple process that could be carried out evenduring a military campaign,” the release noted.

Close-up image of bullet with Greek script

The Greek inscription “Learn” on the projectile, seen above, is interpreted as a sarcastic or mocking message aimed at enemy troops during a battle near Hippos.(Dr.Michael Eisenberg, University of Haifa)

“To find a sling bullet with an inscription is very rare;to find thisGreek wordon a sling bullet is the first time in the world,�

“We know of similar mocking or sarcastic humor directed at the enemy, but this specific example was unknown and reveals the humorous local trend among the Hellenistic defenders of Hippos.”

Depiction of ancient greek siege with slingshots

The bullet is an ancient sling projectile discovered at Hippos with a taunting inscription.Above, a generic image of a Greek siege is shown.(Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

The discovery adds to a growing list of major archaeological finds at Hippos.

Excavations unearthed a1,600-year-old Christian care centerfor the elderly at Hippos last year, possibly the world’s oldest nursing home.

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Also at Hippos, archaeologists found atrove of ancient jewelryand gold coins last year, thanks to metal detectors.