In a rare archaeological revelation, four exquisitely crafted bronze discs bearing lion-head designs—dating back nearly 1,900 years to the Roman period—have been unveiled for the first time in the latest issue of ‘Atiqot, the journal of the Israel Antiquities Authority (Unique Lion-Headed Handles from a Roman-Period Cist Tomb South of Khirbat Ibreika).
The objects, believed to have adorned the carrying handles of a coffin, were discovered in 2018 during a salvage excavation conducted near the Eyal Interchange in the Sharon region, at a site known as Khirbat Ibreika. Arranged in a neat pile inside a burial pit where a wooden coffin once lay, the lion heads were found remarkably intact, though the coffin itself has not survived.
“This is a unique and rare find,” said Dr. Elie Haddad and Elisheva Zwiebel, directors of the excavation and co-authors of the study. “Unlike most Roman-era examples, where the handle rings are fixed through the lion’s mouth, these discs were fitted at the top of the lion’s head. This likely allowed for freer movement of the handles used in lifting the coffin—an element that may have played a role in ceremonial burial processions.”
Each of the four lion heads is distinct, marked by individualized features—differing expressions, eye shapes, noses, and mane styles. Similar bronze fittings have previously been found at Roman-era burial sites in Israel, including Netanya and Tel Dor.
Yet the discovery raises more questions than it answers: Who was the deceased? What did the lions signify in the context of this individual’s identity?
“The lion has long been a symbol of strength, protection, and nobility across many cultures,” Haddad and Zwiebel note. “While we cannot conclusively attribute these objects to a specific religious tradition, the ornate nature of the find suggests the burial was of a person of considerable status—likely pagan.”
Eli Escusido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, pointed to the lion’s continued symbolic power in the Jewish tradition. “The lion symbolizes courage to this day—it’s no coincidence that Israel’s current campaign against Iran’s nuclear program is named after the biblical phrase ‘A nation will arise like a lion’ (Numbers 23:24).”
Escusido also shared that similar bronze discs were voluntarily handed over to the authority two years ago by a citizen who had kept them as living room decorations, not realizing their historical significance. “Thanks to our repatriation program, those pieces are now preserved under optimal conditions for future generations.”
The Sharon discovery adds a compelling new chapter to the evolving understanding of Roman-era burial practices in ancient Israel—and to the enduring legacy of the lion as a cultural and spiritual emblem.
