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A Conversation in the Tax Department, 698 BCE. Official A: "Who does this jar belong to? "Official B: "It belongs to the King. Can't you see it’s inscribed on the handle—'lmlk'?"

A Summarizing Symbol is an anthropological concept that condenses an entire value system into a single, powerful emotional symbol. Another stop on the inquiry journey I have embarked upon, "Flags and Symbols in the Land of Israel": The "lmlk" Jars.


At the end of the 8th century BCE, during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah (reigned: 727–698 BCE), a royal administrative system operated in the kingdom, leaving behind a unique archaeological find: official seal impressions stamped onto the handles of large storage jars. These jars, which contained wine or oil, were likely agricultural produce collected as taxes. Some scholars link this system to Hezekiah’s preparations for the campaign of Sennacherib, King of Assyria (701 BCE), while others view it as a long-term administrative-economic apparatus that continued to function even after the campaign. Over 2,000 such jar handles bearing these impressions, known as "lmlk" (Belonging to the King) seals, have been discovered in archaeological excavations throughout Judah, primarily at Lachish, Jerusalem, and Ramat Rachel.


The stamps featured a central symbol of one of two types: a four-winged scarab (beetle), or a two-winged symbol whose identification is disputed—some interpret it as a winged sun disk, while others suggest it is a flying scroll. Above the symbol, the word "lmlk" was written in paleo-Hebrew script, and below it, the name of one of four locations typically appeared: Hebron, Ziph, Socoh, or Mmst, the location of which has not yet been identified. Some scholars view these names as administrative district cities, while others suggest they represent royal production centers for wine and oil. The winged symbols were likely borrowed from the royal iconography of Ancient Near Eastern civilizations—the scarab from Egypt and the winged sun disk from the Assyrian world—and adopted in Judah as a royal emblem. A similar symbol also appears on King Hezekiah's personal seal.


In addition to these administrative impressions, a bulla (clay seal) bearing King Hezekiah's personal seal was discovered during excavations at the foot of the Southern Wall of the Temple Mount: Belonging to Hezekiah [son of] Ahaz, King of Judah (as written in the original script). This is the first royal seal impression of an Israelite or Judean king ever found in a scientific archaeological excavation. At the center of the impression appears a winged sun with its wings tilted downward, flanked by two ankh symbols—the Egyptian symbol for life. According to scholars, the adoption of these symbols reflects the infiltration of royal protection and patronage motifs from the Ancient Near East into the official culture of the Kingdom of Judah.

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"lmlk" stamp, two-winged sun disk. First line: "lmlk", second line: "hbrn" (scholars believe this refers to "Hebron"). Image: By Funhistory at English Wikipedia, Public Domain.
"lmlk" stamp, two-winged sun disk. First line: "lmlk", second line: "hbrn" (scholars believe this refers to "Hebron"). Image: By Funhistory at English Wikipedia, Public Domain.



"lmlk" handles with a two-winged symbol, alongside Israeli stamps issued for Rosh Hashanah 5709 (September 1948), featuring the symbol—known as the "flying scroll." These stamps are from the "Mo'adim LeSimcha 5709" series, the second stamp series of the State of Israel and the first to explicitly state the name of the state, "Israel." Designed by Otte Wallish. (The first stamp series, "Doar Ivri," was issued on May 16, 1948, two days after the Declaration of Independence. Since the state's name had not yet been finalized during the secret preparations for printing, it was decided to label them "Doar Ivri," and therefore the words "State of Israel" do not appear on them. Designed by Otte Wallish, the series includes nine different stamps featuring ancient Jewish coins from the periods of the Great Revolt against the Romans and the Bar Kokhba Revolt—symbolizing sovereignty and independence). Image: Public Domain. https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=176641504
"lmlk" handles with a two-winged symbol, alongside Israeli stamps issued for Rosh Hashanah 5709 (September 1948), featuring the symbol—known as the "flying scroll." These stamps are from the "Mo'adim LeSimcha 5709" series, the second stamp series of the State of Israel and the first to explicitly state the name of the state, "Israel." Designed by Otte Wallish. (The first stamp series, "Doar Ivri," was issued on May 16, 1948, two days after the Declaration of Independence. Since the state's name had not yet been finalized during the secret preparations for printing, it was decided to label them "Doar Ivri," and therefore the words "State of Israel" do not appear on them. Designed by Otte Wallish, the series includes nine different stamps featuring ancient Jewish coins from the periods of the Great Revolt against the Romans and the Bar Kokhba Revolt—symbolizing sovereignty and independence). Image: Public Domain. https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=176641504


"lmlk" jar with the stamp on the handle facing the camera. Displayed at the Israel Museum, Jerusalem. Image: By Chamberi, CC BY-SA 3.0. https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26141984
"lmlk" jar with the stamp on the handle facing the camera. Displayed at the Israel Museum, Jerusalem. Image: By Chamberi, CC BY-SA 3.0. https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26141984



"lmlk" jar handles with a description of the text on them. Displayed at the Hecht Museum, Haifa. Image: By Hanay, CC BY-SA 3.0. https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11212801
"lmlk" jar handles with a description of the text on them. Displayed at the Hecht Museum, Haifa. Image: By Hanay, CC BY-SA 3.0. https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11212801



Distribution sites of "lmlk" jars in the Land of Israel. Image: By Funhistory at English Wikipedia, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7901384
Distribution sites of "lmlk" jars in the Land of Israel. Image: By Funhistory at English Wikipedia, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7901384

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