Archaeologists have uncovered a 2,000-year-old lead sling bullet stamped with the taunting, sarcastic ancient Greek phrase ΜΑΘΟΥ, which literally translates to learn (your lesson).
The discovery was made by a team of archaeologists from the University of Haifa, led by Michael Eisenberg, co-director of the Hippos of the Decapolis Excavations Project.
The almond-shaped bullet was found with the help of a metal detector, close to the riverbed of an ancient stream situated near the ancient Hellenistic city of Antiochia Hippos, just 2 km east of the Sea of Galilee.
Measuring exactly 3.2 by 1.95 centimeters and weighing 38 grams, it was a cheap but formidable munition used by the city’s Greek defenders against invaders.
A skilled slinger could launch such a bullet to strike an enemy from almost 1,300 feet (400 meters) away. According to the research team, the location where the bullet was found makes it almost certain that the city’s defenders fired the bullet towards incoming enemy forces as they were ascending the ancient road that ran alongside the stream.
While dozens of lead sling bullets have been found at the Hippos site, most decorated with scorpions or thunderbolts, this is the first to bear a sarcastic Greek inscription.
Other examples of phrases commonly found in similar projectiles include δέξαι (“Receive this!”), λαβέ (“Take it!”) and γϵῦσαι (“Taste this!”).
The team’s findings were published in the Palestine Exploration Quarterly.
