Shekel

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The shekel is one of the most ancient and enduring units of weight and currency, with its origins dating back to around 3000 BCE in Mesopotamia. Originally, the shekel was not a coin, but rather a unit of weight used to measure precious metals like silver and gold. The term “shekel” comes from the Hebrew root šql, meaning “to weigh” or “to measure.” Over time, this unit of weight evolved into a form of coinage in various ancient cultures, most notably in the ancient Near East, including in the kingdoms of Israel and Judah.

In the ancient world, the shekel was widely used across a vast region, including in the Sumerian, Akkadian, and Babylonian empires, before it became associated with the Israelites. In the context of Israel and Judah, the shekel began as a silver coin used for both trade and religious purposes. It is mentioned in various ancient texts, including the Bible, where it was used as a standard measure for paying tribute, taxes, and as offerings to the Temple in Jerusalem. The biblical shekel often referred to a specific weight, around 11.4 grams of silver.

During the reign of King David and King Solomon in the 10th century BCE, the shekel became firmly established as the currency of the Israelite kingdoms. In this period, the shekel was often minted with inscriptions and images, such as depictions of royal symbols, and was used both for domestic trade and as a tribute coin in regional diplomacy. The coinage and its value played an essential role in the economy of ancient Israel and its interaction with neighboring empires.

In the later Hellenistic period, particularly after the conquests of Alexander the Great, the shekel evolved further under the influence of Greek coinage systems. The Hasmonean dynasty (140–37 BCE), during which Judea was an independent kingdom, issued shekels bearing Greek-style portraits and inscriptions but retained the traditional weight and value. The Jewish shekel became even more prominent during the time of the Roman Empire, especially during the First Jewish-Roman War (66–73 CE), when the Jewish revolt against Rome led to the minting of a revolt shekel by Jewish rebels, often with symbols like the Temple in Jerusalem, the palm tree, or the chalice.