What’s It Say?

In “What’s an Egyptian Temple Doing in Jerusalem?” BAR 26:03, we published two photos of a mysterious inscribed stone discovered at the École Biblique et Archéologique Française in Jerusalem. Its markings seem to be ancient Egyptian, but experts in hieroglyphics have not been able to decipher them. Similarly, specialists in Northwest Semitic have not been able to identify them. We asked readers for their ideas, and, as we expected, we received many suggestions. A sampling follows.—Ed.

• If you turn the picture upside down, you have the Chinese symbol for peace. Chinese writing existed 3,500 years ago. I’m certainly not saying that’s what the inscription is. It’s probably just a crazy coincidence, but you never know.

• It looks like the Linear B symbol for i, with the addition of a crossbar on the base.