JERUSALEM, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Israeli marine archaeologists have found some rare treasure from two ancient shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) said on Wednesday.
The ships were probably wrecked by a storm in the Roman and Mamluk periods respectively, the IAA said.
The ships' cargoes and the remains were found scattered at a depth of about four meters, off the coast of the town of Caesarea.
The artifacts include hundreds of silver and bronze coins, a bronze figurine in the form of an eagle, symbolizing Roman rule, and a figurine of a Roman mime in a comic mask.
The team also found bronze bells intended to ward off evil spirits, and pottery vessels.
The underwater remains also include a red gemstone for setting in a ring, with a carving showing a lyre, and a thick, octagonal gold ring set with a green gemstone.
The researchers said it is an image of the Good Shepherd, one of the earliest images used in Christianity for symbolizing Jesus. Enditem
