Voice of Palestine , 21/04/24
The eagle, symbolizing power, and the lily, representing beauty, emerged as the predominant emblems across numerous nations, highlighting the widespread influence of the Canaanites.
Displayed above is an image of the Canaanite shekel coin, a currency used in Palestine around 3000 BC. Its weight was standardized at 32 barley grains, with its name derived from the word “shekel,” meaning weight.
Both sides of the coin feature ancient Canaanite symbols. The eagle, a significant Canaanite emblem, signifies power, the sun, the link between earth and sky, and the quest for immortality. This reflects the ancient Palestinian admiration for the heavens, evidenced by the prevalence of golden eagles during that period, unlike the present.
The reverence for eagles became so fervent that King Herod installed golden eagle statues throughout Palestine, resorting to executing 40 individuals for defacing just one of these statues.
Conversely, the other side of the coin displays the emblem of the lily flower, another ancient Canaanite symbol representing beauty, purity, and chastity. It reflects the ancient Palestinians’ affection for their land, evident in the widespread presence of these flowers in the valleys and natural landscapes of Palestine then and now.