Editing Samson (section)

==Archaeology==
In August 2012, archaeologists from [[Tel Aviv University]] announced the discovery of a circular stone seal, approximately {{convert|15|mm|abbr=on}} in diameter, which was found on the floor of a house at Beth Shemesh and appears to depict a man, possibly long-haired, next to the sketchy depiction of a large animal resembling contemporary images of lions. The seal is dated to the 12th century BCE. According to ''Haaretz'', "excavation directors Prof. Shlomo Bunimovitz and Dr. Zvi Lederman of Tel Aviv University say they do not suggest that the human figure on the seal is the biblical Samson. Rather, the geographical proximity to the area where Samson lived, and the time period of the seal, show that a story was being told at the time of a hero who fought a lion, and that the story eventually found its way into the biblical text and onto the seal."<ref>{{cite news|last=Hasson|first=Nir|title= Seal found by Israeli archeologists may give substance to Samson legend|newspaper=[[Haaretz]]|date=30 July 2012|url-access=subscription|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/seal-found-by-israeli-archeologists-may-give-substance-to-samson-legend-1.454504|access-date=3 September 2013}}</ref><ref>[https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120813103403.htm "Ancient seal may add substance to the legend of Samson"], at sciencedaily.com, 13 August 2012. Accessed 25 April 2024.</ref><ref name= NW>{{cite web |author= Wiener, Noah |title= Lion Seal from Beth Shemesh Sparks Samson Discussion |publisher=[[Biblical Archaeology Society]] (BAS) |date= 30 July 2012 |url=https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-artifacts/artifacts-and-the-bible/lion-seal-from-beth-shemesh-sparks-samson-discussion/ |access-date= 25 April 2024}}</ref> The human figure appears to be unarmed, which would correspond to the Samson story.<ref>Wiener (2012), see "Update": comment by Dale W. Manor, Field Director of Beth-Shemesh excavations.</ref>