A 5th century amulet depicting the biblical figure King Solomon shooting a devil was found in Turkey

Archaeologists in Turkey say they have found an ancient stele showing a biblical figure fighting the devil.

A rare artifact was found during the ongoing excavation work in Hadrianopolis, an ancient city near Karabük, also dating back to the fifth century.

Hadrianopolis was used as a settlement during various periods of history, including the Roman and Byzantine empires. Excavation and restoration work has been going on there since 2003, and more than a dozen structures have been found. many large mosaics acquired over the years.

The painting, made of copper, depicts King Solomon, according to a press release issued by Turkey’s Karabük University. The ancient ruler is seen riding a horse and wielding a spear while defeating Satan, according to Dr. Ersin Çelikbaş, associate professor at the university. Solomon comes from many religions, including Judaism, Catholicism and Islam.

“The image of the prophet Solomon in this necklace surprised us and revealed the importance of Anatolian archeology,” said Çelikbaş. Anatolia is a region of Turkey.

The phrase “Our Lord has conquered evil” is written on one side of the amulet, and the names of four biblical angels—Azrail, Gabriel, Michael and Israfil—are written on the other side. The pendant would have been used as a charm to protect against evil or danger, Çelikbaş told LiveScience.

Çelikbaş added that the amulet is related to the military nature of the city, noting that previous excavations “determined the presence of a cavalry unit” in Hadrianopolis. This is the first piece of its kind found in Turkey, Çelikbaş said, although a similar piece was previously found in Jerusalem.

“The presence of similar works in these two distant places shows that Hadrianopolis was an important religious center in ancient times,” Çelikbaş said.