Column Capital from the City of David

In 1963, archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon discovered a proto-Aeolic capital broken in half when digging on the eastern slope of the City of David, above the Gihon Spring. Aeolic refers to a particular architectural style, which has two curving palmette volutes rising from the shaft and spreading outward. The palm motif is present in both ancient Israelite and Phoenician designs. Seeing that it was found in the very vicinity that is believed to be the ancient palace, the motif is strongly associated with the Davidic Dynasty. Due to this, archaeologist Eilat Mazar claimed that this was evidential to the location of King David’s palace itself.