Archaeologists uncovered a small sling projectile with a message to the enemy near the ancient Greek polis Hippos (called Susita in Aramaic), just inland from the Sea of Galilee. The artifact is more than two thousand years old.
A short ancient Greek inscription roughly translates as “Learn your lesson!” The sarcastic taunt was aimed at attackers approaching the city.
This is the first time an inscription like this has been found on a sling projectile. Archaeologists Michael Eisenberg and Arleta Kovalevska from the University of Haifa (Israel) and Gregor Staab from the University of Cologne (Germany) reported the find. The team published a paper about the discovery in Palestine Exploration Quarterly.
Tiny sling bullet, big attitude
The almond-shaped cast-lead projectile measured about 3.2 centimeters long and 1.95 centimeters wide and weighed 38 grams. One side bears a five-letter ancient Greek engraving: ΜΑΘΟΥ. Scientists interpreted the word as a sarcastic call for the enemy to “learn the lesson,” Arkeonews reported.
Inscriptions on ancient sling projectiles are not uncommon. They usually carried a commander’s name, the unit’s name, or a sacred symbol. The mocking command on the recent find makes this artifact unique, the researchers say.
They discovered the bullet during excavations in the southern necropolis of Hippos, next to an ancient road that once led to the city’s eastern gate.
The location of the artifact led researchers to conclude that defenders positioned on the slopes or walls fired the sling bullet as attackers advanced along the road below. The fact that archaeologists dug up the projectile 260 meters from the city walls supports the idea that it was used in an actual battle rather than in training.
One edge of the bullet shows a clear impact mark. That means it struck a hard surface after being fired.
Ancient Greek polis Hippos
Signs of ancient psychological warfare
During the Hellenistic period (323–30 BCE), the sling was a common weapon. Skilled slingers could hurl small projectiles astonishing distances. The typical effective range for lead bullets was roughly 100–300 meters.
The inscriptions on projectiles show that ancient warfare wasn’t just about physical force. Soldiers actively used language to intimidate and mock their opponents. That tradition survives to this day.
On other known artifacts of this kind, researchers have found plenty of inscriptions such as “Take that!”, “Catch!”, or “Try it!”. The authors of the newly found inscription likely urged the enemy to learn from the painful lesson they were about to receive.
Hippos: a strategic city of the Decapolis
The ancient city of Hippos sat on a flat-topped hill about 350 meters above the Sea of Galilee.
That position allowed the city to control key routes in the region, making Hippos both a valuable stronghold and a frequent target during conflicts.
Archaeologists have been excavating the ancient polis for more than 20 years. During that time researchers have found 69 lead sling bullets here. But the recently discovered example with a mocking, sarcastic inscription is the first of its kind.
