Kuntillet Ajrud inscriptions

The Kuntillet Ajrud inscriptions are a group of ancient Hebrew inscriptions found at the site of Kuntillet Ajrud, in the Sinai Peninsula. They are written on pottery, stone, and plaster; most were written at the site where they were found, while some were sent there on jars, likely from the Jerusalem area. They are dated to the late 9th century BCE. Some of the inscriptions were written on pithoi (large storage jars) that also feature paintings.

The inscriptions are significant for the study of the history of ancient Israelite religion, as are the paintings found at the site, some of which are located near the inscriptions and may be related to them. The "shocking" and "exceedingly controversial" inscriptions have relevance and interest to the fields of Ancient Near East and Biblical studies. The central figures of Pithos A have been identified as either representations of Yahweh and Asherah, the Egyptian dwarf-god Bes or Bes-like deities, or even as demonic ritual dancers. The figures appear bull-faced, bipedal, and wearing hats or crowns.