The Tel Dan Stele was discovered in Northern Israel. It was found in three different fragments in 1993 and 1994. The pieces were found by Avraham Biran. The pieces were found apart because they were being used as building stones rather than their original purpose. The inscription is in Aramaic. It was most likely written in the late ninth century BCE and then used for its secondary purpose as building materials. The text is a description of an Aramaic King’s victories. These triumphs are recorded as being successful due to the help and favor of the god Hadad. The influence and power of the god is an obvious motivation for the king’s desire to fight and conquer his enemies. Who his enemies are in this text brings a controversial and interesting
