A rare fragment of a 2,000-year- old inscription dedicated to the Roman emperor Hadrian, discovered earlier this year in Jerusalem, was displayed to the public by the Israel Antiquities Authority on Tuesday.

The limestone slab engraved with Latin inscriptions was discovered in Jerusalem and among "the most important" items. " This is an extraordinary find of enormous historical importance," Dr. Rina Avner, excavation director, said in a statement.

The slab, roughly one meter wide, was probably set at the top of a triumphal arch in the entrance to Jerusalem, dedicated to Hadrian to honor his visit to Jerusalem in the year 130 AD, the researchers believe.

Their analysis shows that the fragment of the inscription is half of a complete inscription, the other part of which was discovered nearby in the late nineteenth century and was published by the prominent French archaeologist Charles Clermont-Ganneau.

That stone is currently on display in the courtyard of Studium Biblicum Franciscanum Museum in the Old City of Jerusalem.

The completion of the two parts of the text reveals an especially large inscription, which reads "To the Imperator Caesar Traianus Hadrianus Augustus, son of the deified Traianus Parthicus, grandson of the deified Nerva, high priest, invested with tribunician power for the 14th time, consul for the third time, father of the country (dedicated by) the 10th legion Fretensis Antoniniana."

According to Avner Ecker of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, who translated the inscription from Latin, the significance of the inscription stems from the fact that it specifically mentions the name and titles of Hadrian who was an extremely prominent emperor, as well as a clear date.

"It is a significant and tangible confirmation of the historical account regarding the presence of the 10th Legion in Jerusalem during the period between two revolts by the Jews, and possibly even the location of the legion's military camp in the city," Ecker said. Endi

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