Archaeologists uncover Jerusalem wall mysteriously destroyed in power struggle during biblical era

Archaeologists successful Jerusalem precocious uncovered the remains of a Hanukkah-era partition linked to a Hasmonean person — and tied to an past powerfulness struggle.

The discovery, made successful the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum earlier this month, was announced by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) connected Dec. 8.

The partition is the longest, astir intact conception of Jerusalem's Hasmonean-era metropolis wall, measuring much than 130 feet agelong and astir 16 feet wide.

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The country was erstwhile a citadel analyzable successful the clip of King Herod, who ruled from 37 to 5 B.C. aft helium was appointed king of Judea by the Romans.

Built during the days of the Maccabees, the partition was completed successful the precocious 2nd period B.C.

Archaeologists uncovered a Hasmonean-era metropolis partition successful Jerusalem linked to past Hanukkah-era powerfulness struggles. (Gabriel Volcovich via IAA; Dor Pazuelo, Tower of David Jerusalem Museum)

In a statement, excavation directors Amit Re’em and Marion Zindel said the partition remnants are "particularly awesome successful some size and grade of preservation."

They added, "The partition is meticulously built of large, dense stones, with a chiseled brag emblematic of this period."

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"Originally, the monolithic partition roseate to a tallness of much than 10 meters! But today, lone a stump remains."

Experts person relied connected past sources to larn much astir the wall. In the archetypal period A.D., historiographer Josephus wrote that the partition was "impregnable" with its 60 towers.

The country wherever the partition was recovered was erstwhile portion of a citadel analyzable during King Herod's reign. (Emil Aladjem, IAA; Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

"There is overmuch much to this partition than meets the eye," said Re’em and Zindel. "It is wide that it was systematically destroyed and razed to the ground."

They continued, "This is predetermined demolition — not the effect of the ravages of time, nor of a random force attack, but a deliberate execution of a well-planned action. This raises questions astir who was liable for the wall’s destruction."

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Why was the partition destroyed successful the archetypal place? After analyzing the tract and its artifacts, which included past arrowheads, researchers person 2 antithetic military-related theories.

In the archetypal theory, the partition was dismantled by the Hasmoneans themselves aft the radical settled with Antiochus VII Sidetes, the Seleucid king who besieged the metropolis betwixt 134 and 132 B.C.

The arrowheads, recovered adjacent Jerusalem's Hasmonean-era wall, bespeak the subject past surrounding the site. (Ricky Rachman, Tower of David Jerusalem Museum; Emil Aladjem, IAA)

"Sidetes demanded that Jerusalem dismantle its fortifications arsenic a precondition for lifting the siege," the IAA said. "Possibly, the demolition of this recently discovered partition is simply a testament to and a vestige of that agreement."

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The 2nd mentation suggests that King Herod himself ordered the wall’s destruction, the IAA said. That's evidenced by a sentiment that researchers property to Herod's agenda: "The days of the Hasmonean kings are over, and I americium their successor."

The connection added, "Its systematic demolition could good acceptable this Herodian policy, evinced successful different manners arsenic well."

The arrowheads, immoderate with disposable corrosion, are portion of the broader Hasmonean-period archaeological discoveries successful Jerusalem. (Ricky Rachman, Tower of David Jerusalem Museum; Emil Aladjem, IAA)

Eilat Lieber, manager of the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum, said his enactment is "committed to preserving this awesome and unsocial sight."

Said Lieber, "The archaeological excavation … was conducted successful mentation for the instauration of the caller Schulich Wing of Archaeology, Art and Innovation."

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"In the caller wing, visitors volition basal connected a transparent level supra these past stones, and, unneurotic with [the] interpretations of modern artists, this helping volition bring a caller transportation to the past and practice of the city."