Jerusalem archaeology • Lev Haolam

A panoramic view of Jerusalem's ancient skyline

Get to know these fascinating UNHEARD facts about Jerusalem!

If you thought you knew all there was to know about Jerusalem, think again! Get ready to be wowed with our list of fascinating facts about Jerusalem that you’ve never heard of! Jerusalem: A city with a history like no other. In 1000 BCE, King David captured the Holy City of Jerusalem, and the first Jewish capital city was declared! Forty years later, it was his son, the great and wise King Solomon, who would build the magnificent first Temple of Jerusalem, which would become the permanent resting place for the Holy Ark, which contained the Ten Commandments. A place...

Intriguing ancient Jewish structure unearthed near Western Wall

When Israeli archaeologists uncovered a series of ancient chambers that had been hidden underground for thousands of years just meters away from the Second Temple, everyone was overcome with mystery and intrigue. The Israel Antiques Authority and the Western Wall Heritage Foundation presented the extraordinary discovery last month, just ahead of Jerusalem Day. Barely thirty meters from the ancient Jewish Temple, archaeologists found two rooms connected by a staircase and an open courtyard. This complex was used by Jewish people in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago at the time of the Second Temple. Artefacts found at the site - oil lamps, clay cooking vessels and stone containers - show that the rooms were used for storing and cooking food. But more than that, nobody knows. In first century Jerusalem, houses were normally built of stone. So, who was it that dug out these underground chambers, and why did they go to such efforts to hew rooms out of the hard bedrock? During the Byzantine period, around 1,400 years ago, the ancient rooms were sealed up beneath the floor of a large, grand building. What was this building, and why were the first century Jewish chambers buried underneath it?This discovery captures the imagination in a unique way and opens up a treasure trove of mystery. Yet a few questions hang in the air that are maybe more profound than all the others: Why did this ancient Jewish structure survive for thousands of years when almost no others did? How did it stay hidden so long? And why, only now, in these days, has it come to light? When the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in 70 CE, they burnt the city to the ground and left virtually no Jewish structures standing. But these hidden rooms survived. When the grand Byzantine building that covered the chambers collapsed in an earthquake in the 11th century, the ancient Jewish rooms beneath its mosaic floors remained intact. After thousands of years, it’s only now in our day that this mysterious structure has come to light. You may be forgiven for thinking that these events didn’t happen by chance. Could it be that the G-d of Israel is still watching over the city where His Presence dwells? Could it be that He chooses when to reveal Jerusalem’s hidden treasures? Today the very identity of Jerusalem is under attack. Many are trying to rewrite her history and erase all evidence of an ancient Jewish presence in the city. Could it be that discoveries like these ancient Jewish rooms are intended to show us that the Jews did and always will belong in their holy city of Jerusalem? Click here to learn more fascinating facts about Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria.

Senior US diplomats join Israeli leaders to open site of excavated Jewish road in East Jerusalem

While many around the world are trying to airbrush Jewish history from Jerusalem, particularly from the contested eastern side, archaeological findings continue to confirm its deep Jewish connection. One remarkable discovery made in recent times was a Jewish road dating back over 2000 years to the days of Herod. This road connected the major holy sites for Jewish pilgrims in temple times, including Temple Mount, the City of David and the Pool of Siloam. The pilgrims’ road may have been hidden forever had it not been for a burst water pipe in 2004, some distance from the site of the temple. The city’s maintenance workers were accompanied by an archaeologist as they carefully started breaking up the ground to access the pipe. However, the team were soon told to stop digging when the archaeologist noticed some unusual stonework beneath the ground. It turned out to be part of a stone staircase from the biblical Pool of Siloam. Following this discovery, archaeologists started exploring the adjacent area, and it wasn’t long before they found the entrance to the pilgrims’ road.Excavating this ancient road was a feat of modern engineering. The excavation team knew they couldn’t close off the Old City or the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan in order to carry out a traditional dig. So, they worked underground while the hustle and bustle of Jerusalem life went on in the streets above them. They had to use special fibrotic cable cameras to decide where to dig, and a team of engineers worked to ensure the ground around the excavation was strong enough to support the people and buildings above. The official opening ceremony for the pilgrims’ road was held on June 30, 2019 after 8 years of excavation. In a bold display of solidarity with Israel and the Jewish right to be in Jerusalem, two top US diplomats - Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt and US ambassador to Israel David Friedman - attended the event. Speaking at the ceremony, Friedman addressed Trump’s recent decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem: ‘Were there any doubts about the accuracy, the wisdom, the propriety of President Trump recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, I certainly think this lays all doubts to rest.’ The incredible discovery of this pilgrims’ road raises the question: What other structures and artefacts from temple times are hiding beneath the stones of the ancient Jewish city of Jerusalem?

Ancient cityscape of Jerusalem at sunset

7 Fascinating Things You May Not Know About Jerusalem

1. Jerusalem Has Been Conquered Dozens of Times Few cities in history have experienced as much conflict as Jerusalem. Because of its spiritual importance and strategic location, the city has changed hands repeatedly throughout history. Historians estimate that Jerusalem has been: Captured or conquered more than 40 timesBesieged at least 23 timesDestroyed twice and rebuilt multiple times Major empires that ruled Jerusalem include the Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantine Empire, Islamic Caliphate, Crusaders, Ottomans, and the British Empire. Despite these constant upheavals, one thing remained remarkably consistent: the deep connection of the Jewish people to the city. For thousands of...