Jerusalem archaeology

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...

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...

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...

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 times Besieged at least 23 times Destroyed 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....