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World Jewish News
Archeological discovery sheds light on Roman Jerusalem
18.08.2009
A large structure from the Roman period has been discovered in City of David in Jerusalem, the first of its kind to be found in Israel.
The structure was exposed in the excavations in the City of David compound in the Old City. The edifice is a expansive manor that was probably the private home of an affluent individual. Among the other ruins found in the site were a sculpture head of a boxer and a gold earring set with expensive gems.
Dr. Doron Ben-Ami, the director of the excavation, described the structure as exceptionally lavish.
"Even though we do not have the complete dimensions of the structure, we can modestly estimate that its territory sprawls across about 1,000 square meters," said Ben-Ami. "In the center there was a large garden which was enclosed by columns. Balconies revolved amid the rows of columns and rooms that bordered the garden. The rooms' ceilings rose to the height of two stories and were covered by tile roofs."
The discovery was uncovered in the archeological site in the national park adjacent to the walls of Jerusalem. The digs are directed by the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and are funded by the Elad Association. According to the Israel Antiquities Authority, the columns, the capitals, the mosaics and the other findings clearly point to the fact that it was a Roman edifice, part of a widespread style of 300 AD.
Researches believe that the structure holds archeological evidence of the earthquake that toppled the area in the year 336 AD. The structure's walls fell two floors down and piled on top of another, some of them left standing tall on their wires. Amidst the cracks, archeologists found coins that indicate that the destruction of the edifice dates to around the same time the earthquake took place.
"We do not know of any structures from the Roman period that were discovered in Israel who have similar architectural traits as the structure from the City of David," said the director of the dig. "The only similar ruins have been found in sites aged 200-400 AD, that were discovered in Syria. These are the 'urban manors' from the Roman period that were discovered in parallel sites. If this comparison is apt, despite its size and affluence, the edifice was most probably used as a private building."
He added that "the discovery of the Roman structure in the City of David is a significant contribution to the understanding of the scope of construction in the Roman city. The edifice is the first archeological testimony of the continuing expansion of settlements toward the southern parts of the city toward the end of the Roman period."
Источник: Haaretz
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