Click on photo to enlarge it
The inhabitants of ancient Jerusalem once built their homes on this hillside. The earliest structure unearthed here was part of an enormous retaining wall called the Millo, mentioned in both the Bible and the Mishna. This “Stepped Stone Structure," as it is also known, supported the palace of King David and the Canaanite fortress that preceded it.
Stately homes and an official archive were built on the Millo. The grand character of the homes and the nature of the artifacts found in them indicate that they belonged to Jerusalem’s elite—some serving as royal functionaries.
The Royal Quarter was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC. After the 70-year captivity, returnees to Zion rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem in the upper part of this excavated area, leaving the ruins you see here today.
Comments
Post a Comment