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Discovered around 15 years ago, the
remains of Herod the Great’s Palace have been carefully examined and a
place between a gate and uneven stone pavement has been identified as
fitting the description of the event in the Gospel of John. This site is
close to the Tower of David (pictured)
The exact spot upon which Jesus stood as he was sentenced to death, may have been pinpointed by archaeologists in Jerusalem.
Discovered
around 15 years ago, the remains of Herod the Great’s palace have been
carefully examined and a place between a gate and uneven stone pavement
has been identified as fitting the description of the event in the
Gospel of John.
Pilgrims
and tourists will be able to visit the Biblical site, because tours are
being offered by the Tower of David Museum, which is located nearby.
While
historians largely agree that Herod’s palace stood in the west of
Jerusalem’s Old City, whether Jesus was sentenced to death by Pontius
Pilate inside it, is the subject of much debate.
This is mainly due to differing interpretations of the Gospels.
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While historians
largely agree that Herod’s palace stood in the west of Jerusalem’s Old
City, whether Jesus was sentenced to death by Pontius Pilate inside it,
is the subject of hot debate. This 19th Century illustration shows the
trial taking place outdoors
THE PLACE OF JUDGEMENT?
Some
academics believe the place where Jesus was sentenced to death by
Pontius Pilate lies within Herod the Great’s palace in the west of the
old city of Jerusalem.
They came across architectural features matching a description in the Gospel of John.
Architectural features in a place between a gate and uneven stone pavement fits the description in the New Testament.
But some experts maintain that Jesus was likely tried in the barracks of Antonia Fortress, which lies near Temple Mount.
The building had been used as a prison by the Ottoman Turks and occupying British forces.
Over
15 years of excavation, the site has revealed symbols scratched into
the walls of jails by members of the Jewish resistance in the 1940s, as
well as basins from the Crusades.
Foundation
walls and an underground sewage system are thought to have been built
when the building was a sprawling palace for Herod the Great, ruler of
Judea.
The
Gospel of John describes the trial of Jesus taking place near a gate
and uneven pavement, which some archaeologists, including Shimon Gibson,
an archaeology professor at the University of North Carolina at
Charlotte, believe matches evidence at the site.
‘There
is, of course, no inscription stating it happened here, but everything -
archaeological, historical and gospel accounts - all falls into place
and makes sense,’ he said.
The
Reverend David Pileggi, minister of Christ Church located nearby the
museum, told the newspaper that the discovery confirms ‘what everyone
expected all along, that the trial took place near the Tower of David.’
However,
not everyone is convinced. Some experts say that the Gospel’s use of
the word ‘praetorium’ - which means general’s tent in military barracks
in Latin - suggests the pivotal trial took place in the Antonia
Fortress.
The fortress lies in the north eastern part of the old city, near Temple Mount.
Despite some uncertainty, it's thought that the prison will become a visit on the pilgrim trail.
Eilat
Lieber, Director of the Tower of David Museum, says the museum is
working with tour guides to explain the history and significance of the
remaining ruins.
However, Reverend Pileggi doesn’t think that the prison will become a major site of pilgrimage.
‘What
makes a place holy is the fact that people have gone there for hundreds
of years, prayed, cried and even celebrated there, so I don’t think
there will be changes to the route anytime soon,’ he said.
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Pilgrims and tourists will be able to
visit the Biblical site and historial prison, as tours are being offered
by the Tower of David Museum (marked on the map), which is located
nearby
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This map shows Jerusalem, taken from a
1911 encyclopedia. The Palace of Herod, near Tower of David and the
proposed site of Jesus' trial, is shown beneath Jaffa Gate. Sion, the
location of the Last Supper is also shown. Experts believe the trial may
alternatively have taken place at Fortress of Antonia (top right)
KING HEROD AND HIS OTHER PALACES
As well as a Palace in the west of the Old City, King Herod (illustrated) had other properties nearby
As well as a palace in the west of the Old City, Herod had other properties nearby.
He was born around 73BC and was governor of Galilee until 40BC.
The Parthian Empire then conquered Judea, which was under Roman control at the time, and Herod fled to Jerusalem.
He
sought refuge in Petra, where his mother was said to have been
originally from, and was later appointed King of the Jews by the Roman
senate.
With
Roman support, he took back the kingdom three years later, and began
building a colossal fortress 10 miles (16km) south of Jerusalem a decade
after that.
In
December, archaeologists unearthed the arched entrance and corridor to
the fortress, which was constructed between 23 and 15BC and included a
palace and small town on the cone-shaped mound, where some experts say
he was buried.
The discovery in the Herodyon National Park was made by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Institute of Archaeology.
University
archaeologists said: ‘The corridor was built as part of Herod's plan to
turn Herodium into a massive artificial volcano-shaped hill, a vast and
impressive monument designed to commemorate the architect-King.
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n December, archaeologists unearthed
the arched entrance and corridor (pictured) to a colossal fortress 10
miles (16km) south of Jerusalem. The discovery in the Herodyon National
Park was made by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Institute of
Archaeology
‘During
the course of the excavations, it became evident that the arched
corridor was never actually in use, as prior to its completion it became
redundant.'
Archaeologists
believe the palace was built by slaves and contractors and consisted of
four towers, believed to have been where Herod lived.
The site is the highest peak in the Judean desert, stretching 2,450ft (758 metres) above sea level.
According
to biblical accounts, when news of Jesus’ arrival reached the king, he
was said to have felt threatened and ordered all newborn babies in
Bethlehem to be killed.
The Bible portrays him as a tyrant that would stop at nothing to keep his throne.
In
Matthew 2:16, the gospel wrote: ‘When he saw that he was mocked of the
wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children
that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years
old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of
the wise men.’
There
were even accounts that the king killed three of his own sons, out of
fear of losing his crown. However, few other historical accounts of this
massacre have been reported.
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Archaeologists believe the palace was
built by slaves and contractors and consisted of four towers - believed
to have been where Herod lived. The site (pictured) is the highest peak
in the Judean desert, stretching 2,450ft (758 metres) above sea level
Herod
died in Jericho in spring 4 BC of an illness dubbed ‘Herod’s Evil’,
which is thought to have been a combination of cirrhosis of the liver,
hypertension, and diabetes.
Some archaeologists believe that his body was buried in a tomb on the site of the fortress.
However,
two years ago, experts ruled this location out because the tomb was too
small for a ruler known for his decadence and love of ambitious, large
scale architectural projects.
King
Herod had another fortified palace in Masada - an ancient fortification
in the Southern District of Israel situated on top of an isolated rock
plateau (akin to a mesa) on the eastern edge of the Judaean Desert,
overlooking the Dead Sea.
He built palaces for himself on the mountain, 12 miles east of Arad, and fortified Masada between 37 and 31 BCE.
The
site of Masada was identified in 1842 and extensively excavated between
1963 and 1965 by an expedition led by Israeli archaeologist Yigael
Yadin.
Due
to the remoteness from human habitation and its arid environment, the
site remained largely untouched by humans or nature for two millennia.