Ancient roof tiles in Israel have been discovered in the City of David, which point to the location of an ancient fortress built by King Antiochus IV, who persecuted the Jews and then built the place to hide inside.
The extremely rare tiles, which are the oldest yet discovered, are said to date back to the 2nd century BC when they were brought to the region by the Seleucid King Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
They are the earliest evidence for the use of ceramic tiles in the region, and they were unearthed in the City of David National Park that surrounds the walls of Jerusalem’s Old City.
The sixteen tile fragments were found during archaeological digs by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) and Tel-Aviv University.
Researchers Yiftah Shalev and Filip Vukosavovic from the IAA and Yuval Gadot from Tel-Aviv University said. “It is surprising how such a small discovery can open a tiny window into a vast world of research.”
The tiles date back to the period of the Greek Seleucid King Antiochus IV. A major villain in Jewish traditions associated with Hanukkah who ruled the Seleucid Empire from 175 BC to 164 BC.
Ceramic tiles were first invented in Greece as early as the 7th Century BC, with the researchers saying. “The representatives of the Seleucid King, Antiochus IV, who reigned over vast areas from Syria to Persia, brought the knowledge and tradition of constructing tiled roofs from Seleucid-controlled Syria.”
According to the book of the Maccabees, Antiochus IV carried out a military campaign to Jerusalem, leading to the Maccabean Revolt. He is said to have built a huge fortress in order to control the city.
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Until now, its location has been hotly debated, but the researchers said in a statement obtained by Newsflash from the IAA today, Wednesday, 6th December. The tiles are proof that it could have been located on the City of David hill.
Ayala Zilberstein of the IAA and Tel-Aviv University said in the statement: “The architectural remains uncovered over recent years have reopened the debate, and they actually strengthen the identification of the fortress on the City of David hill.
“The discovery of the roof tiles constitutes additional evidence and further reinforcement from a different direction for the identification of the Hellenistic presence in the City of David, characterised by foreign construction traditions.
“Further research on many more tiles that were discovered in the previous archaeological expedition directed by Dr Doron Ben-Ami and Dr Yanna Tchekhanovets of the Israel Antiquities Authority, may shed more light on this issue.”
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Story By: Joseph Golder, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash
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