The Antonia was almost a square building, approximately 86 meters (280 ft) on a side, with four towers, one on each corner. In my proposed reconstruction, the towers project slightly beyond the basic square. Three of the towers are 19 meters (62 ft) square and the fourth, the southeastern one is 22 meters (72 ft). The height of the three smaller towers in the proposed reconstruction is 23 meters (75 ft). The southeastern is 10 meters higher (33 ft; 20 cubits, says Josephus). I have reconstructed the lower two floors of the larger, southeastern tower as solid. This is similar to the situation at Herodium, where the lower two floors of the larger eastern tower are solid. The lower two floors are also solid in the three Herodian towers that once existed near Jerusalem’s Jaffa Gate, known as the “citadel” (one is left on its foundation, known today as “David’s Tower”).
The structure is surrounded by a wall 3 cubits high (5 ft), as specified by Josephus.
The main building of the Antonia is divided into two nearly identical wings, each with a courtyard enclosed by two-storied porticoes. The reconstruction also features two smaller courtyards that are enclosed by colonnades to improve the air and light in the parts of the building that are far from the two central courtyards.
The royal wing is composed of a bathhouse and a large reception hall, similar to the plan of the large halls in Herod’s palace in Jericho. Most of the reconstructed Antonia has two floors, but the reception hall extends to the full height of the second story. The building also had a third story, but only on the periphery, forming rows of rooms on each side in between the towers—a sort of elevated casemate wall. The rooms here were most probably used by the king’s bodyguards or soldiers.
The narrow walkway between the building and the low wall surrounding it was probably used by the guards to overlook activities below. They also guarded the stairways leading up to the Antonia from the Temple Mount. In the event of a disturbance below, however, troops on the roof and in the towers took care of the situation.
In creating this reconstruction I have tried to use not only Josephus, but elements familiar to us from other edifices built by Herod, especially Herodium. This, to the best of my ability, represents the Antonia that has disappeared.—Ehud Netzer
The Antonia was almost a square building, approximately 86 meters (280 ft) on a side, with four towers, one on each corner. In my proposed reconstruction, the towers project slightly beyond the basic square. Three of the towers are 19 meters (62 ft) square and the fourth, the southeastern one is 22 meters (72 ft). The height of the three smaller towers in the proposed reconstruction is 23 meters (75 ft). The southeastern is 10 meters higher (33 ft; 20 cubits, says Josephus). I have reconstructed the lower two floors of the larger, southeastern tower as solid. This is […]
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