The ancient city of Jerusalem reached its greatest extent just before the Great Jewish Revolt of 66–70 A.D., during which the Romans conquered the city and destroyed the Temple. The southern wall of that city, constructed by the Hasmoneans in the second century B.C. was recently uncovered in an excavation on Mt. Zion sponsored by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), the Nature and Parks Authority and the Ir David Foundation. Mt. Zion is the modern name given to the western ridge of Jerusalem. During the Hasmonean period the city walls encircled today’s Old City as well as the two […]
