Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians... Isaiah 37:36
"The newly-discovered royal structure was built in the seventh century BC, in the period between the days of King Hezekiah and King Josiah, and indicates the restoration of Jerusalem after the Assyrian siege of the city in 701 BC.
“Among these stone artifacts, made of soft limestone, are capitals of various sizes in the architectural style known as Proto-Aeolian, one of the most significant royal building features of the First Temple period, and one of the visual symbols of the period,” said excavations director Dr. Yaakov Billig.
“The collection includes three complete medium-sized stone capitals and items from lavish window frames, incorporating balustrades composed of stylish columns on which a series of Proto-Aeolian style capitals of a tiny size were affixed.”
Unlike these architectural stones, which were discovered preserved in excellent condition, the rest of the building was destroyed, probably in the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC.
“This is a very exciting discovery,” Dr. Billig said.
“This is a first-time discovery of scaled-down models of the giant Proto-Aeolian capitals, of the kind found thus far in the Kingdoms of Judah and Israel, where they were incorporated above the royal palace gates.”
“The level of workmanship on these capitals is the best seen to date, and the degree of preservation of the items is rare.”
“It was with great surprise that two of the three column capitals were found neatly buried, one on top of the other.”
“At this point it is still difficult to say who hid the capitals in the way they were discovered, and why they did so, but there is no doubt that this is one of the mysteries at this unique site, to which we will try to offer a solution.”
“This discovery, along with the palace previously uncovered in Ramat Rachel and the administrative center recently uncovered by the Israel Antiquities Authority on the slopes of Arnona, attests to a new revival in the city and a somewhat ‘exit from the walls’ of the First Temple period, after the Assyrian siege,” Dr. Billig said.
“We reveal villas, mansions and government buildings in the area outside the walls of the city. This testifies to the relief felt by the city’s residents and the recovery of Jerusalem’s development after the Assyrian threat was over.”
SciNews
"The newly-discovered royal structure was built in the seventh century BC, in the period between the days of King Hezekiah and King Josiah, and indicates the restoration of Jerusalem after the Assyrian siege of the city in 701 BC.
“Among these stone artifacts, made of soft limestone, are capitals of various sizes in the architectural style known as Proto-Aeolian, one of the most significant royal building features of the First Temple period, and one of the visual symbols of the period,” said excavations director Dr. Yaakov Billig.
“The collection includes three complete medium-sized stone capitals and items from lavish window frames, incorporating balustrades composed of stylish columns on which a series of Proto-Aeolian style capitals of a tiny size were affixed.”
Unlike these architectural stones, which were discovered preserved in excellent condition, the rest of the building was destroyed, probably in the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC.
“This is a very exciting discovery,” Dr. Billig said.
“This is a first-time discovery of scaled-down models of the giant Proto-Aeolian capitals, of the kind found thus far in the Kingdoms of Judah and Israel, where they were incorporated above the royal palace gates.”
“The level of workmanship on these capitals is the best seen to date, and the degree of preservation of the items is rare.”
“It was with great surprise that two of the three column capitals were found neatly buried, one on top of the other.”
“At this point it is still difficult to say who hid the capitals in the way they were discovered, and why they did so, but there is no doubt that this is one of the mysteries at this unique site, to which we will try to offer a solution.”
“This discovery, along with the palace previously uncovered in Ramat Rachel and the administrative center recently uncovered by the Israel Antiquities Authority on the slopes of Arnona, attests to a new revival in the city and a somewhat ‘exit from the walls’ of the First Temple period, after the Assyrian siege,” Dr. Billig said.
“We reveal villas, mansions and government buildings in the area outside the walls of the city. This testifies to the relief felt by the city’s residents and the recovery of Jerusalem’s development after the Assyrian threat was over.”
SciNews
