Israeli experts discovered the charred remains from a 2100-year-old Greek fortress. They say it provides “tangible evidence” of the Hanukkah story.
Hanukkah, an eight-day Jewish celebration, honors the rededication during the second century BC of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, where Jews rose up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt – and this stronghold was destroyed by Jewish rebels during the uprising.
It measures 50 feet by fifty feet and is nine feet thick. The walls were made of stones, which are 9 feet thick, before the Hasmoneans/Seleucids battle destroyed it.
Hasmonean, a dynasty dominated by Jewish Kings, fought for the liberation of Judea from Seleucid control. This was a Greek Dynasty that ruled over large swathes of the Middle East.
When the Hasmoneans saw Seleucid troops stationed on the hilltop overlooking Maresha, the ancient battle started.
No fighting was done inside the structure, but the Jewish rebels knock down the roof that led to the walls collapsing – and then they set their enemy fortress ablaze.
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This fortress measures 50 feet by 50 foot and was built of nine-foot thick stone walls before being destroyed during the battle between the Hasmoneans, Seleucids.
Vladik Lifshits and Saar Ganor (excavation directors for the Israel Antiquities Authority), stated that they have found a part of an ancient fortress built by Hellenistic commanders to defend Maresha, the city, from the Hasmonean offensive.
“We believe that the Seleucids obstructed the entrance to the fortress and fled to city when the enemies approached.”
Hanukkah is dedicated to the Maccabean or Hasmonean victories against the forces of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Seleucid King who reigned between 175 and 164 BC, as well as the rededication the Temple.
Mattathias Maccabues (and his son Judas) led the rebellion. These were the first Jews to stand up for religious convictions rather than risk their lives. Every year, eight days should be observed to celebrate the restoration of Temple.
Experts claim that the scene is ‘tangible evidence’ of the Hanukkah story.
When the Hasmoneans saw Seleucid soldiers on the hill above the Hellenistic town of Maresha, the ancient battle started. No fighting was done inside the structure, but the Jewish rebels knock down the roof that led to the walls collapsing – and then they set their enemy fortress ablaze
Maccabean rebellion led to Jerusalem’s capture, the restoration of Jewish worship at the Temple and the Hasmonean Dynasty, which ruled Judea from 67 BC.
It was split into seven different rooms. The walls of the fortress still measure six feet, despite being destroyed thousands of years ago.
Additionally, excavations revealed a staircase leading to the second floor. Unfortunately, it was not preserved.
Archaeologists discovered thousands of crumbled stones while removing dirt from the ruin. This revealed an enormous destruction layer of one foot thick that contained hundreds of artifacts going back to the second century BC.
Team members retrieved troves of pottery and iron weapons from the site, as well as burnt timber beams and many coins.
As archaeologists moved mounds dirt out of the ruins they discovered thousands upon thousands of collapsed stone that showed a huge destruction layer measuring one-foot thick. It contained hundreds artifacts from the later second century BC.
Team members pulled pots, slingshots,iron weapons, burnedt wood beams and many coins from the spot.
Hanukkah, an eight-day Jewish celebration, honors the rededication during the second century BC of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, where Jews rose up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt – and this stronghold was destroyed by Jewish rebels
According to archaeologists, the destruction of the building can be attributed, based on coins and finds, to John Hyrcanus, an Idumea, around 112 BCE.
Hyrcanus, who is a high priest, and was also the ruler of the Jewish people, was a son Simon Maccabeus. Simon Maccabeus was the youngest son from Mattathias Maccabeus.
Eli Eskozido is IAA’s general director. He stated that “the stories of Maccabees come to life before our eyes.” This fascinating aspect of Israel Antiquities Authority’s efforts, in which dedicated and hardworking archaeologists breath life into the historical annals, of people who lived through this land, was Eli Eskozido.
“In just days, we’ll be celebrating Hanukkah. The central theme of Hanukkah is the Hasmoneans victory over the Hellenists which led to the founding of the first Jewish sovereign entity.
The Hasmoneans would not have imagined that students from Israel, 2,000 years after their death, would continue in their footsteps. It’s very exciting.