Roman ballista stones found during excavations within JerusalemImage Credit : Israel Antiques Authority
Posted on 08/15/2022 5:12:19 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
The Jewish–Roman wars was a series of uprisings against the Roman Empire that started in AD 66 during the reign of Emperor Nero.
The seeds of the revolt were in response to increasing religious tensions and high taxation, leading to reprisal attacks against Roman citizens. In retaliation, the Roman Governor of Judea plundered the Second Temple and launched raids to arrest senior political and religious figures within the Jewish community.
This led to a wide-scale rebellion, resulting in the Roman officials abandoning Jerusalem to the rebels.
Nero tasked Vespasian, a Roman general (who would succeed to the role of Emperor during the "Year of the Four Emperors") to crush the rebellion with the support of his son Titus.
Within several months, the Roman forces had conquered several major Jewish strongholds, displaced large population groups and dealt a swift punishment on the inhabitants of Judea.
Titus and his legions reached Jerusalem in AD 70, placing the city under siege for four months using several types of siege engines. The primary siege weapon was the ballista, a missile firing weapon that launched either bolts or stones over large distances...
After several battles, the entire city and the Second Temple was destroyed...
As for the location of the Roman siege weapons, it appears that a significant number were placed in Cat Square, located around the centre of modern Jerusalem.
Arbiv’s study also indicates where the Romans may have broken into the city, as a large concentration of ballista stones can be found in the Russian Compound where the remains of the outer wall has been identified.
(Excerpt) Read more at heritagedaily.com ...
Roman ballista stones found during excavations within JerusalemImage Credit : Israel Antiques Authority
The article has the name wrong, sorry, just noticed it:
Israel Antiquities Authority
NOT
Israel Antiques Authority
Who knew that in 66 AD, they foretold the future. Same rebellion due to taxes and harsh rule would again occur in 2023 AD
History repeats.
What translation are you using? French? It translates almost exactly as Israel Antiquities Authority today. I have submitted reports to the IDAM, but I understand that it changed in 1990 when the Government changed to Likud under Shamir.
https://www.antiquities.org.il/ (In Hebrew, look at the top right hand corner.
When I saw your post, I suspected that you are referring to some of the French submissions, which there have been many. Roland de Vaux, perhaps? The IDAM (Israel Dept. of Antiquities and Museums) was founded shortly after the War of Independence in July of 1948. I have not dealt with the current Department, so I don’t know what they refer themselves to in English. It changed from the old in 1990, but it has been so long since I dealt with any of them I have not seen Antiques referenced. Where are you seeing it that way?
Translation of what?
My bad. I first read it and thought you were calling it “Antiques” Authority, and you actually were correcting it. I am a little sensitive to French intrusion into Israel Antiquities because I experienced French influence for years (I haven’t had dealings with the Antiquities Authorities since the 80’s and if you have worked there, you know how political it is). Also, my eyesight isn’t what it used to be.
My bad. I first read it and thought you were calling it “Antiques” Authority, and you actually were correcting it. I am a little sensitive to French intrusion into Israel Antiquities because I experienced French influence for years (I haven’t had dealings with the Antiquities Authorities since the 80’s and if you have worked there, you know how political it is). Also, my eyesight isn’t what it used to be.
BTW, I have thoroughly enjoyed the articles that you have posted here! Keep up the good work.
Spent casings?
Casting stones were made locally of whatever was best to use from available stone, and when the wall got breached in this siege, there was back and forth fighting, with the Romans having to withdraw a couple times, then advance, but the denouement was inevitable. The machines went with the army, but those last piles of ammo were left in situ -- either from the firing areas, or from where they'd landed.
No harm done. Ditto here on the eyesight, or I’d have noticed their typo before posting it.
I love Roman history. They were a tough bunch of rascals. Thanks for posting.
Yeah, the main problem for the Roman army and political order was boredom on the frontiers.
Politics is always and only about power.
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