Ancient Greek Fort Of Acra Found By Archaeologists In Jerusalem Parking Lot
One Of Jerusalem's ‘Greatest Archaeological Mysteries' May Have Been Solved
Sara C Nelson— The Huffington Post UK
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A lost fortress, believed to be “one of Jerusalem’s greatest archaeological mysteries” has been found under a car park.
The remains of the ancient Greek fort of Acra were unearthed by a team of experts in the City of David National Park, Israel’s Antiquities Authority said.
The 2,000 year-old-ruins date back to the time of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who constructed the stronghold after taking Jerusalem by force and enforcing its Hellenization.
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Archaeologists believe they have found the remains of the Acra stronghold
Hellenic rule banned Jewish practices and rededicated the Jewish Temple until control was eventually wrested by the Jewish rebel army led by the Maccabees.
Findings within the ruin of the Acra citadel include lead sling shots, broze arrowheads and ballista stones, stamped with a trident, symbolising the rule of Antiochus.
Remains of section of a large wall, base of a tower and a glacis are also in evidence.
A general view shows workers from the Israeli Antiquity Authorities digging on November 3, 2015 at the excavation site near the City of David adjacent to Jerusalem's Old City walls, where researchers believe to have found the remains of the stronghold the Acra, from which the Greek King Antiochus IV was able to control Jerusalem and monitor activity at the holy site known to Jews as the Temple Mount. Israel's antiquities body claimed to have solved 'one of Jerusalem's greatest archeological mysteries' by unearthing from under a car park the 2,000-year-old citadel, which archaeologists have puzzled for more than a century over its location. AFP PHOTO / GALI TIBBON (Photo credit should read GALI TIBBON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:GALI TIBBON via Getty Images)
Archaeologist from the Israeli Antiquities Authorities, Dr Doron Ben-Ami points at an excavation site near the City of David adjacent to Jerusalem's Old City walls on November 3, 2015, where researchers believe to have found the remains of the stronghold the Acra, from which the Greek King Antiochus IV was able to control Jerusalem and monitor activity at the holy site known to Jews as the Temple Mount. Israel's antiquities body claimed to have solved 'one of Jerusalem's greatest archeological mysteries' by unearthing from under a car park the 2,000-year-old citadel, which archaeologists have puzzled for more than a century over its location. AFP PHOTO / GALI TIBBON (Photo credit should read GALI TIBBON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:GALI TIBBON via Getty Images)
A general view shows workers from the Israeli Antiquity Authorities digging on November 3, 2015 at the excavation site near the City of David adjacent to Jerusalem's Old City walls where researchers believe to have found the remains of the stronghold the Acra, from which the Greek King Antiochus IV was able to control Jerusalem and monitor activity at the holy site known to Jews as the Temple Mount. Israel's antiquities body claimed to have solved 'one of Jerusalem's greatest archeological mysteries' by unearthing from under a car park the 2,000-year-old citadel, which archaeologists have puzzled for more than a century over its location. AFP PHOTO / GALI TIBBON (Photo credit should read GALI TIBBON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:GALI TIBBON via Getty Images)
Workers from the Israeli Antiquity Authorities dig on November 3, 2015 at the excavation site near the City of David adjacent to Jerusalem's Old City walls where researchers believe to have found the remains of the stronghold the Acra, from which the Greek King Antiochus IV was able to control Jerusalem and monitor activity at the holy site known to Jews as the Temple Mount. Israel's antiquities body claimed to have solved 'one of Jerusalem's greatest archeological mysteries' by unearthing from under a car park the 2,000-year-old citadel, which archaeologists have puzzled for more than a century over its location. AFP PHOTO / GALI TIBBON (Photo credit should read GALI TIBBON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:GALI TIBBON via Getty Images)
Workers from the Israeli Antiquity Authorities dig on November 3, 2015 at the excavation site near the City of David adjacent to Jerusalem's Old City walls where researchers believe to have found the remains of the stronghold the Acra, from which the Greek King Antiochus IV was able to control Jerusalem and monitor activity at the holy site known to Jews as the Temple Mount. Israel's antiquities body claimed to have solved 'one of Jerusalem's greatest archeological mysteries' by unearthing from under a car park the 2,000-year-old citadel, which archaeologists have puzzled for more than a century over its location. AFP PHOTO / GALI TIBBON (Photo credit should read GALI TIBBON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:GALI TIBBON via Getty Images)
A member of the Israeli Antiquity Authorities shows on November 3, 2015 lead sling stones, bronze arrowheads and ballista stones founds at the excavation site near the City of David adjacent to Jerusalem's Old City walls where researchers believe to have found the remains of the stronghold the Acra, from which the Greek King Antiochus IV was able to control Jerusalem and monitor activity at the holy site known to Jews as the Temple Mount. Israel's antiquities body claimed to have solved 'one of Jerusalem's greatest archeological mysteries' by unearthing from under a car park the 2,000-year-old citadel, which archaeologists have puzzled for more than a century over its location. AFP PHOTO / GALI TIBBON (Photo credit should read GALI TIBBON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:GALI TIBBON via Getty Images)
A member of the Israeli Antiquity Authorities shows on November 3, 2015 lead sling stones, bronze arrowheads and ballista stones founds at the excavation site near the City of David adjacent to Jerusalem's Old City walls where researchers believe to have found the remains of the stronghold the Acra, from which the Greek King Antiochus IV was able to control Jerusalem and monitor activity at the holy site known to Jews as the Temple Mount. Israel's antiquities body claimed to have solved 'one of Jerusalem's greatest archeological mysteries' by unearthing from under a car park the 2,000-year-old citadel, which archaeologists have puzzled for more than a century over its location. AFP PHOTO / GALI TIBBON (Photo credit should read GALI TIBBON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:GALI TIBBON via Getty Images)
The Maccabees are considered heroes in both Judaism and Christianity, with the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah commemorating Mattathias and his five sons who revolted against the Hellenic rulers.
The mystery of the location of Acra has puzzled experts for well over a century, CNN writes, pointing out that both the Book of Maccabees and historian Josephus Flavius locate the fort within the City of David.
Indeed excavations at the car park site have been ongoing for more than a decade.
The Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs cites a statement from archaeologists, Dr. Doron Ben-Ami, Yana Tchekhanovets and Salome Cohen: "This sensational discovery allows us for the first time to reconstruct the layout of the settlement in the city, on the eve of the Maccabean uprising in 167 BCE.
“The new archaeological finds indicate the establishment of a well-fortified stronghold that was constructed on the high bedrock cliff overlooking the steep slopes of the City of David hill. This stronghold controlled all means of approach to the Temple atop the Temple Mount, and cut the Temple off from the southern parts of the city.
“The numerous coins ranging in date from the reign of Antiochus IV to that of Antiochus VII and the large number of wine jars (amphorae) that were imported from the Aegean region to Jerusalem, which were discovered at the site, provide evidence of the citadel's chronology, as well as the non-Jewish identity of its inhabitants."