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The monumental structure near Jerusalem's Dug Gate. ((Israel Antiquities Authority)
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Last update - 00:00 06/12/2007
Excavation near J'lem's Dung Gate unearths ancient mansion
By Nadav Shragai, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Israel, Archaeology 

The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced Wednesday that the mansion it has been uncovering in Jerusalem may have been a palace belonging to Queen Helene of Adiabene.

The mansion is beneath the Givati parking lot near the Dung Gate.

Dig director Dr. Doron Ben-Ami, said the structure, unearthed across the street from the City of David Visitors Center, was of unusual proportions for the Second Temple period and may have belonged to the royal family of Adiabene, of which Queen Helene was the best-known member.
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He added that the final word was not in yet, and that he would have to wait until the excavation was expanded in the coming season to securely determine the identity of the entire complex.

Helene of Adiabene, who converted to Judaism some 2,000 years ago and moved to Jerusalem, built grand residences in the area of the City of David. She was known in Jewish sources as a righteous woman, one of the queens of Adiabene, a kingdom on the upper Tigris river. The Roman-era Jewish historian Josephus mentions her in his book "The Antiquities of the Jews" and mentions her son, Monbaz II, a number of times. He relates how she converted to Judaism together with her son, under the influence of two Jews, and how the she and Monbaz assisted the Jews of Jerusalem during the Great Revolt. According to historical sources, Helene came to Jerusalem to sacrifice in the Temple after her conversion, and distributed money generously to the poor. She spent the rest of her life in one of the palaces she built in the City of David.

The Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmuds mention her, and the Mishnaic tractate Yoma says she continued to donate lavishly to the poor and the Temple. She also contributed a gold chandelier and a gold plaque inscribed with the biblical portion regarding the biblical treatment of a suspected adulteress. Archaeologists and historians assume that the queen was buried in the so-called Tombs of the Kings north of the Old City. Two streets in the heart of the capital's downtown are named for the queen and her son.

The excavation, carried out by the IAA in cooperation with the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and the Elad association has uncovered the complex's massive foundations; walls, some of which have been preserved to a height of five meters with stones weighing hundreds of kilograms; halls preserved to a height of at least two stories, a basement with an arched ceiling, and remnants of colored frescoes and ritual baths.

Evidence of the drama that took place in this area before the city was destroyed by the Romans in 70 C.E. can be seen in narrow openings found in the basement through which its inhabitants attempted to flee. The IAA archaeologists say the entire structure was intentionally destroyed. Among the finds are pottery and stone vessels and coins dating to the end of the Second Temple period. Remains from the Byzantine, Roman and Muslim periods were found above the presumed palace, and from the Hellenistic and First Temple period below it.



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      1.   Some governmental geniuses considering handing "Jewish" Jersualem 07:52  |  common sense 06/12/07
      2.   # 1 and israeli sponsored archeology finds another fool 08:23  |  eric 06/12/07
      3.   Arabs will now claim it was constructed 08:30  |  * BEN JABO 06/12/07
      4.   More, More More 08:32  |  Nephtaly 06/12/07
      5.   Where`s the evidence? 10:45  |  Michael 06/12/07
      6.   SO FAR... NO JEWISH ARCHAELOGICAL FINDINGS 10:47  |  TrippleJump 06/12/07
      7.   They can dig day and night... nothing Jewish 10:48  |  Adam 06/12/07
      8.   The truth is... THERE IS NOTHING JEWISH IN THERE 10:50  |  Sala 06/12/07
      9.   Re eric and #1 - don`t be a fool 10:59  |  the truth 06/12/07
      10.   Excavations so far revealed NOTHING Jewish 11:00  |  Trumbola 06/12/07
      11.   "MAY HAVE BEEN"... i.e. not sure yet... and probably it is not 11:04  |  ME Observer 06/12/07
      12.   ALL ANTISEMITES HERE ARE AFRAID SOMETHING JEWISH WILL BE FOUND!! 12:13  |  Alon -Chiloni 06/12/07
      13.   Not Jewish? 13:13  |  MLK 06/12/07
      14.   Enjoying the desperation of those trying to prove that... 16:05  |  bat yam 06/12/07
      15.   The Flood of Denial 22:45  |  Listener 06/12/07
      16.   TrippleJump was followed by incurable brain injury 22:46  |  amos 06/12/07
      17.   You folks are racist MORONS 23:21  |  Avram 06/12/07
      18.   Antisemites shrill of latest find of Jews in Israel 00:26  |  Gili 07/12/07
      19.   Supercillious Eric from NM 01:11  |  Nemesis 07/12/07
      20.   Supercillious Eric from NM 01:11  |  Nemesis 07/12/07
      21.   Eric ..nm 01:17  |  Nemesis 07/12/07
      22.   #2 eric .....if you have a "degree" in the subject 02:04  |  Joy 07/12/07
      23.   I don`t care who found this site 02:08  |  Lynn 07/12/07
      24.   Trumbola, keep trumpeting your spurious propaganda 02:26  |  Jake 07/12/07
      25.   re: Nemesis 03:09  |  Efox 07/12/07
      26.   This Palace should be Rebuilt and made in to a Museum 03:12  |  Efox 07/12/07
      27.   # 10 Trumbola....take a lookat the pic and also read the AP 03:29  |  Lynn 07/12/07
      28.   # 22 no joy; YOU give me a break! 05:38  |  eric 07/12/07
      29.   #21 to nemesis 06:11  |  eric 07/12/07
      30.   to Sala # 8 06:28  |  bob 07/12/07
      31.   # 9 to "the truth" 07:05  |  eric 07/12/07
      32.   dearest efox 08:00  |  eli 07/12/07
      33.   The proof and the facts of history. 09:42  |  Steve the Pals. 07/12/07
      34.   Steve the Pals - concerning Israel 12:27  |  Nephtaly 07/12/07
      35.   Historical Jewish evidence beyond reproach 16:10  |  DrRJP 07/12/07
      36.   Historical Jewish evidence beyond reproach 16:10  |  DrRJP 07/12/07
      37.   Mansion in the City 22:02  |  W.A. Tomlinson 07/12/07
      38.   G_D gave Jerusalem to the Jews - GET OVER IT 23:08  |  CPO 07/12/07
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