Sensation in Jerusalem: 40-Meter “First Wall” from the Hasmonean Period Discovered

On the grounds of the “Tower of David” Museum, a well-preserved fragment of an ancient city wall was uncovered, built approximately 2,100 years ago during the reign of the Hasmonean dynasty.

According to the excavation directors from the Antiquities Authority, Dr. Amit Ra’am and Dr. Marion Zindel, the uncovered section is identified as the so-called “First Wall,” known from historical sources of the Second Temple period. The wall was constructed from large, carefully hewn stones, typical of Hasmonean architecture, and demonstrates a high level of engineering skill. The exposed section of the wall extends over 40 meters in length and about 5 meters in width, with the original height exceeding 10 meters.

Research indicates that the wall was not destroyed by natural decay or accidental damage but was deliberately demolished. Scholars consider two possible explanations: either the fortifications were dismantled by the Hasmoneans themselves as part of an agreement with the Seleucid king Antiochus VII Sidetes during the siege of Jerusalem in 132–134 BCE, or the wall was intentionally destroyed by order of King Herod, who sought to erase the legacy of the Hasmonean dynasty and assert the legitimacy of his own rule.

The Antiquities Authority notes that this discovery significantly enriches the archaeological and historical understanding of Hasmonean Jerusalem, which until now had been largely reconstructed based on written sources, including the works of the 1st-century historian Josephus Flavius. Read also: other interesting historical events