The Antonia Fortress Overlook - Introduction - Free Bible
The Antonia Fortress Overlook
In ancient Israel
during the time of Jesus Christ there were immense valleys surrounding and
protecting Jerusalem, on every side except the north. In fact the north side was
the only way of approach if an army were to attack Jerusalem. This is one of the
reasons why Jerusalem was considered impregnable. Another reason was because the
architect king Herod the Great built the mighty Antonia Fortress on the north
side of the city, its vulnerable side. It was intended to be a mighty fortress
palace overlooking the Temple of Jerusalem and even the entire city. King Herod
The Antonia Fortress
was built on the northwest side of the Temple (see picture below).
These photos are
from an archaeological reproduction of first century Jerusalem, located at the
Holyland Hotel in Jerusalem.
The Fortress of
Antonia was built in 35 B.C. and named in honor of Herod’s friend and Roman
Triumvir Marcus Antonius also known as Mark Antony. It was actually Mark Anthony
who had requested that the Senate make Herod King of Judea as an eastern
boundary to the Roman Empire. At some point the Romans took over the Antonia
Fortress and placed a garrison there.
Titus Vespasian
attacked the city of Jerusalem from the north side in 70 A.D. and overcame it.
The legions of Rome slaughtered over a million Jews and 95,000 Jewish captives
were taken away as prisoners.