The Third Wall of Ancient Jerusalem

On the 17th of the Hebrew month of Tamuz 70 AD, the Romans breached Jerusalem's "Third Wall" which was erected by King Agrippa I to defend the city's northern border. In the following three weeks which led to the breaching of the inner walls and to the destruction of the Second Temple, the Roman troops stayed in what was the northern suburb of ancient Jerusalem "Beit Zeita", which ruins are located outside of todays Ottoman era walls.

In 1925, archaeologists A.L. Sukenik and L.A. Meyer had excavate the third wall route. Photos taken back then during the excavations, provide a rare glimpse into what is mostly hidden today under the streets and buildings of modern Jerusalem.

The photos are part of the Mandatory Archive digitised by the Israeli Government and IAA (courtesy of Israel Antiquities Authority).

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