2 of the roofing system tile pieces discovered throughout excavations at the City of David National Park in Jerusalem. (Image credit: Israel Antiquities Authority by means of Facebook)
A stack of ancient ceramic roof tiles discovered at a national forest in Jerusalem might be connected to the history of Hanukkah.
Archaeologists made the discovery throughout excavations at City of David National Park, situated outside the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, according to a Facebook post by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) revealing the finding.
The 16 tile pieces– which date to around the 2nd century B.C., throughout the Hellenistic duration– are the earliest roof tiles ever discovered in Israel and were brought there throughout the reign of the Greek Hellenistic king explained in the Hanukkah story. According to the story, Antiochus IV Epiphanes attacked Jerusalem, defiled the temple and avoided Jews from practicing their religious beliefs, which eventually caused the Maccabean Revolt. The occasion is honored as part of the Jewish vacation Hanukkah.
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The brand-new finding verifies the existence of Seleucid Greeks in the city throughout this time duration.