Comments on: The Antonia, Herod’s Temple Mount Fortress http://www.ritmeyer.com/2009/02/02/the-antonia-herods-temple-mount-fortress/ ...for the latest research, analysis and products on Biblical Archaeology Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:15:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Leen Ritmeyer http://www.ritmeyer.com/2009/02/02/the-antonia-herods-temple-mount-fortress/comment-page-1/#comment-62309 Leen Ritmeyer Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:15:51 +0000 http://www.ritmeyer.com/?p=234#comment-62309 Peter, The lithostrotos was a pavement built in around 135 A.D. on top of the two vaults that covered the Strouthion Pool. It has nothing to do with the time of Christ. Archaeological evidence points to the high rockscarp, on which now the Ummariya School is located, as the location of the Antonia Fortress. Peter,
The lithostrotos was a pavement built in around 135 A.D. on top of the two vaults that covered the Strouthion Pool. It has nothing to do with the time of Christ. Archaeological evidence points to the high rockscarp, on which now the Ummariya School is located, as the location of the Antonia Fortress.

]]> By: Peter Hancock, PhD http://www.ritmeyer.com/2009/02/02/the-antonia-herods-temple-mount-fortress/comment-page-1/#comment-62283 Peter Hancock, PhD Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:54:30 +0000 http://www.ritmeyer.com/?p=234#comment-62283 What is the architectural relationship between the convent of the daughters of Sion, whose convent is said to occupy an area of the the Antonia Fortress, and the fortress itself ? On a visit, I saw for myself the purported lithotstrotos,where Roman soldiers played dice; and on which Christ is reputed to have walked on the Via Dolorosa. It appears from the illustrations and conjectural restorations, that the Antonia was much larger than I had realized: but this is understandable, if the Roman garrison was 600 strong. It could also illustrate the concern of the Roman authorities regarding the Temple site, as the volatile epicentre of Roman Palestine. What is the architectural relationship between the convent of the daughters of Sion, whose convent is said to occupy an area of the the Antonia Fortress, and the fortress itself ? On a visit, I saw for myself the purported lithotstrotos,where Roman soldiers played dice; and on which Christ is reputed to have walked on the Via Dolorosa. It appears from the illustrations and conjectural restorations, that the Antonia was
much larger than I had realized: but this is understandable, if the Roman garrison
was 600 strong. It could also illustrate the concern of the Roman authorities regarding the Temple site, as the volatile epicentre of Roman Palestine.

]]> By: Leen Ritmeyer http://www.ritmeyer.com/2009/02/02/the-antonia-herods-temple-mount-fortress/comment-page-1/#comment-51401 Leen Ritmeyer Mon, 19 Sep 2011 06:58:20 +0000 http://www.ritmeyer.com/?p=234#comment-51401 Antonia, Herod indeed built a fortress at the northwest corner of the Temple Mount. Christ was condemned to death by Pilate, who resided in Herod's Palace in the west of the city. Antonia,

Herod indeed built a fortress at the northwest corner of the Temple Mount. Christ was condemned to death by Pilate, who resided in Herod’s Palace in the west of the city.

]]> By: Antonia Pepe http://www.ritmeyer.com/2009/02/02/the-antonia-herods-temple-mount-fortress/comment-page-1/#comment-50765 Antonia Pepe Tue, 06 Sep 2011 04:59:16 +0000 http://www.ritmeyer.com/?p=234#comment-50765 I just learned that Herod had a fotress built and named it Antonia which is my given first name. The info I received states it was the fortress that Herod proclaimed Christs death. I am impressed that my given name goes back to the biblical days even though I am not a follower of the bible. I was also told the fortress was the place where Herod proclaimed the crucifiction of Christ. My parents purpose to name me Antonia was not to follow the Italian tradition to name a daughter Antoinette and I was born on a catholic saints day, Anthony. Now I have learned the history of my name. Wonder if my parents new of the Fortress Antonia. I just learned that Herod had a fotress built and named it Antonia which is my given first name.
The info I received states it was the fortress that Herod proclaimed Christs death.
I am impressed that my given name goes back to the biblical days even though I am not a follower of the bible. I was also told the fortress was the place where Herod proclaimed the crucifiction of Christ.
My parents purpose to name me Antonia was not to follow the Italian tradition to name a daughter Antoinette and I was born on a catholic saints day, Anthony. Now I have learned the history of my name. Wonder if my parents new of the Fortress Antonia.

]]> By: Leen Ritmeyer http://www.ritmeyer.com/2009/02/02/the-antonia-herods-temple-mount-fortress/comment-page-1/#comment-42598 Leen Ritmeyer Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:34:27 +0000 http://www.ritmeyer.com/?p=234#comment-42598 Daniel, You and I may think that one tower was enough, but Josephus wrote that the Herodian Antonia had four towers at each corner (War 5.238-246). I placed the southwest tower above the rockscarp at the end of the Western Wall, which can be seen inside the Temple Mount. I have written that the early Antonia which replaced the Hasmonean Baris stood at the northwest corner of the 500 cubit square pre-Herodian Temple Mount, which indeed had a counterpart in the northeast tower mentioned as the "aliyat hapina" in Neh. 3.31. The Double and Triple Gates are mistakenly identified as the Huldah Gates. The real Huldah Gates are mentioned only in Mishnah Middot and refer to the southern gates in the pre-Herodian square Temple Mount. The historical names of the Herodian Double and Triple are not known. Daniel,
You and I may think that one tower was enough, but Josephus wrote that the Herodian Antonia had four towers at each corner (War 5.238-246). I placed the southwest tower above the rockscarp at the end of the Western Wall, which can be seen inside the Temple Mount.
I have written that the early Antonia which replaced the Hasmonean Baris stood at the northwest corner of the 500 cubit square pre-Herodian Temple Mount, which indeed had a counterpart in the northeast tower mentioned as the “aliyat hapina” in Neh. 3.31.
The Double and Triple Gates are mistakenly identified as the Huldah Gates. The real Huldah Gates are mentioned only in Mishnah Middot and refer to the southern gates in the pre-Herodian square Temple Mount. The historical names of the Herodian Double and Triple are not known.

]]> By: Daniel Michelson http://www.ritmeyer.com/2009/02/02/the-antonia-herods-temple-mount-fortress/comment-page-1/#comment-42497 Daniel Michelson Wed, 09 Mar 2011 20:53:21 +0000 http://www.ritmeyer.com/?p=234#comment-42497 The problem with your plan is the distance between the north-west corner of the Temple Mount and the Striation Pool. This distance is 25 m. You place there two towers. One would be enough. Herod expanded Bira which was built by Hashmonians (Antiq. 18, 403). I think that their Bira was at the north-west corner of the Temple Mount, opposite to a tower at the north-east corner of the Temple Mount. This tower would fit the protrusion in the wall which is 25 meters from south to north. This would make the Hashmonian Bira 25 meters from south to north. Hordus added 25 meters to the north. Hence the expanded Antonia was 50 m from south to north and 100 m from west to east (till the end of the scarp). As you correctly observed, the original Bira was at the north west corner of the upper platform. You identified the lower step there as the western border of this Bira. The Golden Gate was a counterpart of the Bira. On its roof was the Stone Chamber where the High Priest was sitting 7 days before burning the red cow. Hence, this gate was called the gate of Cohen. According to Midrash of Song of Songs, two gates survived the destruction till the very end- the Hilda gate (this is the Double Gate) and the gate of Cohen. Indeed both are intact and are very similar in design. There is much more to it but I will stop here. See the map http://truthofland.co.il/english/images/templemountcom.gif The problem with your plan is the distance between the north-west corner of the Temple Mount and the Striation Pool. This distance is 25 m. You place there two towers. One would be enough. Herod expanded Bira which was built by Hashmonians (Antiq. 18, 403). I think that their Bira was at the north-west corner of the Temple Mount, opposite to a tower at the north-east corner of the Temple Mount. This tower would fit the protrusion in the wall which is 25 meters from south to north. This would make the Hashmonian Bira 25 meters from south to north. Hordus added 25 meters to the north. Hence the expanded Antonia was 50 m from south to north and 100 m from west to east (till the end of the scarp). As you correctly observed, the original Bira was at the north west corner of the upper platform. You identified the lower step there as the western border of this Bira. The Golden Gate was a counterpart of the Bira. On its roof was the Stone Chamber where the High Priest was sitting 7 days before burning the red cow. Hence, this gate was called the gate of Cohen. According to Midrash of Song of Songs, two gates survived the destruction till the very end- the Hilda gate (this is the Double Gate) and the gate of Cohen. Indeed both are intact and are very similar in design. There is much more to it but I will stop here. See the map http://truthofland.co.il/english/images/templemountcom.gif

]]> By: BIBBIABLOG » The Antonia Herod’s Temple Mount Fortress http://www.ritmeyer.com/2009/02/02/the-antonia-herods-temple-mount-fortress/comment-page-1/#comment-11262 BIBBIABLOG » The Antonia Herod’s Temple Mount Fortress Sun, 08 Feb 2009 11:42:41 +0000 http://www.ritmeyer.com/?p=234#comment-11262 [...] The Antonia, Herod’s Temple Mount Fortress at Ritmeyer Archaeological Design fonte: http://www.ritmeyer.com/2009/02/02/the-antonia-herods-temple-mount-fortress/ [...] [...] The Antonia, Herod’s Temple Mount Fortress at Ritmeyer Archaeological Design fonte: http://www.ritmeyer.com/2009/02/02/the-antonia-herods-temple-mount-fortress/ [...]

]]> By: Gregg S. http://www.ritmeyer.com/2009/02/02/the-antonia-herods-temple-mount-fortress/comment-page-1/#comment-11233 Gregg S. Fri, 06 Feb 2009 01:05:12 +0000 http://www.ritmeyer.com/?p=234#comment-11233 Hi Professor Ritmeyer, Thanks for your very detailed explanation. I hope Professor Netzer acknowledges your findings. Warm Regards. Hi Professor Ritmeyer, Thanks for your very detailed explanation. I hope Professor Netzer acknowledges your findings. Warm Regards.

]]> By: Antonia Fortress discussion « Ferrell’s Travel Blog http://www.ritmeyer.com/2009/02/02/the-antonia-herods-temple-mount-fortress/comment-page-1/#comment-11222 Antonia Fortress discussion « Ferrell’s Travel Blog Thu, 05 Feb 2009 04:40:34 +0000 http://www.ritmeyer.com/?p=234#comment-11222 [...] Leen Ritmeyer posted a response to Netzer and included some of his great diagrams here. [...] [...] Leen Ritmeyer posted a response to Netzer and included some of his great diagrams here. [...]

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