A Roman camp has been unearthed at Armageddon, the site designated by the Bible for humanity’s apocalyptic final battle.
The 1,800-year-old camp housed more than 5,000 soldiers of the Sixth Armored Legion and is located at the foot of Tel Megiddo in northern Israel.
In the Book of Revelation, Tel Megiddo is the place where demons gather the kings of the world to fight, before God unleashes his terrible wrath.
Its Hebrew name, Har Megiddo, meaning Mount Megiddo, was translated as Harmageddon in Greek, giving rise to its current infamous nickname.
The sinister site now appears to be shaped to hold large armies, having once housed the largest Roman military base ever found in Israel.
A Roman camp has been unearthed at Armageddon, the site designated by the Bible for humanity’s apocalyptic final battle.
The 1,800-year-old camp housed more than 5,000 soldiers of the Sixth Armored Legion and is located at the foot of Tel Megiddo in northern Israel.
In the Book of Revelation, Tel Megiddo is the place where demons gather the kings of the world to fight, before God unleashes his terrible wrath.
Yotam Tepper, who led the excavation for the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), said he served the legion for nearly two centuries.
He said: ‘The camp was the permanent military base for over 5,000 Roman soldiers for over 180 years, from 117-120 to around 300 AD.
‘Two main roads crossed in the center of the countryside and their headquarters was erected here.
“From this point all distances along the Roman imperial roads to the main cities in the north of the country were measured and marked with milestones.”
Measuring 550 meters by 350 meters, it was one of a kind.
Dr Tepper said: “Although Roman military camps are known in Israel, they are temporary siege camps or small camps belonging to auxiliary divisions.
“None compares to the entire legionary base complex, as discovered in archaeological excavations at Legio, next to the Megiddo crossing.”
The base was discovered during an infrastructure project to widen and improve a nearby road by the Netivei Israel National Infrastructure Company.
Its Hebrew name, Har Megiddo, meaning Mount Megiddo, was translated as Harmageddon in Greek, giving rise to its current infamous nickname.
The sinister site now appears to be shaped to hold large armies, having once housed the largest Roman military base ever found in Israel.
Among the discoveries within the camp are the remains of a large monumental public building, a podium and the main street of the camp: the Via Pretoria.
Among the discoveries within the camp are the remains of a large monumental public building, a podium and the camp’s main road, the Via Pretoria.
However, the buildings are not preserved to their full height, and the stones were reused by other builders during the Byzantine and early Islamic periods.
Archaeologists also found coins, weapon parts, pottery shards, glass shards and many tiles, some marked with the legion’s mark.
Dr. Tepper emphasized that the find was not accidental and gave credence to past discoveries by the Jezreel Valley Research Project and the Albright Institute of Archeology in Jerusalem.
Six seasons of excavations have already been carried out, revealing part of the nearby commanders’ courtyard.
The current finds are believed to constitute the northeastern part of the camp.
Ground-penetrating radar suggests that the rest of the camp lies beneath the wheat fields of Kibbutz Megiddo, a modern settlement.
The buildings are not preserved to their full height, and the stones were reused by other builders during the Byzantine and early Islamic periods.
Dr. Tepper emphasized that the find was not accidental and gave credit to past discoveries by the Jezreel Valley Research Project and the Albright Institute of Archeology in Jerusalem.
The ancient city was first established in 7000 BC. C. and was a site of historical importance.