Israeli Archaeologists Unveil Hellenistic Fortress

Every year, Jews around the world celebrate Hanukkah, or the Festival of Lights. According to the Talmud, the tradition dates back to the Maccabean Revolt (167 to 160 B.C.E.), in which Jewish rebels recaptured the Temple of Jerusalem from occupying Hellenistic forces and lit a candle that was only supposed to burn for one day. Instead, it lasted eight days.



Ahead of the holiday, which begins on November 28 this year, archaeologists in Israel have unveiled a small fortress destroyed by the nephew of the rebellion’s leader, Judah Maccabee, reports Rossella Tercatin for the Jerusalem Post. At a dig in the Lachish Forest, located about 40 miles southwest of Jerusalem, researchers with the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) discovered charred wooden beams, weapons, pottery and coins from the fortified structure. Per Agence France-Presse (AFP), the structure’s stone walls measured nearly ten feet thick.



“The excavation site provides tangible evidence of the Hanukkah stories,” say excavation directors Saar Ganor, Vladik Lifshits and Ahinoam Montagu in a statement. “It appears that we have discovered a building that was part of a fortified line erected by the Hellenistic army commanders to protect the large Hellenistic city of Maresha from a Hasmonean offensive.”