Roman camp unearthed in ‘Armageddon’: Archaeologists discover 1,800-year-old base at site in Israel designated by the Bible for humanity’s final battle

By William On Feb 15, 2024

A Roman camp has been unearthed at Armageddon – the place 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 Ironclad Legion and is located at the foot of Tel Megiddo in northern Israel.

In the Book of Revelation, Tel Megiddo is the place where the kings of the world are gathered by demons to battle before God unleashes his terrible wrath.

The Hebrew name, Har Megiddo – meaning Mount Megiddo – was rendered in Greek as Armageddon, leading to the current infamous name.

Now it appears that the foreboding site has been shaped to house large armies, having once housed the largest Roman army base ever found in Israel.

A Roman camp has been unearthed at Armageddon – the place 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 Ironclad Legion and is located at the foot of Tel Megiddo in northern Israel.

In the Book of Revelation, Tel Megiddo is the place where the kings of the world are gathered by demons to battle before God unleashes his terrible wrath

The ancient city of Tel Megiddo

The ancient city was first founded in 7000 BC. and was a place of historical importance.

It is believed to have reached its peak during the Middle Bronze Age before disappearing around 1150 BC. It was destroyed by fire.

It is unclear how the fire started and how it spread so quickly and consumed the entire city. Researchers believe wooden furniture and building contents, such as oil, food and clothing, likely played a role in fueling the flames.

Yotam Tepper, who led the excavation for the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), said it served the legion for almost two centuries.

He said: ‘The camp was the permanent military base for more than 5,000 Roman soldiers for over 180 years, from 117-120 to around 300 AD.

‘Two main roads crossed in the middle of the camp and the headquarters were built here.

‘From this point all distances along the Roman imperial roads to the most important cities in the north of the country were measured and marked with milestones.’

With a size of 550 by 350 meters, it was in a class of its own.

Dr. Tepper said: ‘Although Roman military camps are known in Israel, they are temporary siege camps, or small camps belonging to auxiliary divisions.

“Nothing compares to the entire complex of the legionary base, as uncovered by the archaeological excavations at Legio, next to the Megiddo Junction.”

The base was excavated during an infrastructure project to expand and improve a nearby road by the Netivei Israel National Infrastructure Company.

The Hebrew name, Har Megiddo – meaning Mount Megiddo – was rendered in Greek as Armageddon, leading to the current infamous name

Now it appears that the foreboding site has been shaped to house large armies, having once housed the largest Roman army base ever found in Israel.

Among the discoveries at the camp are the remains of a large, monumental public building, a stage and the camp’s main road – the Via Pretoria.

Discoveries at the camp include the remains of a large, monumental public building, a stage and the camp’s main road – Via Pretoria.

However, the buildings have not been preserved to their full height, with the stones being reused by other builders during the Byzantine and early Islamic periods.

Archaeologists also found coins, weapon parts, pottery shards, glass shards and many roof tiles – some bearing the legion’s mark.

Dr. Tepper emphasized that the find was not accidental, crediting previous discoveries by the Jezreel Valley Research Project and the Albright Institute for Archeology in Jerusalem.

Six seasons of excavations have already taken place, uncovering part of the nearby commanders’ courtyard.

The current finds are believed to form the northeastern part of the camp.

Ground radar suggests the rest of the camp lies beneath the wheat fields of Kibbutz Megiddo, a modern settlement.

The buildings have not been preserved to their full height, with the stones being reused by other builders during the Byzantine and early Islamic periods

Dr. Tepper emphasized that the find was not accidental, crediting previous discoveries by the Jezreel Valley Research Project and the Albright Institute of Archeology in Jerusalem.

The ancient city was first founded in 7000 BC. and was a place of historical importance

How England spent almost half a millennium under Roman rule

55 BC – Julius Caesar crossed the Channel with about 10,000 soldiers. They landed in Pegwell Bay on the Isle of Thanet and were met by a force of British. Caesar was forced to withdraw.

54 BC -Caesar crossed the Channel again in his second attempt to conquer Britain. He came with 27,000 infantry and cavalry and landed at Deal, but there was no opposition. They marched inland and after hard fighting defeated the British and key tribal leaders surrendered.

Later that year, however, Caesar was forced to return to Gaul to resolve the problems there, and the Romans left.

54 BC – 43 BC – Although there were no Romans present in Britain during these years, their influence increased due to trade links.

43AD – A Roman force of 40,000 led by Aulus Plautius landed in Kent and took the south-east. Emperor Claudius appointed Plautius governor of Britain and returned to Rome.

47AD – Londinium (London) was founded and Britain was declared part of the Roman Empire. Networks of roads were built throughout the country.

50 AD – The Romans arrived in the south-west and left their mark in the form of a wooden fort on a hill near the River Exe. Decades later, a town named Isca was founded on the site of the fortress.

When the Romans left and the Saxons ruled, all ex-Roman cities were called a ‘ceaster’. this was called ‘Exe ceaster’ and a merger of these eventually created Exeter.

75 – 77 AD – The Romans defeated the last resistant tribes, turning all of Britain Roman. Many Britons began to adopt Roman customs and laws.

122AD – Emperor Hadrian ordered a wall built between England and Scotland to keep out Scottish tribes.

312 AD – Emperor Constantine made Christianity legal throughout the Roman Empire.

228 AD – The Romans were attacked by barbarian tribes and soldiers stationed in the country were recalled to Rome.

410 AD – All Romans were recalled to Rome and Emperor Honorious told the British that they were no longer connected to Rome.

Source: History on the Internet