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
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