Across from the entrance to the City of David, in the Givati Parking Lot, archaeologist Dr. Doron Ben-Ami discovered what appears to be the palace of Queen Helena of Adiabene. According to ancient Jewish and Roman texts, Queen Helena converted to Judaism in the First Century CE and then relocated her palace from her kingdom in modern-day Iraq to Jerusalem. This discovery constitutes the first physical evidence linking the enigmatic historical figure of Queen Helena to the City of David. The structure uncovered represents the largest Second Temple structure of its kind discovered in Jerusalem outside the walls of the Old City. The Givati excavation is currently entering in its third season of excavation and seeks to dig through the many additional layers of civilizations at the site in the hope to reveal new discoveries that will shed light on the full sweep of Jewish history in Israel’s capital — Jerusalem.
For information and booking a tour dial *6033 or enter the City of David website:
www.cityofdavid.org.il

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