Herod Mansions

The Herodian Quarter
and
The Burnt House
The Herodian Mansions
The Wohl Archaeological Museum preserves in situ the extraordinary discoveries made during excavations carried out between 1969 and 1983 by N. Avigad in the Jewish Quarter, that revealed remains of magnificent buildings from the time of the Herodian dynasty period 37 B.C.E. till 70 C.E.
The area covers some 2,700 square meters of the Upper City of Jerusalem and consists of six houses, built close together on a hillside, facing the Temple Mount, attesting to the wealth of their owners.
The exhibition focuses on three of those houses: the Western House, the Middle House and the House of Measurements. Here, wealthy families of the Jerusalem aristocracy and priesthood used to live in their fine homes.
The discoveries include: nine colorful mosaic floors displaying geometric shapes, five of which were probably ancient bathrooms; original ritual baths; storage rooms; ovens; pottery; coins from the Hashmonean period through the time of the war against the Romans (70 C.E.), tools, and finest houseware, include terra cotta, dinnerware, imported amphorae for wine, delicate flagons for dinner table; and impressive wall frescoes.
Remains of a burning beam that fell to the ground provide concrete evidence of the fire that destroyed these homes, as reported by Flavius Josephus in his book "De Belli Judeorum" (VI 404).
The largest and most elaborated of these homes is the House of Measurements, which has a floor space of 600 square meters; this mansion may even have belonged to the High Priest himself! Its rooms are all richly decorated and there is even a large balcony overlooking the Temple Mount.
The houses are constructed of large pale blocks of the local Jerusalem stone still used today.
The design of the houses was influenced by the Hellenistic-Roman style, but the inhabitants strictly observed the biblical commandment against graven images. The numerous ritual baths indicates that they kept the laws of purity. These were most probably the hmes of Jewish priests belonging to the sect known as the Sadducees, who were characterized by their strict observance of laws concerning ritual purity. They belonged to the affluent upper class, which explains the houses' lavish interior design and decor.


The Burnt House
From the exit of the Herodean Mansions, ascending to the top of the stairs walking through a series of arches and a few dozen of meters further you reach the Burnt House on the right hand side.
This is the remains of a priest's dwelling from the Herodean dynasty.
The plan of the house is that of a large complex belonging to a fairly wealthy family, bearing in mind that a part of the house could not be excavated and lies under buildings of the Jewish Quarter. Judging from the many small tools and small vessels discovered in the building, it may have contained an incense factory whose products were used in the Temple.
The identity of the owner of the house was established by the discovery of a stone weight inscribed "[belonging to the] son of Kathras". The Babylonian Talmud refers to such a priest family who served in the Temple; the text in question suggests they were not particulary popular people in the town: (Pesahim 57:a = Tosefta Minhot 13:21)

The archaeological evidence, supporting Josephus' graphic description of the Roman sacking of Jerusalem following the destruction of the Temple on 9th of Av (70 C.E.), can be seen here at the Burnt House. The Upper City resisted for another month, but was finally captured on 8th of Elul. Josephus relates how the Romans "poured into the streets sword in hand, cuting down without mercy all who came within reach, and burned the houses of any who took refuge indoors, occupants and all". Such was the scale of slaughter, that the City was deluged with gore "so that many of the fires were quenched by the blood of the slain"(ibid). The debris-filled rooms of this house contain charred wooden beams and fallen stones scorched by fire. The most dramatic finds which may send a shiver up your spine; near a stairwell, among the ashes, an arm and hand bones from of a 17-year-old girl, who died when the Romans set her house on fire, were uncovered, thus confirming part of Josephus' account. The date of the fire was confirmed by the discovery of a coin dated 69 C.E. No other physical remains from the Jerusalem population have ever been discovered from this period and they are a somber reminder of the terrible lot of Jerusalem's Jews after the destruction of the Temple.


Compiled by: Pinhas Baraq
Based on: Pictures by: Pinhas Baraq

We wish to acknowledge our gratitude to "The company for the Preservation and Development of the Jewish Quarter In the Old City of Jerusalem", for the permission given to take pictures in the Museum.

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