Roman changes to the hill of Gareb in ‘Aelia Capitolina’ through a review of the archaeological data

Abstract

Following Jewish revolts, in 114-117 and 132-136 AD, the colony of Iulia Aelia Capitolina was founded by Publio Elio Traiano Adriano on the site of Jerusalem – Aelia in his honour and Capitolina because it was intended to contain a Capitol for the Romans – so as to erase Jewish and Christian memories. On the basis of the most recent research it is possible to reconstruct the main phases of transformation by the Romans of a part of the hill of Gareb: from a stone quarry (tenth century BC - first century AD) into a place of worship, first pagan with the Hadrianian Temple (second century AD) then Christian with the Costantinian Basilica (fourth century AD). Thanks to the material evidence, historical testimonies, and information on the architecture of temples in the Hadrianic period, we attempt to provide a reconstruction of the area where the pagan temple was built, inside the expansion of the Roman town in the second century AD, aimed at the conservation and enhancement of these important traces of the history of Jerusalem.