Roman camp is unearthed at 'Armageddon': Archaeologists discover an 1,800-year-old base at site in Israel earmarked by the Bible for mankind's final battle

  • 1,800-year-old camp at the foot of Tel Megiddo housed 5,000 soldiers
  • In the Book of Revelation, this is where kings are brought together to do battle 

By MICHAEL HAVIS FOR MAILONLINE

Published: | Updated:

A Roman camp has been unearthed at Armageddon – the place earmarked by the Bible for mankind's apocalyptic final battle.

The 1,800-year-old camp housed more than 5,000 soldiers from the Sixth Ironclad Legion, and lies at the foot of Tel Megiddo in northern Israel.

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

Its Hebrew name, Har Megiddo – meaning Mount Megiddo – was rendered as Harmagedon in Greek, leading to its present infamous moniker.

Now it seems the ominous site has form for hosting large armies, having once held the biggest Roman army base ever found in Israel.

A Roman camp has been unearthed at Armageddon ¿ the place earmarked by the Bible for mankind's apocalyptic final battle

A Roman camp has been unearthed at Armageddon – the place earmarked by the Bible for mankind's apocalyptic final battle

The 1,800-year-old camp housed more than 5,000 soldiers from the Sixth Ironclad Legion, and lies at the foot of Tel Megiddo in northern Israel

The 1,800-year-old camp housed more than 5,000 soldiers from the Sixth Ironclad Legion, and lies at the foot of Tel Megiddo in northern Israel

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

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

The ancient city of Tel Megiddo 

The ancient city was first established as far back as 7,000 BCE and was a site of historical importance.

It's believed to have reached its peak during the middle Bronze Age before being destroyed by fire around 1,150 BCE.

It's unclear how the blaze started and how it spread so quickly to consume the entire city. Researchers believe that wooden furniture and the contents of buildings, such as oil, food and clothing, likely played a role in fueling the flames.

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

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

'Two main roads intersected at the center of the camp and its headquarters were erected here.

'It was from this point, that all the distances along the Roman Imperial roads to the main cities in the north of the country were measured and marked with milestones.'

Measuring 550 metres by 350 metres, it was in a class of its own.

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

'None compares with the entire complex of the legionary base, as has been uncovered in the archaeological excavations at Legio, next to the Megiddo Junction.'

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

Its Hebrew name, Har Megiddo ¿ meaning Mount Megiddo ¿ was rendered as Harmagedon in Greek, leading to its present infamous moniker

Its Hebrew name, Har Megiddo – meaning Mount Megiddo – was rendered as Harmagedon in Greek, leading to its present infamous moniker

Now it seems the ominous site has form for hosting large armies, having once held the biggest Roman army base ever found in Israel

Now it seems the ominous site has form for hosting large armies, having once held the biggest Roman army base ever found in Israel

Among the discoveries within the camp are the remains of a large, monumental public building, a podium, and the main road of the camp ¿ the Via Pretoria

Among the discoveries within the camp are the remains of a large, monumental public building, a podium, and the main road of the camp – the Via Pretoria

READ MORE: Bedbugs came to Britain with the Romans 

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Among the discoveries within the camp are the remains of a large, monumental public building, a podium, and the main road of the camp – the Via Pretoria.

However the buildings are not preserved to their full height, with the stones being repurposed by other builders during the Byzantine and Early Islamic periods.

Archaeologists also found coins, parts of weapons, pottery sherds, glass fragments, and lots of roof tiles – some marked with the legion's brand.

Dr Tepper emphasised that the find was not accidental, crediting the past discoveries of the Jezreel Valley Research Project and the Albright Institute of Archaeology in Jerusalem.

Already six seasons of excavations have taken place, revealing part of the commanders' courtyard nearby.

The present finds are thought to constitute the north-eastern part of the camp.

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

The buildings are not preserved to their full height, with the stones being repurposed by other builders during the Byzantine and Early Islamic periods

The buildings are not preserved to their full height, with the stones being repurposed by other builders during the Byzantine and Early Islamic periods

Dr Tepper emphasised that the find was not accidental, crediting the past discoveries of the Jezreel Valley Research Project and the Albright Institute of Archaeology in Jerusalem

Dr Tepper emphasised that the find was not accidental, crediting the past discoveries of the Jezreel Valley Research Project and the Albright Institute of Archaeology in Jerusalem

The ancient city was first established as far back as 7,000 BCE and was a site of historical importance

The ancient city was first established as far back as 7,000 BCE and was a site of historical importance

How England spent almost half a millennium under Roman rule

55BC - Julius Caesar crossed the channel with around 10,000 soldiers. They landed at a Pegwell Bay on the Isle of Thanet and were met by a force of Britons. Caesar was forced to withdraw.

54BC - Caesar crossed the channel again in his second attempt to conquer Britain. He came with with 27,000 infantry and cavalry and landed at Deal but were unopposed. They marched inland and after hard battles they defeated the Britons and key tribal leaders surrendered.

However, later that year, Caesar was forced to return to Gaul to deal with problems there and the Romans left.

54BC - 43BC - 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. The emperor Claudius appointed Plautius as 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 across the country.

50AD - Romans arrived in the southwest and made their mark in the form of a wooden fort on a hill near the river Exe.  A town was created at the site of the fort decades later and names Isca. 

When Romans let and Saxons ruled, all ex-Roman towns were called a 'ceaster'. this was called 'Exe ceaster' and a merger of this eventually gave rise to Exeter.   

75 - 77AD - Romans defeated the last resistant tribes, making all Britain Roman. Many Britons started adopting Roman customs and law.

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

312AD - Emperor Constantine made Christianity legal throughout the Roman empire.

228AD - The Romans were being attacked by barbarian tribes and soldiers stationed in the country started to be recalled to Rome.

410AD - All Romans were recalled to Rome and Emperor Honorious told Britons they no longer had a connection to Rome.

Source: History on the net

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