Matthew J. Adams | Armageddon and the Roman VIth Ferrata Legion

Kipper Lecture Series 2017
Presented by Matthew J. Adams, Director, W.F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research, Jerusalem.
Armageddon and the Roman VIth Ferrata Legion
In the late 1st and early 2nd Centuries CE, dangerous Jewish (and incipient Christian) rebels were causing problems for the Roman Empire in Palestine. Though the First Revolt resulted in the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in 70 CE and in the establishment of a permanent base of the Xth Legion there, these groups continued to harass their overlords. Historical sources indicate that the Roman VIth Ferrata Legion was deployed to Palestine in the early 2nd Century CE to provide support for the Xth, a sure sign that the rebels were acting up again. The VIth Legion established their base somewhere near Megiddo, but its exact location has been a long-standing question in the archaeology of the period. Using historical and geographical sources, aerial photography, and remote sensing, the Jezreel Valley Regional Project searched for potential locations of the elusive fortress. In 2013 and 2015, one of these locations was examined by excavation, providing the first glimpse of a 2nd Century Roman military base yet uncovered in the entire eastern Empire. Together with the early Christian Prayer hall discovered by Yotam Tepper of the Israel Antiquities authority in 2005 in the adjacent Jewish village of Caparcotani, the new excavations have new implications for Jewish-Christian-Roman relations and for the composition of the Book of Revelation.
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[@Holy_hand-grenade]

I just wanted to say that at least as of the date of this wonderful lecture, your A/V team is doing a great job getting clear, crisp audio on these videos. It’s surprisingly difficult to find good lectures & presentations that also have good audio quality.

[@Catonius]

Great shout.

[@TheSuzberry]

This series is a treasure. Thank you.

[@billdavis4329]

Excellent presentation and glad to see that people are still working at Megiddo--crossroads of land of the Bible--and key to the activities of every culture that took up residence in that area. Thanks Matt!

[@palestineexplorationfund9252]

Fascinating lecture - great archaeology with really interesting results. Love the way new technology has been employed alongside the dirt archaeology

[@intractablemaskvpmGy]

Excellent presentation!

[@sophrapsune]

Fascinating presentation, thanks.

[@handsomecab8215]

His enthusiasm is palpable ✌️ Great talk. Thank you. Keep ‘em coming

[@europeancavebeast9100]

Very nicely done, thank you.

[@parrotraiser6541]

The whole area's well worth a visit. (See the other lectures about Tel Meggido.) The discovery of the commander's privy calls to mind the scene in "The Italian Job" where Noel Coward's character complains "Someone has broken into my toilet".

[@aliuyar6365]

Great services for history lovers

[@pawekurowski]

47 minute - Novae is not in the Poland, but in Bulgaria. ;)

[@NemanjaVuj]

And, besides, there are no Roman architectural remains in Poland. The furthermost expansion of Roman Empire left it far to the south and west from the territory of the modern-day Poland. This is a great lecture, but Adams should know better.

[@cassubia]

Quite so - but I think the confusion arises because the image of Novae was probably obtained from Polish sources as the Legionary fort was extensively excavated by archaeologists from the Universities of Warsaw and Poznan.

[@redcossack245]

Very nice. Thank you.

[@veronicalogotheti5416]

Thank you

[@Catonius]

I especially enjoyed the jibe at reenactors.

[@rickmisnich2097]

Penultimate battle? I thought Armageddon was supposed to be the end all. What's the final battle called if not Armageddon?

[@megganking2595]

Fabulous lecture, full of wonderful information. All facts, but has norhing to do with the biblical book of Revelation.

[@jannetteberends8730]

Clicked because Armageddon was in the title. So that makes three. 😀

[@YawehthedragondogofEL]

Cool.

[@histguy101]

In the Hebrew old testament, it's "Har Meggidon," so the Greek Ἀρμαγεδδών is merely a direct transliteration.

[@moodist1er]

Pre and post old testament, it's still called the Jezreel Valley.

[@vancouvertorontorome]

Hahaha expanding the prison for better or for worse haha exploiting prison slave labour. Oh dear they are "stealing" coins haha.

[@donjarrett9485]

A lot of valuable farming land tied up in history that is not in good condition preservee