HUGE: 2100-year-old Hellenistic Fortress Connected to Chanukah Story Discovered!

This well-preserved structure was destroyed by the Maccabees. The announcement comes just in time for the approaching Jewish 8-day festival of Chanukah!

By Nosson Shulman: Licensed Tour Guide of VIP Israel Tours & Authentic Virtual Tours (click here to check out his free trailer videos)

In just a few days, Jews from all over the world will be celebrating the festival of Chanukah. The holiday commemorates the miraculous recapture and rededication of the Second Temple (circa 167 BCE) which had been desecrated by the occupying Hellenistic Greeks, and the subsequent lighting of the Menorah (with only enough oil to last one day) which remained alight for 8 days! This gave the Jews enough time to reproduce the pure olive oil required for the nightly service. The Jews were led by a small band of pious brothers (all priests) known as the Maccabees (aka the Hasmoneans) who, with G-d’s help, were able to overthrow the Greeks and ultimately expel them from the land. One of the forts the Hasmoneans had to destroy has been recently discovered (well-preserved) in the Lachish Forest (approx. 60 KMs south-west of Jerusalem).

This fortress was built by the Hellenists as part of a fortified line to protect the nearby Hellenistic metropolis of Maresha from a Hasmonaean offensive. Excavations have revealed a well-fortified building 15 x 15 meters (49×49 feet) with a massively thick exterior wall 3 meters (10 feet) wide which was sloped in order to prevent scaling. The interior of the structure has 7 rooms. Astonishingly, the ruins are preserved to an exceptional height of 2 meters (6.5 feet). It is believed that the original height was 5 meters.

The findings (including pottery, dozens of coins from the late 2nd century BCE, slingshots, iron weapons, burned wooden beams, and historical records) indicate that the fortress was destroyed by the Maccabean leader John Hyrcanus in 112 BCE. Shortly after, Maresha (the major city that this excavated fortress had originally been built to protect) itself was destroyed.

It is hoped that this wonderous site will soon become open to the public.

Nosson Shulman is a journalist and Licensed Tour Guide in Israel specializing in Biblical tours. To allow tourists to experience Israel during the Corona era, he created the new hit Israel tour video series which brings Israel to the home of viewers by simulating actual tours. To check out his free sneak preview tour videos, click here. To view sample tour itineraries or to inquire about private tour opportunities with a personalized itinerary on your next trip to Israel, click here.