In a sensational discovery, Israeli archaeologists believe they have found the remains of the ancient Greek fort of Acra from beneath a parking lot here, solving one of the greatest archaeological mysteries.
Archaeologists believe they have found the precise location of the Akra, a fortified Hellenistic citadel erected in the heart of Jerusalem by the Seleucid conquerors, after they first destroyed the city in 168 BC.
Acra dates back more than 2,000 years, to the time of Greek ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
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A section of fortification was discovered under the Givati parking lot in the City of David south of the Old City walls and the Temple Mount.
The fortification is believed to have been part of a system of defenses known as the Acra fortress, built by Antiochus as he sought to quell a Jewish priestly rebellion centered on the Temple.
Excavation directors from Israel's Antiquities Authority Doron Ben-Ami, Yana Tchekhanovets and Salome Cohen called it a "sensational discovery."
"The new archaeological finds indicate the establishment of a well-fortified stronghold that was constructed on the high bedrock cliff overlooking the steep slopes of the City of David hill," a statement from the team said yesterday.
"The newly-discovered fort controls all means of approach to the temple atop the Temple Mount," it added.
Acra, which was occupied by mercenaries and Hellenized Jews, was built to consolidate the Seleucid Empire's control over the city. It also played a pivotal role in following years during the Maccabean revolt against Greek rulers.
The stronghold was recaptured by the Jews in 141 BCE and was believed to have been razed some years later.
The mystery of Acra had stumped experts for well over a century. Both the Book of Maccabees and the historian Josephus Flavius locate the fort within the City of David.
Excavations at the parking lot site, which are open to the public, have been ongoing for a decade.
Artifacts retrieved from the site include lead sling shots, bronze arrowheads and ballista stones stamped with a trident, a symbol of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, reports said.
Other items like amphorae -- wine jars -- which were imported from the Aegean region, also point to non-Jewish inhabitants.
Antiochus is remembered in the Jewish tradition as the villain of the Hanukkah holiday who sought to ban Jewish religious rites, sparking the Maccabean revolt.
