Jerusalem - Israeli archaeologists uncovered a 2,000-year-old mansion believed to have been home to Queen Helene of Adiabene, whose clan ruled a region now in Iraq.

The building, which includes storerooms, living quarters and ritual baths, is by far the largest and most elaborate structure discovered by archaeologists in the City of David area, which was home 2,000 years ago almost exclusively to the city's poor.

Built when Jerusalem was capital of the Roman-ruled territory of Judea, the building was destroyed along with the temple and the rest of the city when Roman legions quelled a Jewish revolt nearly two millennia ago.

The queen came from a royal clan that ruled Adiabene, a region now in northern Iraq, and converted along with her family to Judaism. They came to Jerusalem in the first half of the first century A.D.

In texts she was praised for her generosity to Jerusalem's poor, and for making contributions to the Second Temple, the center of the Jewish faith, near her house. She was buried in an elaborate tomb not far away.
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'Owlscrying' date='Dec 7 2007, 11:08 PM' post='2025664'] "Jerusalem - Israeli archaeologists uncovered a 2,000-year-old mansion believed to have been home to Queen Helene of Adiabene, whose clan ruled a region now in Iraq. ... In texts she was praised for her generosity to Jerusalem's poor, and for making contributions to the Second Temple, the center of the Jewish faith, near her house. She was buried in an elaborate tomb not far away."

Fascinating. Thank you for posting this. Are you familiar with sources for further reading on AQueen Helene?

Great article. Thanks for sharing. I always enjoy watching TV history programmes on this type of subject. The 2000 year old mansion is quite a discovery!

That's for sure! pretty amazing what they are finding.