|
The Burnt House |
|
|
|
 |
 |
The Burnt House is a magnificent building, revealed during the excavations
of the Upper City. It was named The Burnt House due to its singular testimony to
the destruction and burning of Jerusalem by the Romans in the first century.
|
|
Archeologists believe that the house was burnt at the time of the
conquest of the Upper City by the Romans on the 8th day of Ellul in 70 A.D., in
the same fire that destroyed the Temple.
|
|
 |
The basement revealed in the excavations, preserved as it was on
the day of its destruction, allows a unique visit to a Second Temple period home
preserved virtually intact with all its artifacts. The home bears witness to the
days of glory and terror experienced by the Jewish community during the rebellion
against the Romans.
|
One aspect of the find that is especially unique is the thick and concentrated burnt
layer revealed at the basement level: Stones burnt by an intense fire, scorched
wooden beams and layers of ash and soot that testify to the huge fire that raged
here.
|
 |
 |
The Burnt House is also known as Katros House because of the inscription
“(d)bar katros” found engraved on one of the weights uncovered in the house. The
Katros family is mentioned in the Talmud in a list of four families of Temple priests
who abused their position.
|
Apart from bearing witness to the actual day of destruction, the Burnt House also
reveals details of the Jewish way of life prior to the destruction.
|
 |
 |
Stone tables, basalt stone pestles, grindstones, ovens and other
implements were found. Worthy of special mention are the stone weighing systems,
the large jugs, bowls and measuring cups, indicating that this was a perfume production
workshop.
|
Katros House is situated 6 meters below the current street level. The modern Jewish
Quarter was rebuilt above it. The basement level of the ancient house is today the
basement of the new house built by descendants of the Jews that lived here 2000
years ago, effectively closing the circle.
|
 |
 |
A multimedia display, reconstructing the life of the Katros family
during the rebellion against the Romans, tells the story of the house and the last
days of Jerusalem and the Temple from the residents' point of view.
|
|
The Site List
|
|
