Tel Megiddo
Megiddo (Hebrew מגידו ), and Tell el- Mutesellim (Arabic تل المتسلم, DMG Tall al - Mutasallim; ancient Egyptian Meketi; Assyrian magidū ), in ancient times was a town in the Jezreel Valley in northern Palestine or in Israel. It was located at the crossroads of ancient trade route Via Maris from Egypt to Syria and the route Akko Shechem Jerusalem, at the output of the bottleneck on the Carmel Mountains.
Repeated cultivation is a tell -developed. To distinguish the nearby Kibbutz Megiddo archaeological site is often referred to as Tel Megiddo.
Importance
Megiddo is regarded as the most important archaeological site of the biblical period in Israel and one of the most important research centers in the Middle East. Since July 2005, Megiddo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with Hazor and Beersheba.
The military significance of place and its role as a military battlefield reflected in the Apocalypse of John in the New Testament. Armageddon, derived from " Har Megiddo " (the mountain of Megiddo ), appears there as the place of the biblical final battle between good and evil (Revelation 16:16).
Swell
Megiddo is in the Bible ( eg 1 Chr 7:29: in the tribal area of Manasseh ) and mentioned in the Amarna texts ( EA 242-247, 365 ), a letter (EA 248) may derive from Megiddo. In Egyptian sources Megiddo is first under Thutmose III. mentioned in connection with his first campaign. In a papyrus from the time of Amenhotep II an ambassador from Megiddo is mentioned in the first place of ambassadors from the north of Canaan, and Ashkelon. A cuneiform text from the neighboring Tanach called Megiddo as the Egyptian administrative center. In addition, there is the place in many place names lists of the New Kingdom. The in the Bible ( 2 Kings 23:29 ff EU) mentioned victory of Necho II Josiah at Megiddo is, however, is in no other historical document.
During the Amarna period Biridiya Regent was at Megiddo.
History
The oldest traces of settlement in Megiddo be dated to the 4th millennium. Because of its strategic location on the road over the Carmel Mountains, the settlement developed as early as 3000 to a city strongly fortified. In 1457 BC defeated Thutmose III. at the Battle of Megiddo, the Canaanite princes, to open up a land route to Syria. Objects made of gold and lapis lazuli and Elfenbeinschnitzwerk testify to the wealth of the city in the 13th and 12th centuries, which were found in the palace at Megiddo. King David conquered the city after 1000 BC His son Solomon had in his successor built a new palace and a citadel in Megiddo. Megiddo came after the Solomonic division of the northern kingdom of Israel. King Ahab had built the famous horse stables that were once mistakenly associated with Solomon. 733 BC the Assyrians took over the control of the city. 609 BC King Josiah of Judah at Megiddo braced against the troops of the Egyptian Pharaoh Necho II to prevent a common approach of Egypt and Assyria against Babylon. Josiah lost the battle and mysteriously life. The ancient Israeli business model of trade in horses from Asia Minor took place against chariots of Egypt so that finally an end. Since the Persian period the city lost its former importance. Pharaoh Sheshonk I was 918 BC to destroy the city.
1918, the so-called Palestine battle between the British and the Ottomans took place here, General Allenby the Turks inflicted a heavy defeat in the.
The Jewish Christians of the first century knew the story that the judge Barak defeated the Canaanite Jabin here. According to biblical presentation here God had made sure that the Canaanites were defeated. Judge Gideon defeated the Midianites to flight, the kings Ahaziah and Josiah were killed here.
History of Research
German archaeologists dug for the first time from 1903 to 1905 at Tell el- Mutesellim, the settlement hill of Megiddo. 1925-1939 operated the Oriental Institute of Chicago, an extensive excavation. 1960, 1967, and 1971/72 continued Israeli archaeologists led by Jadin Jigael the excavations continued.
Archeology
Excavations in the first half of the twentieth century have brought twenty different settlement layers to day, ranging from the pre-pottery Neolithic to the Persian period.
With the beginning of the Early Bronze Age I (3300-3000 BC) an ancient Egyptian - strong cultural influence can be seen in Megiddo. Egyptian hieroglyphs were known and were imitated. End of the Early Bronze Age I left the inhabitants of Megiddo. What is striking is the finding that in the neighboring regions of a similar " development of new beginnings " took place. Only in the Early Bronze Age II (3000-2700 BC) was followed by a modest Neuauaufbau Megiddo. The city area was reduced to less than 10% of the former extent; the population of about 20%. At the same time originated in the south of present-day Israel's new Egyptian trade colonies, which was associated with numerous start-ups of smaller towns. After the Egyptian unification under Menes trading colonies were abandoned because the subsequent kings of Egypt opened up other trade routes to the Levant.
In the 2nd millennium BC Megiddo learned the time of its greatest growth. Approx. 1100 BC the city was destroyed by fire and rebuilt in the 10th century BC under Solomon again. The Aramaeans conquered and destroyed Megiddo approximately 900 BC The city was then completely re-created: The checkerboard-like road network was home to a settlement that consisted of four -fifths of residential buildings. From a built in north administration building dominated the Assyrian king Tiglath -pileser III. his newly conquered new province of Samaria. Then Megiddo importance waned rapidly until the city was finally abandoned.
Among the most important finds of Megiddo from the 3rd millennium has a conical molded, free-standing round the altar, which has a diameter of about 7 m and reaches a height of about 125 cm in steps. The altar was surrounded by several simple temples of the late 3rd and early 2nd millennium. )
One of the rock whipped, about 25 m deep shaft, followed by a 70 m long tunnel joined, already opened up the Canaanites unhindered access to the drinking water source outside the city walls in times of siege. Ahab town was surrounded by strong walls, casemates and a large gate system and had several horse stables next to the palace inside the fort area, in which up to 450 horses could be accommodated ) with a corresponding number of individual mangers. )
Ruins on the Tel Megiddo
View from Megiddo to Tabor