The Praetorium (Antonia Fortress) – Jerusalem – Israel
Jerusalem is protected by valleys to its east, west and south. Situated atop a mountain ridge, it is virtually impregnable from these approaches. The weak spot is from the north.
To address this vulnerability, a palace or citadel was placed next to the Temple just outside of the city walls. A rocky plateau sat about 100 yards outside of the northwest corner of the Temple area. This is about 30 feet higher than Temple platform and is the size of a football field (350 feet in length by 150 feet in width).
Historical Significance
When the Greeks conquered the land, they identified this structure as key to the defense of the city. Later the Hasmoneans fortified the site, referring to it as the “Baris”.
During the reign of Herod the Great, the location was completely re-engineered. In 35 BC, Herod built the Antonia Fortress (named for his friend, Mark Antony). It’s towers stood 115 feet high and was only exposed on one side by a ravine that dropped some 165 feet. The rest of its immediate walls were within other perimeter barriers.
The Fortress served as headquarters for the Roman Army in Jerusalem. Roman Governors would stay here during visits. It garrisoned more than 600 troops. The close proximity of its high towers to the Temple complex, enabled Roman guards to keep watch on any disturbances that developed. Herod had built underground passageways that allowed Roman detachments to enter the compound if deemed necessary.
Did You Know?
Herod the Great named the Antonia Fortress in honor of his friend and benefactor, Marc Antony. When Antony was Triumvir of Rome, he had requested that Rome’s Senate make Herod the Great, the King of Judea. In turn, Herod would lead this buffer state on the empire’s eastern boundary with Parthia.
Scriptural Significance
The Antonia Fortress would serve as backdrop to history’s most important event. For it was here that the Pontius Pilate tried the Lord and ultimately sentenced Him to death. In the Gospels, the Antonia Fortress is referred to as the Praetorium:
Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. John 18: 28
Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews? John 18: 33
In the Book of Acts, the Antonia Fortress is also called the “Barracks”. Paul was taken here by a Roman guard detail after he spoke out in the Temple. He then addressed the Jewish crowd from its steps:
And as Paul was about to be led into the Barracks, he said to the commander, “May I speak to you?”…So when he had given him permission, Paul stood on the stairs and motioned with his hands to the people. And when there was great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language… Acts 21:37, 40
There is one area near the Antonia Fortress that stands out more than any other. This was a large paved area that served as a kind of parade ground or courtyard. This stretched all the way from the Praetorium out to the Damascus Gate.
In Scripture, it is called the “Pavement.” Here the Roman Governor was known to perform troop reviews. He would sit in the “Judgment Seat” as he judged important matters. It was also here that Roman soldiers would keep watch over prisoners awaiting sentence. They would often make sport of such prisoners.
When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.” John 19: 13
Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison. And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head, and began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then they struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him. And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him. Matthew 27: 27 – 31
The word used by John for “Pavement” in Greek is “Lithostrotos.” This is a kind of tessellated tile works. In short, it refers to elaborate brick work that made up the road in which there were no overlaps or gaps. John also references the Hebrew or Aramaic word, “Gabbatha.” This referred to a raised or elevated area.
Taken together (i.e., Lithostrotos and Gabbatha), these terms create an interesting picture of the location where Christ was mocked and ultimately condemned. It would appear that Pilate judged the Lord from an elevated platform overlooking a paved parade ground directly in front of, or part of the Praetorium.
In 70AD, the Antonia Fortress was destroyed during the war between the Jews and Rome. Sometime @ 130AD, Emperor Hadrian began to rebuild Jerusalem. Except, he renamed the city “Aelia Capitolina” and efforted to Romanize the city. This entailed building large Roman structures in and around the city. Where the citadel stood, he built a large forum or marketplace.
The Roman flagstones or tessellated tiles that made up the Pavement were incorporated in this 2nd Century forum. Some flagstones appear to have been left in place from the original configuration. Others appear to have been pulled up and re-laid in place.
In 1857 a Roman Catholic religious order named the “Congregation of Our Lady of Zion”, secured land on this site. Between 1858 and 1862, the order built the ‘Ecce Homo’ Basilica, convent buildings and an orphanage for girls. “Ecce Homo” is Latin for “Behold the Man.” When the basilica was constructed, it incorporated an external Roman arch that dated to Hadrian’s rebuilding project.
Today, the Sisters of Zion Convent is built atop where the fortress resided. A visit affords the opportunity to see some of its remains.
As you go down to the basement, you can see the “Struthion Pool” directly underneath the convent. The Hasmoneans originally built the Struthion as an open-air cistern. Herod converted this into a moat and included it in his defense works around the city. This moat skirted the Antonia Fortress on its north and western side.
Once you pass this Herodian cistern, you are on the original ground level of 1st – 2nd Cetury Jerusalem. It is here that you can see the Gabbatha and what remains of the Pavement.
Did You Know?
On the Pavement flagstones, a number of ancient board games have been carved. Historians have identified a few of these:
- Knucklebones (a.k.a. Tali) – Called as such because it was often played with the knucklebones of sheep, it is similar to and may be the source of our game of ‘jax’. This involved throwing 1 of the objects in the air (namely, the ‘jack’) while you try to collect the other. The are other more complicated forms of the game however.
- Terni Lapilli – This may be similar in some ways to “Tic-Tac-Toe.” However, it seems to be played with pieces as opposed to X’s and O’x and may actually utilize three symbols as opposed to just two.
- Tesserae (Dice) – The Romans used dice similar to the ones common today. Sometimes they would use tali for dice and even senet sticks.
- Basileus or Basilicus (a.k.a. the Game of the Kings) – The premise here is that you throw your dice or tali to advance through a series of boxes and circles on a board. Whoever is the first to get to the king’s tower in the center, is the winner and therefore elected king. The others in the game then have to obey his command. In some ways, this is similar to the game of “Truth or Dare”.
Historians note that Basilicus was derived out of Saturnalian worship festival where a scapegoat was selected by lot. The goat would then be decorated or dressed up as a “mock king,” and would subsequently be taunted, tortured, and finally sacrificed.
In the Roman Army’s version of Basilicus, the winner of each round of the game would get to choose different ways to torture the prisoner in the guards’ collective charge. This included dressing the prisoner up as a king and in turn mocking and abusing the victim, prior to the act of execution. This actually was used to help de-sensitize Roman soldiers to the art of cruelty.
There are three places on the Gabbatha flagstones where a “B” is incised or carved. This identifies the “Basileus” game board (Basileus is the Greek word for “King”).
This clearly seems to be what is going on with the way the Lord was treated by the Roman Garrison:
Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison. And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head, and began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then they struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him. And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him. Matthew 27: 27 – 31
The existence of the King’s Game is evidence Roman soldiers played a cruel game that abused victims and made them into a mock king. The existence of flagstone etching shows this game was played at the Praetorium where Christ was held prisoner. Yet again, the facts line up with the Biblical account. The irony is they were playing a game that involved a Scapegoat. Indeed, the Lord Jesus was the Scapegoat Who took the sins of the world upon Himself!