Israel Day 2/7: Tel Megiddo

We headed south to our first stop at Tel Megiddo. The countryside was fairly green between Tiberias and the site, especially in the Jezreel Valley.

There seems to be excavations going on everywhere in Israel, even just on the side of the road. I wonder what they found here?

This is a picture of an aerial picture of the site. All activity in the Jezreel Valley can be seen from the top.

Excavation of the 26 different layers began in 1925. Because of it's strategic importance along the road linking Egypt and Mesopotamia and Asia Minor, many battles have been fought here beginning in the 15th century BC and contributing to the multiple rebuildings. Meggido is mentioned several times in the Bible: Joshua defeated the king of Megiddo, Deborah routed the Canaanites here, and both King Ahaziah and Josiah were killed here.

 One of the first things you see on the walk up is a 7th century BC staircase leading to the city gates: the first level dates from the 15th century BC and the upper level of the gates from the time of Solomon in the 9th century BC.

In one room of the Canaanite palace, hundreds of ivory artifacts were uncovered.

King Solomon used forced labor to rebuild Megiddo for military use and the ruins of his stables remain...

 a massive burial chamber was found here

Many pagan Canaanite temples were built here. This round stone altar is from the first temple and was used for animal sacrifices.

This large round grain silo dates from King Jero

boam's reign around 700 BC. It had two staircases going into the silo and it could hold 1000 tons of grain. It probably also had a large domed roof to protect the store of grain.

The most impressive feature of Tel Megiddo is the water system built by King Ahab. It enabled the people to get water from the spring even when the city was under siege. The shaft is 98 feet deep and leads to a 230 foot tunnel. The tunnel was built from both ends at the same time and the diggers were only off by one foot when they met up. Unfortunately because of an electrical problem we could not walk in the tunnel. :( 

But Tel Megiddo is best known for being the place of final battle mentioned in Revelation 9:16, in the valley of Armageddon.