Discover the Resurfacing of an Ancient Roman Camp at Armageddon

Discover the Resurfacing of an Ancient Roman Camp at Armageddon

Credit: Emil Aladjem/IAA via Pen News

 — at Megiddo National Park, Aka Armageddon.

During my recent excursion, I had the incredible opportunity to explore the Legion excavations at the base of the renowned ancient site of Megiddo, also known as Armageddon, in Northern Israel. 

This historical location served as the stronghold for the Sixth Roman Legion, also called “Ferrata,” from 117 to 292 AD. While there are records of Roman military camps known in Israel, they are temporary siege camps or small camps belonging to auxiliary divisions. None of these compare with the entire complex of the legionary base.

The site has a form for hosting large armies, having once housed the most extensive Roman army base ever discovered in Israel. This base housed over 5,000 soldiers (from 117 to 292 AD), and it occupied an area of 1,804 feet long by 1,148 feet wide (550 by 350 meters). It could be accessed via two roads leading into the base, and that intersection was where the camp’s headquarters were built.

History shows that this base was the central point where all the distances along the Roman Imperial roads to the main cities in the north of the country were measured and marked with milestones. This camp was a strategic military base for managing Rome’s military operations. It was from there that the 3,500 soldiers ruled over Galilee and part of Samaria 1,800.

Credit: Emil Aladjem/IAA via Pen News

The Sixth Roman Legion, also called “Ferrata”

The Sixth Legion had a long history in the annals of the Roman Empire and fought against Judean/Jewish forces during both the Jewish War and the Bar Kochba revolt. The legion’s primary responsibility was to maintain vigilance over the Galilean region, ensuring it remained secure from local uprisings. 

The legion was a critical military force in upholding Roman authority and suppressing rebellions or invading forces within the province of Judea.

Emperor Hadrian himself, commander-in-chief of the armed forces and ‘first man’ of the Roman world, graced this camp with his presence in 132 AD during the Bar Kokhba War’s outset (the Second Jewish War). The Sixth Roman Legion, among others, thus played a crucial role in quashing the rebellion that unfolded over the following three years.

Undoubtedly, the excavations at the site have taken up the majority of a decade; however, archaeologists have uncovered many “extensive and impressive architectural remains” from the camp. My long-time associate, Dr. Paul Flesher, Professor Emeritus at the esteemed University of Wyoming, guided me through the most recent revelations made during excavations. The team’s efforts primarily concentrated on unearthing the camp’s sacred temple, known as the Principia.

The findings proved nothing short of remarkable. They successfully uncovered the original altar, complete with the slot where the legion’s standard was once proudly displayed. Later in the season, an array of ground-penetrating radar units will be deployed to enhance the understanding of this ancient camp’s layout.

Allow me to take you on holy land tours’ virtual journey through the captivating snapshots below which is one of the holy land places to visit. A fragment of ancient history is slowly resurfacing from the depths of the earth. Witness the enduring legacy of the Sixth Roman Legion at this exceptional site.