Destruction of Jerusalem Financed Roman Colosseum

Teresa Neumann : Feb 1, 2013
Staff – Biblical Archaeology Society

"Vespasian faced a serious deficit when he became emperor, but the spoils of war from Judea—the riches of the Temple treasury, the golden vessels from the Temple, the seized personal treasures of Jewish citizens and the sale of the Jewish captives themselves—provided enormous wealth for the emperor and the plundering army commanded by his son Titus. Thus did the conquest of Judea fund the most recognizable structure of imperial Rome." -Biblical Archaeology Society

(Rome)—It appears that battles in Israel and the destruction of Jerusalem figured more prominently in the construction of ancient Rome than previously thought.

According to the Biblical Archaeology Society, restoration work on Rome's Colosseum—originally called the Flavian Amphitheater—has revealed an inscription that indicates the building of the amphitheater may have been financed by plundered booty from the Jewish revolt. (Photo: Todd Bolen/bibleplaces.com)

Notes the report: "These same plundered spoils of Judea are depicted prominently on another monument that still stands in Rome, which is the focus of exciting new research."

The marble Arch of Titus was built in 81 A.D. by the Emperor Domitian to commemorate Jerusalem's defeat and now, two thousand years later, Israel's Yeshiva University Center for Israel Studies is undertaking a new study of the arch.

"In the most famous of the panels," the report notes, "Roman soldiers carry the Jerusalem Temple spoils on parade, including the menorah [and] the showbread table and trumpets."

So, when you visit Rome and look at the Colosseum, remember Jerusalem.