Jerusalem’s Northern Defences Under Hadrian

ABSTRACT Most scholars believe that Hadrian’s city of Aelia Capitolina was unwalled, with free-standing gates marking the main entrances on the north, west, east, and south sides: on the north at the site of the modern Damascus Gate; on the east near the modern Lion’s Gate; on the south at the end of the eastern cardo; and on the west near the modern Jaffa Gate. The legionary camp probably occupied all or part of the southwestern hill, while the civilian settlement was located to its north and east. In this paper, we argue that archaeological and epigraphic evidence as well as topographic considerations support an earlier suggestion that Hadrian’s city of Aelia Capitolina was walled; specifically, the line of the Third Wall was rebuilt to serve as the north wall of Aelia Capitolina, and incorporated a monumental, Hadrianic arched gateway that preceded the erection of the circuit.