Persian Period Finds from Jerusalem: Facts and Interpretations

Oded Lipschits

doi:10.5508/jhs.2009.v9.a20

Abstract

The Babylonian, Persian and early Hellenistic periods are unique in the history of Judah. They represent a kind of "interlude" between two periods of greatness and political independence. This article discusses the archaeological finds from Jerusalem in the Persian and Early Hellenistic periods. It includes an assessment of the scope of the built-up area of the city, and an estimate of the city's population, on the basis of the archaeological data. This article's emphasis on the importance of the Ophel hill as the main built-up area in the Persian and Early Hellenistic period is unique in present archaeological and historical research of ancient Jerusalem.

Highlights

In the last few years, there has been a drastic decline in scholarly estimates of Jerusalem’s population in the Persian and Early Hellenistic Periods
Population estimates of Jerusalem in the Persian and early Hellenistic period dropped to half or less than half of the previous numbers, especially when more archaeological material came to light, and it became clear that between the 5th and the 3rd centuries BCE the city was concentrated only in the Southeastern Hill
The purpose of this paper is to present the archaeological finds from the Persian and Early Hellenistic periods in Jerusalem, assess the scope of the built-up area of the city, and provide – on the basis of this archaeological data – an estimate of the city’s population

Summary

INTRODUCTION

In the last few years, there has been a drastic decline in scholarly estimates of Jerusalem’s population in the Persian and Early Hellenistic Periods. Population estimates of Jerusalem in the Persian and early Hellenistic period dropped to half or less than half of the previous numbers, especially when more archaeological material came to light, and it became clear that between the 5th and the 3rd centuries BCE the city was concentrated only in the Southeastern Hill The purpose of this paper is to present the archaeological finds from the Persian and Early Hellenistic periods in Jerusalem, assess the scope of the built-up area of the city, and provide – on the basis of this archaeological data – an estimate of the city’s population

SOME METHODOLOGICAL NOTES

PERSIAN PERIOD FINDS IN JERUSALEM

Findings

12 See: Crowfoot and Fitzgerald 1929