Persian Period (559 to 332 B.C.)

The Babylonians, in turn, fell to Cyrus of Persia in the late sixth century B.C. He allowed the Judahites to return home and encouraged the revival of the Israelites’ religious life, including financial support of the reconstruction of the Jerusalem Temple. The temple, finished and dedicated in 515 B.C., was a disappointment to the Israelites and reminded them of how great Solomon’s Temple had been, but any religious center was better than none at all.

The Hazor dig is excavating strata from the Persian Period.