Roman Period (70 to 324 A.D.)

Jewish resentment of Roman rule came to a head during the Roman Period, leading to two revolts. The First Jewish Revolt (also known as the Great Revolt) began in 66 A.D. and ended with Titus’s legions sacking Jerusalem, destroying Herod’s Temple and crushing Jewish strongholds, including Masada. The Second Jewish Revolt (the Bar-Kokhba Revolt) occurred in 132-135 A.D. led by Simon Bar-Kokhba. This time the Romans had great difficulty suppressing the rebels, although they succeeded in the end. Emperor Hadrian, viewing Judaism as the root of the rebellions, banned Torah study, outlawed Sabbath observance, condemned meeting in synagogues and ordered Jewish scholars killed.

After the Second Revolt was repressed, Hadrian banned Jews from Jerusalem and rebuilt it as a Roman city, calling it Aelia Capitolina after himself (his full name was Publius Aelius Traianus Hadrianus). Throughout the region the Romans constructed roads, amphitheaters and public baths.

Digs that date to the Roman Period are: Ramat Hanadiv (early Roman), Clunia, Halmyris, Hippos-Sussita, Monte Testaccio, Tiberias, Yotvata.