Gigantic Pyramid Unearthed in the Holy Land is 2,200 Years Old

Something unusual has been dug up in the Judean desert north of the waterway of Nahal Zohar. An ancient pyramid, dating back to the Hellenistic period, is emerging from the arid sandstone which has concealed it for 2,200 years.

Don’t be fooled by the name: this pyramid was not built by Greeks, although they certainly built their own pyramids and may be the earliest pyramid builders of the Mediterranean (check out the Hellinikon, and the controversy surrounding its dating). “Hellenistic” in this context means this one comes from the Ptolemaic period, the last major era in the history of independent ancient Egypt which ended with Caesar taking over and Cleopatra wrapped in a carpet. 

The excavation is part of an enormous archaeological survey of the Judean desert, some eight years in the making and involving thousands of volunteers. So far the survey has produced thousands upon thousands of artifacts, saved from looters and thieves.

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The site of the pyramid itself has produced a myriad of artifacts from the Ptolemaic period, including weaponry, fragile Greek papyrus preserved by the dry conditions, and plenty of coinage which has helped with the dating. The coins feature both Ptolemaic pharaohs and the near contemporary Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV, which shows an open border permitting trade between the ruling Egyptians and the Seleucids to the east.

Other, more unusual finds have been brought out of the site. The remains of wooden furniture, bronze bowls and other precious artifacts have all been found around the pyramid.

Archaeologists had previously thought that the pyramid was from the First Temple Period, referring to the Temple built by Solomon with the help of captive demons around 1,000 BC. At least, that is what the Bible and medieval grimoires tell us, but we perhaps shouldn’t believe everything we read.

However these new discoveries, along with other aspects of the excavation, have promoted a rethink of the pyramid’s age and it is now thought to be considerably newer. In truth, as the work continues there are more and more questions about this anomaly in the desert.

Was it part of a necropolis, like the pyramids in Egypt? Was it a temple or some kind of monument, or does its positioning on a prominent escarpment hint at a more practical role? Could it be a military outpost standing watch over an important trade route?

The answers may well lie under the huge hand-carved blocks which are all that is left of this enormous, mysterious, ancient Judean structure.

Header Image: It may just look like a pile of rubble (largely because it is) but the finds at the site have rewritten our understanding of this strange pyramid in the middle of the Holy Land. Source: Judean Desert Survey Unit / Israel Antiquities Authority.