Explore the ancient mansion of Queen Helene

Archaeologists have discovered the ruins of an ancient building beneath the asphalt of a parking area east of Jerusalem, outside the walls of the ancient city.

Israel occupied this eastern region from Jordan during the 1967 Middle East war. Palestinians saw it as the capital of the future country. The archaeological site is located in the territory of Silwan, neighboring Saudi Arabia. The building was built on the most ruined slope in Jerusalem and is called the City of David by scholars.

The building consists of many rooms, bathrooms for rituals and warehouses. This is the largest and most complete structure in the City of David ever excavated. 2000 years ago, this place was the home of the poor in the city.

Archaeologists are excavating the 2000-year-old mansion, believed to be the residence of Queen Helene.(Photo: AP)

The Jewish historian - Joseph Flavius ​​said that there is only one family capable of living in this building, which is Queen Helene's royal family.

In an interview with the press, archaeologist Doron Ben-Ami of Israel's Monuments Agency also said that 'very likely' this mansion is owned by Queen Helene's family . The surprising architecture of the building was destroyed along with the collapse of Jerusalem in 70 AD.

This mansion was built during the period of Jerusalem as the capital of Judae, under Roman control. The building along with the temple and some areas of the city were destroyed when the Roman government suppressed the revolt of the Jewish people nearly 2000 years ago.

The excavation team said the huge blocks of stone on the second floor had fallen to the dome of the first floor, causing the whole house to collapse. In the ruins of the mansion, they found pottery and copper pieces dating back to the period when the Jews rebelled against the Romans.

Queen Helene comes from the royal lineage that ruled Adiabene, a region now located in northern Iraq. She converted the whole family to Judaism and arrived in Jerusalem in the first half of the first century BC.

Historically, she was known for being generous to the poor and contributing to the construction of the second sacred Temple, the Jewish religious center, near her mansion. When she died, she was buried in an elaborate tomb near her palace. Today, her name is given to a central Jerusalem street.