Tower Of Antonia
Tower Of Antonia [1]
Josephus describes the splendor of the tower with spacious apartments, elaborate baths, and beautiful courtyards. The tower served as an official residence for the Roman procurators. Capable of accommodating at least a Roman cohort (500-600 men), the tower housed portions of the Roman army used to guard the Jews inside the Temple court. Herod required that the vestments of the high priest be kept in the tower to maintain control over the worship festivals of the Jews.
The pavement beneath the modern convent of Notre Dame de Sion has been thought to be the place of the tower's courtyard, traditionally considered the site of Jesus' trial before Pilate ( John 19:13 ). Recent archeological evidence, however, has shown that the pavement dates from the second century and not the time of Jesus.
Linda McKinnish Bridges
