The Burnt House in Jerusalem

The Burnt House (Hebrew: הבית השרוף) is a magnificent building located in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem.

The Burnt House is also called the Katros House because of the inscription found engraved on one of the weights uncovered in the house. The Katros family is first mentioned in the Talmud in a list of 4 families of Temple priests who abused their position.

It was named The Burnt House due to its singular testimony to the destruction and burning of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 CE.

The house was burnt at the time of the conquest of the Upper City by the Romans on the 8th day of Ellul, in the same fire that destroyed the Temple.

After the Six Day War in 1967, the Jewish quarter was rebuilt, and extensive archeological excavations were conducted in the area, including the Burnt House. Coins were found in the house issued by the Roman governors of Judea, as well as those issued by the Jewish rebels in AD 67–69. The ground floor of the Burnt House was exposed to reveal a house with an area of about 55 square.

It included a small courtyard, four rooms, a kitchen, and a Mikvah. The walls of the house were preserved to a height of about one meter. Today the Burnt House is a museum open to the public.

Credit:
jewish-quarter

Photo:

www.jerusalemshots.com