Hazor Attractions
Tel Hazor rises commandingly above the road which runs north from Tiberias to Metulla, at the point where it emerges from the hills into the Hule plain. After the first excavations by John Garstang in 1928 the history of the tell was extensively investigated by Yigael Yadin in excavations carried out between 1955 and 1969.
History
Excavation has revealed 21 occupation levels, the latest of which (I) is dated to the Hellenistic period (third-second century B.C.), while the oldest (XXI) reaches back to the early Bronze Age (c. 2600 B.C.). This Canaanite city enjoyed a first period of prosperity in the 18th and 17th centuries B.C. (level XVII), when it is referred to in the archives of Mari on the Euphrates (Eastern Syria) along with Qatna, Babylon and other cities of similar size.
These facts, together with the extensive area of the site and the number of buildings of the Canaanite period, are in accord with the Biblical statement (Joshua 11,10) that Hazor was the "head" of many pre-Israelite kingdoms. The last king, Jabin, mustered the forces of many kings in the territory between Dor on the Mediterranean coast and Mount Hermon in the north when the Israelites, led by Joshua, occupied the land in the 13th century B.C. But Joshua defeated the Canaanites "at the waters of Merom" (the present-day Hule region), conquered their cities and slew the defeated armies; the only city he burned down was Hazor (Joshua 11,13).
The first Israelite settlement on the territory of Hazor was established in the 12th century, but its real development began only in the 10th century, in the reign of Solomon (fortified gate, casemate walls), and still more actively in the reign of Ahab, whose capital was Samaria (ninth century B.C.). Level VIII in the citadel and the great store-room with its rows of pillars (formerly ascribed to Solomon) are testimonies to the magnificent architecture and economic importance of Hazor in the time of Ahab. The town was destroyed by the Assyrian ruler Tiglath-pileser III in 732 B.C., but continued to exist as a fortress, with no economic importance, into the second century B.C.
History
Excavation has revealed 21 occupation levels, the latest of which (I) is dated to the Hellenistic period (third-second century B.C.), while the oldest (XXI) reaches back to the early Bronze Age (c. 2600 B.C.). This Canaanite city enjoyed a first period of prosperity in the 18th and 17th centuries B.C. (level XVII), when it is referred to in the archives of Mari on the Euphrates (Eastern Syria) along with Qatna, Babylon and other cities of similar size.
These facts, together with the extensive area of the site and the number of buildings of the Canaanite period, are in accord with the Biblical statement (Joshua 11,10) that Hazor was the "head" of many pre-Israelite kingdoms. The last king, Jabin, mustered the forces of many kings in the territory between Dor on the Mediterranean coast and Mount Hermon in the north when the Israelites, led by Joshua, occupied the land in the 13th century B.C. But Joshua defeated the Canaanites "at the waters of Merom" (the present-day Hule region), conquered their cities and slew the defeated armies; the only city he burned down was Hazor (Joshua 11,13).
The first Israelite settlement on the territory of Hazor was established in the 12th century, but its real development began only in the 10th century, in the reign of Solomon (fortified gate, casemate walls), and still more actively in the reign of Ahab, whose capital was Samaria (ninth century B.C.). Level VIII in the citadel and the great store-room with its rows of pillars (formerly ascribed to Solomon) are testimonies to the magnificent architecture and economic importance of Hazor in the time of Ahab. The town was destroyed by the Assyrian ruler Tiglath-pileser III in 732 B.C., but continued to exist as a fortress, with no economic importance, into the second century B.C.
The Site
The entrance to the excavation site at Hazor, which covers a considerable area, is on the west side of the tell. The custodian who sells the tickets can also give information about the site. Further information is provided by large display boards with layout plans at the various excavated areas.
Hazor consisted of an upper town (600m/660yds long by up to 200m/220yds across) and a lower town (700m/765yds by 1,000m/1,100yds) to the north and east. The most impressive parts of the site for the ordinary visitor are sections A, B and L in the upper town and H in the lower town.
Hazor consisted of an upper town (600m/660yds long by up to 200m/220yds across) and a lower town (700m/765yds by 1,000m/1,100yds) to the north and east. The most impressive parts of the site for the ordinary visitor are sections A, B and L in the upper town and H in the lower town.
Museum
Finds from the Hazor excavations are now to be seen in the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, and also in the Hazor Museum at the kibbutz of Ayelet Hashahar, 1km/0.75mile away. This museum also has a model of ancient Hazor.
The Site of Hazor - Section A
A general impression of Section A can be gained from a viewing platform. This was the site of the Canaanite royal palace and a broad ceremonial stairway leading up to it. After its destruction by Joshua in the 13th century B.C. Solomon built a new gateway of a type characteristic of his time, flanked by three rooms on each side and by a casemate wall (to the left of the staircase) and a barracks. Over this in the following century King Ahab built part of his large store-room, the other part of which had two rows of pillars, clearly visible from the viewing platform.
The Site of Hazor - Section B
Section B contains the citadel. Remains found here included an Israelite place of prayer of the 11th century B.C. The citadel was rebuilt in monumental style in the reign of Ahab, but later alterations and additions have also been identified.
The Site of Hazor - Section F and C
In Section F another temple was found, together with a 5-ton altar stone (15th century B.C.), and in Section C a temple of the moon god with numerous stelae (14th century B.C.).
The Site of Hazor - Section H
In Section H a tripartite temple built over the remains of three older temples was discovered. It dated from the time of the last king of Hazor, Jabin, and was destroyed when Joshua burned down the city. It consisted of a vestibule, a hall and the holy of holies laid out on the same axis. In the vestibule were two columns. In the holy of holies, which is surrounded by orthostats, the excavators found an altar for the burning of incense, libation offering tables, a basalt vessel, statuettes of seated figures (of the king?), a bronze bull, discs with a pattern of rays, etc. - all suggesting that the temple was dedicated to the weather god Hadad. Yadin saw in this Canaanite temple, which has a parallel in a temple of the 20th/19th century B.C. at Megiddo, a "prototype of the Solomonic Temple" in Jerusalem: a finding of particular importance, since Solomon's Temple is known only from descriptions in the literature, unsupported by Archeological evidence.
The Site of Hazor - Section L
In Section L the water supply system of Hazor was brought to light - a technological achievement dating from the reign of Ahab (ninth century B.C.) which is no less astonishing than the tunnel at Megiddo. A shaft, measuring 19m/62ft by 25m/82ft at the top, was driven through earlier occupation levels and then through the native rock to a depth of 30m/100ft. A flight of steps 3m/10ft wide runs round its four sides and is continued by a fifth flight which occupies the whole width of the shaft. This leads into a tunnel 25m/80ft long which ends in a 5m/16ft wide cistern 10m/33ft lower down, at the level of the natural water table. Hazor's water supply was thus assured even when the spring outside the town was cut off during a siege. A modern staircase of 150 steps laid over the original stone steps enables visitors to reach the cistern.
