Museum "burnt house" devoted to the most dramatic moments of the long history of Jerusalem: the total destruction of the great city by the Romans in the year 70.

In '66 the Palestinian uprising broke out, caused by oppression by the Romans. The first punitive expedition Jews recaptured. But legions of Vespasian began to besiege and take the Jewish town. During the siege Iotapaty forty thousand Jews were killed, some surrendered. Among the surrendered had belonged to the noble priestly family warlord Joseph Ben Matityahu, a prisoner who took the name Josephus. He became a famous historian and left to posterity work "The Jewish War" with a vivid description of the death of Jerusalem.

Vespasian ordered the seizure of Jerusalem to his son Titus. Roman besieged the city. Famine, from which people die with their entire families, but the Jews fought with reckless courage. Nevertheless, Jerusalem was doomed: the besiegers, cutting down forests, built around the city ramparts assault. After bloody battles they fought their way to the gates of the temple, and one of the soldiers threw the window glowing ember. Flames engulfed a majestic building in the streets of the Romans launched a massacre.

Josephus wrote: "Everyone falls into their hands, they sacrificed stemming corpses narrow streets and flooded the city with blood so that other houses were extinguished a burning desire etoyu blood. As the evening carnage ended, the fire continued to rage, and the same night. ... The sun rose over the ruins dymivshimisya ... ". Jerusalem was destroyed. Some Jewish soldiers retreated into Upper Town and managed to escape from the numerous underground tunnels.

Burned house, found on the territory of the Upper Town - a monument to these horrific events. In the early seventies of the XX century in the Jewish Quarter were restoration works, excavator bucket came across the remains of the walls. The excavations under the guidance of renowned archaeologist Nahman Avigad was found the house of the Roman period, hidden under a layer of ash. Now here are available for inspection kitchen, ritual bath (mikveh), patio and workshops.

Once it was a rich house in the Upper Town lived wealthy priestly family. In the ruins at a depth of six meters we found the stone (apparently, the weight) on which is engraved the name - Katros bar. It is believed that the house belonged to the family of Katros is known by the Talmud. Sources say that this family has abused his high position.

Discovered artifacts tell us how to live in Jerusalem two thousand years ago. The walls were built of stone and cement, covered with a thick layer of plaster. Preserved stone tables, grindstones, bowls and mugs, inkwells, lamps, large stone jars, jars foundations furnaces. Coals from the ashes of burnt wood beams indicate here a terrible fire raged.

In the layer of ash and soot in the former kitchen bones of the hands of a woman about 25 years old, near - metal spear. Perhaps the young woman tried to defend themselves against the Roman soldiers - including a roaring fire, with no hope of salvation.