Object description

Aelia Capitolina was a Roman colony, built under Emperor Hadrian on the site of Jewish Jerusalem, which had been almost totally razed after the siege of 70 AD, this being one apparent reason for the Bar Kokhba revolt of 132–136 AD. Aelia Capitolina remained the official name of the entire city until the reign of Emperor Constantine I, who in 324 restored the name Jerusalem. The first part of the Roman pagan name was still in use in Arabic in 638 AD, when the Muslim armies conquered the city which they called 'إلياء', Iliyā'.