Tel Megiddo
תל מגידו | |
An aerial view of Tel Megiddo | |
Tel Megiddo Shown within Jezreel Valley region of Israel Tel Megiddo Tel Megiddo (Israel) Tel Megiddo Tel Megiddo (West and Central Asia) | |
| Alternative name | Tell el-Muteselim (Arabic) |
|---|---|
| Location | northern end of Wadi Ara toward Jezreel Valley, Israel |
| Region | Levant |
| Coordinates | 32°35′07″N 35°11′04″E / 32.58528°N 35.18444°E |
| Type | Settlement |
| Part of | Canaanite city-state (Early to Middle Bronze Age) Egyptian empire (Late Bronze Age) Kingdom of Israel (Iron Age II) |
| History | |
| Abandoned | 350 BCE |
| Site notes | |
| Public access | yes (national park) |
| Website | Tel Megiddo National Park website The Megiddo Expedition website |
| Official name | Biblical Tells – Megiddo, Hazor, Beer Sheba |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | ii, iii, iv, vi |
| Designated | 2005 (29th session) |
| Reference no. | 1108 |
| Region | Asia-Pacific |
Tel Megiddo (from Hebrew: תל מגידו; Arabic: تل المتسلم, Tell el-Muteselim, is the site of the ancient city of Megiddo (/məˈɡɪdoʊ/; Hebrew: מגידו; Greek: Μεγιδδώ), the remains of which form a tell or archaeological mound, situated in northern Israel at the western edge of the Jezreel Valley. During the Bronze Age, Megiddo was an important Canaanite city-state, and in the Iron Age, it became a royal city in the Kingdom of Israel. The site is renowned for its historical, geographical, and theological significance, especially under its Greek name Armageddon (Ἁρμαγεδών) which appears once in the Koine Greek New Testament in Revelation 16:16.
Excavations have unearthed 20 strata of ruins since the Neolithic phase, indicating a long settlement period. Occupied continuously from the early Bronze Age (c. 3000 BCE) to the Persian period (c. 332 BCE), Megiddo was strategically located at the crossroads of major ancient trade routes, making it a key center for trade, politics, and military affairs. Excavations have uncovered impressive fortifications, including massive city walls and gates, as well as palaces, temples, residential buildings, and a sophisticated water system. The site is protected as Megiddo National Park and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.