Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus

In this illustrated lecture, we survey the history and archaeology of Jerusalem in the time of Jesus (late first century BCE – first century CE), ending with the city’s destruction by the Romans in 70 CE. We focus especially on the reign of Herod the Great, and his reconstruction of the Second Temple and Temple Mount, as well as sites associated with Jesus’s final hours in Jerusalem.

Professor Jodi Magness is the Kenan Distinguished Professor for Teaching Excellence in Early Judaism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

An award-winning archaeologist specializing in ancient Palestine and Diaspora Judaism, her research spans topics such as Jerusalem, Qumran, ancient synagogues, and the Dead Sea Scrolls. She has directed major excavations in Israel, including at Huqoq, and authored numerous acclaimed books, including Jerusalem Through the Ages (2024). A past president of the Archaeological Institute of America, Magness is widely recognized for both her scholarship and excellence in teaching.