Betar (ancient village)

Betar (Hebrew: בֵּיתַּר), also spelled Beitar, Bethar or Bether, was an ancient Jewish town in the Judean Mountains. Continuously inhabited since the Iron Age, it was the last standing stronghold of the Bar Kokhba revolt, and was destroyed by the Imperial Roman Army under Hadrian in 135 CE.

This article is about the ancient Jewish town destroyed during the Bar Kokhba Revolt. For other uses, see Betar (disambiguation).
Betar
בֵּיתַּר
Walls of the Betar fortress.
Shown within the West Bank
LocationBattir, West Bank
RegionJudean Mountains
Coordinates31.73°N 35.135556°E / 31.73; 35.135556
Grid position163/126 PAL
Typesettlement
Part ofRoman Judea
Part of a series on the
Bar Kokhba revolt
Participants
  • Jews of Judaea
  • Roman Empire
Events
Sites
Findings
Literary sources

Ancient Betar's ruins can be found at the archeological site of Khirbet al-Yahud (Arabic: خربة اليهود, lit. 'Ruin of the Jews'), located about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) southwest of Jerusalem. It is located in the modern Palestinian village of Battir, which preserves Betar's ancient name. Excavations at the site have uncovered evidence of the Roman siege and destruction, such as defensive walls and arrowheads.

The Israeli settlement and city Beitar Illit, named after the ancient city, is also located nearby.

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