Ancient History : People and Places : Mark Antony and Antonia Fortress

When you hear the name Mark Antony, do your Cleopatra antennas go up? Mine do. It's because of that old classic movie which starred Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.

It was quite spectacular!

Image credit:  Found at Buzzfeed : 15 Things You Might Not Know About The Movie “Cleopatra”

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So! Do you wonder? If Mark Antony slept with Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, then … he hung out in the right circles. Yes? No?

Eh! Let's just say his circle of friends were "interesting".

• Did you know the Antonia Fortress was named for Mark Antony?

Historical records indicate that it was Mark Antony who persuaded the Roman Senate to make Herod the King of Judea (king of the Jews). To show his appreciation and return the favor, Herod the Great, aka Herod the Builder, built a fortress where Roman soldiers lived and could keep an eye on the Jewish people and sort of “keep the peace”. He named this military stronghold “Antonia Fortress” after his friend, Mark Antony.

Can't show you a picture of the real structure because the fortress was destroyed along with everything else in Jerusalem in A.D. 70.  (Image credit: Jerusalem Model, Antonia Fortress – Wikimedia Commons)

As for Marcus Antonius, he was long gone before that event. He committed suicide, circa 30 B.C.

Some speculate that the Antonia Fortress might have been the place where Pontius Pilate tried Jesus.

Archaeologists Believe They've Found Site of Jesus' Trial 

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Related Links of Interest:

Learn more about: Marcus Antonius

Liz Taylor & Richard Burton on the Set of ‘Cleopatra': Rare Classic Photos- TIME Magazine

 

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