The Name "Antonia Fortress"
King Herod actually rebuilt an existing fortification known as the "Baris" (Heb.
Bira "fortress). It was called the Fortress of Antonia and named in honor of
Herod the Great’s friend and military associate, the Roman Triumvir Marcus
Antonius also known as Mark Antony. Herod had owed his rule over Judea
exclusively to Mark Antony, who had requested that the Senate make Herod King of
Judea as an eastern boundary to the Empire.
The Northwest Corner of the Temple (see picture below).
King Herod actually rebuilt an existing fortification known as the "Baris" (Heb.
Bira "fortress). It was called the Fortress of Antonia and named in honor of
Herod the Great’s friend and military associate, the Roman Triumvir Marcus
Antonius also known as Mark Antony. Herod had owed his rule over Judea
exclusively to Mark Antony, who had requested that the Senate make Herod King of
Judea as an eastern boundary to the Empire.
The name Antonia was not used in the Bible but referred to as the "barracks"
(see Acts 21:32-36).
In Greek it was "to anastema tes Antonias".
In Latin it was "turris Antonia".
The Northwest Corner of the Temple (see picture below).
These photos are from an archaeological reproduction of first century Jerusalem, located in Jerusalem.
The Fortress of Antonia was built in 35 B.C. and named in honor of Herod’s friend and Roman Triumvir Marcus Antonius also known as Mark Antony. It was actually Mark Anthony who had requested that the Senate make Herod King of Judea as an eastern boundary to the Roman Empire. At some point the Romans took over the Antonia Fortress and placed a garrison there.