Museum "Burnt house" is dedicated to the most dramatic moment in the long history of Jerusalem: the total destruction of the great city by the Romans in the year 70.

In the 66th year in Palestine rebellion broke out, caused by the persecution from the Romans. The first punitive expedition, the Jews recaptured. But the legions of Vespasian began to besiege and take the Jews of the city. During the siege Jotapata killed forty thousand Jews, some surrendered. Among was surrendered belonged to a noble priesthood, a warlord Joseph Ben Matityahu, in captivity who took the name of Josephus. He became a famous historian and left descendants work "the Jewish war" with a vivid description of the destruction of Jerusalem.

Vespasian commissioned the capture of Jerusalem to his son Titus. Roman laid siege to the city. Famine from which people die with their families, but the Jews fought with reckless bravery. However, Jerusalem was doomed: the besiegers, cutting down forests, built an assault around the town ramparts. After bloody battles they fought their way to the gate of the Temple, and one of the soldiers had thrown a flaming brand from the fire. The flames had reached the majestic building, in the streets, the Romans launched a massacre.

Josephus wrote: "Everyone gets into their hands, they have slain zapruzhivala corpses narrow streets, flooding the city with blood, what other burning houses were extinguished in this blood. With nightfall, the carnage ceased, the fire continued to rage and night. ... the sun rose over steaming ruins...". Jerusalem was destroyed. Some Jewish soldiers retreated to the Upper city and managed to escape, using numerous underground passages.

Burnt house, discovered on the territory of the Upper town, is a monument to those unspeakable events. In the early seventies of the XX century in the Jewish quarter were restoration work, the bucket came across the remains of walls. During excavations under the guidance of renowned archaeologist Nahman Avigad found a house from the Roman period, hidden under a layer of ashes. Now here are available for inspection kitchen, a ritual bath (mikvah), patio, yard and workshops.

Once it was a rich house in the Upper town there lived a wealthy priestly family. In the ruins at a depth of six meters found the stone (apparently, a weight) that is engraved with the name of the bar Katros. It is believed that the house belonged to the family of Katros, known from the Talmud. Written sources say that the family had abused his high position.

Discovered artifacts tell how lived in Jerusalem two thousand years ago. The building walls are built of stones and cement, covered with a thick layer of plaster. There are stone tables, grinding stones, bowls and mugs, ink, lamps, large stone jars-the jars, the foundations of the furnaces. The charcoal from the burned wooden beams indicate raged a terrible fire here.

In the layer of ash and soot on the former kitchen found the bones of hands of a woman about 25 years old, near a metal spear. Perhaps the young woman tried to protect themselves from Roman soldiers – among the roaring fire, with no hope of salvation.