Mass Grave in the Russian Compound

As for Alexander, his own people revolted against him…Alexander…ordered some eight hundred of the Jews to be crucified and slaughtered their children and wives before the eyes of the still living wretches.

JOSEPHUS, ANTIQUITIES 13:372–381

During the time of the Hasmoneans, internal struggles ensued in Jerusalem between various political and religious groups: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes and others. The Pharisees were the most ardent opponents of the Hasmonean King Alexander Jannaeus, who ordered them slaughtered without mercy.

In recent excavations in the Russian Compound in Jerusalem a pit was discovered containing numerous skeletons from this period, some of which bore signs of decapitation. Scholars believe this is the mass grave of Jannaeus’ executed opponents.