Megiddo Round Altar and Early Bronze Temples
A stepped stone altar and a row of temples in Canaan's oldest sacred area
Found 1933 — Gordon Loud, Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago (Area BB, 1933–38); re-examined by the Tel Aviv University expedition (Israel Finkelstein, David Ussishkin, Matthew Adams, 1992–2010)
Where Tel Megiddo, Jezreel Valley (Israel)
Dates from c. 3100–2000 BCE · Early Bronze IB–III and Intermediate Bronze · Long before Abraham; the Canaanite world the patriarchs later entered
Now at In situ at Tel Megiddo National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
How Megiddo Round Altar and Early Bronze Temples was found
Loud's deep cut in Area BB on the east of the mound reached a sequence of temples stacked on the highest point of the site. The round altar (no. 4017) appeared in Stratum XVII; the Tel Aviv team later exposed the enormous EB IB 'Great Temple' beneath.
What it is
A circular platform of fieldstones about 8 m across and 1.4 m high, reached by seven stone steps, set inside a stone fence; built in Early Bronze III and rebuilt twice. Around it later stood three 'megaron' temples (4040, 5192, 5269) with porches and broad halls. Beneath lies the EB IB Great Temple, about 47 by 22 m, with basalt offering tables and corridors full of animal bone.
Why it matters for the Bible
This is the earliest and longest-lived sacred area yet excavated in the land, showing what Canaanite worship looked like a thousand years before Israel. Open-air altars on high places with stone steps are exactly what the Torah later forbids for Israel's altar (Exodus 20:26), and the bone-filled corridors show large-scale animal sacrifice was an old Canaanite practice. Reading these remains helps a Bible reader see the religious landscape Israel was told to replace.
The Hebrew word: miz-BAY-ach
מִזְבֵּחַ
מִזְבֵּחַ is pronounced miz-BAY-ach and means altar (place of slaughter) (Strong's H4196).
Places
- Megiddo — מְגִדּוֹ (me-gid-DOH) — place of troops (uncertain)
Events
Canaanite high-place worship before Israel · Megiddo among the cities Israel failed to take (Judges 1:27)
Megiddo Round Altar and Early Bronze Temples in Scripture
Exodus 20:26 Israel's altar must not be climbed by steps — the Megiddo altar has seven.
Deuteronomy 12:2-3 Israel is told to tear down the Canaanite altars on the high places; Megiddo's sacred area shows what those looked like.
Joshua 12:21 The king of Megiddo is listed among those Joshua defeated. (First mention of Megiddo.)
Questions people ask
What is Megiddo Round Altar and Early Bronze Temples?
A circular platform of fieldstones about 8 m across and 1.4 m high, reached by seven stone steps, set inside a stone fence; built in Early Bronze III and rebuilt twice. Around it later stood three 'megaron' temples (4040, 5192, 5269) with porches and broad halls. Beneath lies the EB IB Great Temple, about 47 by 22 m, with basalt offering tables and corridors full of animal bone.
When was Megiddo Round Altar and Early Bronze Temples discovered?
It was found in 1933 by Gordon Loud, Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago (Area BB, 1933–38); re-examined by the Tel Aviv University expedition (Israel Finkelstein, David Ussishkin, Matthew Adams, 1992–2010), at Tel Megiddo, Jezreel Valley.
Where is Megiddo Round Altar and Early Bronze Temples today?
In situ at Tel Megiddo National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site).
Which Bible verses does Megiddo Round Altar and Early Bronze Temples relate to?
Exodus 20:26, Deuteronomy 12:2-3, Joshua 12:21.
Related discoveries
- עֶבֶד הַמֶּלֶךְSeal of Shema, Servant of JeroboamA roaring lion and the name of a royal official of Jeroboam II, from Megiddo
- פַּרְעֹה נְכֹהMegiddo Area X: Necho's Army and the Death of JosiahA layer of Egyptian and Greek pottery from the time Pharaoh Necho killed King Yoshiyahu (2025)
- מְגִדּוֹMegiddo Shoshenq Stele FragmentA piece of Pharaoh Shishak's monument found in the city his list names
- אֻרְוֹתMegiddo Pillared StablesRows of stone-pillared buildings for hundreds of horses in Israel's chariot city
- מְגִדּוֹMegiddo Stratum II and the Death of JosiahThe fortress where Pharaoh Necho II killed Judah's reforming king on his way to the Euphrates
- שֵׁןMegiddo IvoriesA Canaanite king's treasure showing the world Israel entered
Sources
- M. J. Adams, 'The Sacred Area of Early Bronze Megiddo: History and Interpretation' (Megiddo V, 2013)
- G. Loud, Megiddo II: Seasons of 1935–39 (Oriental Institute, 1948)
- BAS Library, NEAEHL 'Megiddo'
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