Lachish—Level by Level

Dates	Events	Major Finds
Level I
2nd century B.C.	Hellenistic kingdoms established throughout Near East.
4th century B.C.	Alexander the Great defeats Darius III at Battle of Issos (333 B.C.). Persian empire falls.	Solar Shrine Fortified city wall and gates
6th century B.C.	Persian Empire established (Achaemenid dynasty c. 550–331 B.C.)	Palace (“The Residency”)
Level II
Early 6th century B.C.	Babylonians conquer southern kingdom of Judah (588/86 B.C.). Lachish destroyed.	Fortified city City wall and gate “Lachish letters” Palace-fort in ruins
Second half of 7th century B.C.	Assyrian Empire falls to Babylonians (612 B.C.).
Break in habitation from second half of 7th century B.C. to 701 B.C.
Level III
8th century B.C.	Lachish destroyed (701 B.C.)	Assyrian siege ramp Judean counter-ramp
	Assyrians conquer northern kingdom of Israel (722 B.C.)	Fortified city with two walls; densely populated Judean palace-fort (C)
Level IV

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