In Israel, near the town where, according to the Bible, the battle at the end of the world will begin, a blood-red battle arena has been discovered at the huge Legio military base. This is where the Roman "iron" legion was stationed in the second century AD.

This was told by the publication LiveScience with reference to scientists. The 1,800-year-old camp itself was first discovered during a 1998-2000 survey. But global excavations did not begin at the site until 2010. Since then, a "principia," or headquarters, military base and a variety of surrounding structures have been discovered.

In the summer of 2023, scientists explored the "principia" as well as an arena in the military camp that was used for combat training. Its walls are painted a blood red color.

The camp itself is located near the ancient Israeli city of Megiddo, also known as Armageddon. This is where, if the Bible is to be believed, the end-of-the-world battle will begin.

The dueling arena was discovered thanks to an innovative technology called ground penetrating radar (GPR). With its help, researchers can non-invasively survey and study objects underground. This not only allows them to find what is hidden, but also to create plans of objects before they are even excavated.

Subsequent excavations revealed the remains of structures. For example, the amphitheater for combat training had remnants of a unique decoration: blood-red paint adorning the stone walls.

"This type of amphitheater - for the army, not the general public - has not been found in this region before," said Matthew J. Adams, co-director of the excavation and director of the Center for Mediterranean Peace.

The scientists also discovered two different circular walls, indicating that the amphitheater was once expanded. Engineer and researcher of Greek and Roman buildings at the German Archaeological Institute Geinz-Jürgen Beste, who was not a participant in the study, notes that the expansion of the amphitheater indicates "a greater temporal continuity of the training ground," emphasizing the importance of a well-prepared military presence at Legio.

Also found in the amphitheater were items that may be evidence of cult activity. These include dozens of lamps that are probably associated with the cult of Nemesis, who was the goddess of retribution and receiving just punishments.

The military base itself is about 500 by 400 meters. According to scholars, about 5,000 soldiers were stationed there.

The Principia measures almost 100 by 60 meters and contains not only an administrative center, but also a "sacellum" or temple in which three toes carved from ivory were found. They are believed to have belonged to a statue representing a Roman emperor, probably Hadrian, whose reign coincides with the time of the base. This suggests that there was a Roman imperial cult at Legio, in which the emperor was deified and worshipped as a god.

Alongside the military base, there is also a legionary cemetery where scientists are collecting "DNA samples that will help to better understand the ethnic composition of the legion."

Earlier OBOZREVATEL told about the fact that in the center of London was found a unique Roman mausoleum.

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