26 An impressive structure from the Roman period was recently unearthed in the course of the excavations conducted on the northwestern side of the City of David hill, on the eastern slope of the Tyropoeon Valley . 1 It is evident, even at this early stage of the excavation, before we have the complete measurements of the structure, that it covers an area in excess of 1000 sq m . The structure has a peristyle plan . At its center is a large courtyard that functioned as the visual focus of the structure, surrounded by a set of rooms . Bases and sections of the monolithic columns that stood on the stylobate ( foundation for a row of columns ) were found scattered throughout the courtyard . Roofed stoas were situated between the rows of columns and the rooms that bordered the courtyard . So far, rooms on the west and additional rooms on the northern side of the structure have been excavated . The rooms rose to a height of two stories and were covered with tile roofs . The ceilings of the f...
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