Tel Be'er Sheva

This aerial view of Tel Be'er Sheva shows the 8th century BCE outline of the Israelite city and gives an idea of the aridity of the Negev desert. The city was built in the 10th-9th century BCE by first constructing a platform surrounded by a moat. The city was then built on top of this rampart and a wall was built around the city. It was destroyed in the 8th century BCE, probably as a result of the campaign of the Assyrian king Sennacherib in 701 BCE. Note that, rather than the Hippodamian plan of Graeco-Roman cities (i.e., perpendicular streets), this Israelite city had a circular street plan.