RARE 16 AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS & 35 PHOTOS OF PALESTINE FORT OF BETAR BEITAR FROM 1940S

RARE 16 AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS & 35 PHOTOS OF PALESTINE FORT OF BETAR BEITAR FROM 1940S

Rare aerial photographs of the castle ביתר, the area known as Khirbet el-Yahud (Arabic: خربة اليهود, lit. 'Ruin of the Jews') and the nearby Arab village Battir or Bittir (Arabic: بتير).

The lot contains 16 Aerial photographs and one negative, taken between 1945 and 1948. The earlier ones were probably taken by the British Air Force, as Britain was at the time ruler of Palestine. The 1948 one was apparently taken by the young Israeli Air Force only a few months after the establishment of the State of Israel, while the War of Independence was still going on!!

4 large one from 1945 (9x9 inch, 23x23 cm), most of the others are around 5x5 inch, 13x13 cm.

Also in this lot are 35 large photos of the ruins taken by Israeli researchers, apparently in 1948. The photos are of the ruins and the village nearby. A few photos are of archeological items probably found in Beitar. (Most are 7x5 inch 18x13 cm).

Lot also includes a few maps drawn by hand and a few written pages.

Betar (Hebrew בֵּיתַּר, also spelled Beitar or Bethar), was an ancient Jewish town in the Judean Mountains. Continuously inhabited since the Iron Age, it was the last standing stronghold of the Bar Kokhba בר כוכבא revolt, and was destroyed by the Imperial Roman Army under Hadrian in 135 CE.

Ancient Betar's ruins can be found at the archeological site of Khirbet al-Yahud (Arabic: خربة اليهود, lit. 'Ruin of the Jews'), located about 8 kilometers (5.0 mi) southwest of Jerusalem. It is located in the modern Palestinian village of Battir, which preserves its ancient name.

Very good condition.

400$