Roof Tile of the Tenth Roman Legion (1st–2nd Cent. CE)

A roof-tile fragment stamped with the abbreviated name of the Tenth Roman Legion “Fretensis”— [LX]FRE—Legio X Fretensis.

The Tenth Legion was called up from Egypt in the year 66 CE to help suppress the Great Jewish Revolt. After defeating the Jews and destroying the Temple, the Legion remained stationed in Jerusalem for several centuries. Many artifacts related to the Tenth Legion have been found in the environs of the Temple Mount, as well as near the Jerusalem Citadel, sparking an academic debate as to the location of the legion’s campgrounds.