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Israel Roll

Israel Roll was an Israeli archaeologist and Tel Aviv University professor known for the Apollonia-Arsuf excavations and the survey of Roman roads in Judea.

1937 to 2010Apollonia-Arsuf excavationsSurvey of Roman roads in JudeaResearch on the cult of Mithras

Occupation: anthropologist, archaeologist
Education: University of Paris, Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Israel Roll was born in 1937

Israel Roll was born in 1937. He studied archaeology and Jewish history for his bachelor's degree at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem from 1960 to 1964.

He earned his doctorate at the Sorbonne in Paris in 1970, under Gilbert Picard. His thesis dealt with the imagery of the cult of Mithras in the Roman East. During breaks from his studies he joined digs in Israel, including Jacob Kaplan's excavations at Jaffa and Yavne-Yam.

In 1970 he began teaching in the Department of Classical Studies at Tel Aviv University, and he headed it from 1996 to 1998. He led the excavations at Arsuf with Etan Ayalon from 1977 to 1984, and directed the site alone from 1990 to 2006. He also took part in digs at Ein Bokek, Mezad Tamar, Tel Yaoz and Tel Kedesh.

With Benjamin Isaac he surveyed the Roman roads of Judea. The first volume, on the Scythopolis-Legio road, appeared in 1982, and the second, on the Jaffa-Jerusalem roads, written with Moshe Fischer, appeared in 1996. After retiring from teaching he worked on publishing the last seasons at Apollonia-Arsuf, and he died in 2010.

Milestones in Israel Roll's life

1937
Born.
1960
Began bachelor's studies at the Hebrew University.
1970
Completed his doctorate at the Sorbonne and began teaching at Tel Aviv University.
1977
Began leading the Arsuf excavations with Etan Ayalon.
1982
Published the first volume of Roman Roads in Judaea with Benjamin Isaac.
1990
Returned to direct the excavation at Arsuf alone.
1996
Published the second volume, on the Jaffa-Jerusalem roads, and became head of his department.
2010
Died.