Helena of Adiabene was noted for her generosity; during a famine at Jerusalem in 45–46 CE she sent to Alexandria for corn and to Cyprus for dried figs for distribution among the sufferers from the famine. In the Talmud, however, this is laid to the credit of Monobaz I; and though Brüll regards the reference to Monobaz as indicating the dynasty, still Rashi maintains the simpler explanation—that Monobaz himself is meant. The Talmud speaks also of important presents which the queen gave to the Temple at Jerusalem. "Helena had a golden candlestick made over the door of the Temple," to which statement is added that when the sun rose its rays were reflected from the candlestick and everybody knew that it was the time for reading the Shema'. She also made a golden plate on which was written the passage of the Pentateuch which the rabbi read when a wife suspected of infidelity was brought before him. In the Jerusalem Talmud, tractate Yoma iii. 8 the candlestick and the plate are confused. The strictness with which she observed the Jewish law is instanced in the Talmud: "Rabbi Judah said: 'The sukkah of Queen Helena in Lydda was higher than twenty ells. The rabbis used to go in and out and make no remark about it'." Helena moved to Jerusalem, where she is buried in the pyramidal tomb which she had constructed during her lifetime, three stadia north of Jerusalem. The catacombs are known as "Tombs of the Kings." A sarcophagus bearing two inscriptions was found there, the funerary epigram reading: Ṣaddan Malkata, and Ṣaddah Malkatah, interpreted by scholars to mean: "Our mistress, the Queen." The sarcophagus was discovered by Louis Felicien de Saulcy in the nineteenth century and later taken to France. It is thought to be that of Queen Helena of Adiabene.
Jerusalem palace of the Adiabenes
The royal palace of Queen Helena is believed to have been discovered by archaeologist Doron Ben-Ami during excavations in the City of David in 2007. According to Josephus, the palace was built by "Grapte, a kinswoman" of Izates. It was a monumental building located in the City of David just to the south of the Temple Mount and was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE. The ruins contained datable coins, stone vessels and pottery as well as remnants of ancient frescoes. The basement level contained a mikveh.
