…the most famous of these foundations follows the sensational discovery of what is purportedly the Holy Sepulcher at Jerusalem.
The site, originally one of veneration for the Christian community in Jerusalem, had been covered with earth and a temple of Venus had been built on top.
Although Eusebius does not say as much in his Life of Constantine, this would probably have been done as part of Hadrian's reconstruction of Jerusalem as Aelia Capitolina in 135, following the destruction of the Jewish Revolt of 70 and Bar Kokhba's revolt of 132–135.
Constantine takes up the discovery with enthusiasm, instructing Macarius, Bishop of Jerusalem, to build a great new basilica at the spot, offering unlimited help with labor and materials and suggestions as to design and decoration.
