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ANCIENT (BIBLICAL) TELLS & CITIES
Important stages where the Hebrew Scriptures / Bible took place
TEMPLE MOUNT & JERUSALEM
It is very clear that the Temple Mount is a sacred site for Judaism and Christianity and the Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa mosque on al-Ḥaram al-Šarīf are holy to the Muslims. Jerusalem is the holiest city in the world for Jews since it contains the most sacred site in the Jewish religion, the Temple Mount. The Mount Moriah, the site traditionally viewed as the location of where Abraham offered his son Isaac as a sacrifice, is mentioned many times in the Bible. Also Muslim sources confirm Temple mount as the location of the Temple of Solomon (for example in 1925).
Not one but two Jewish temples were built on top. Both were destroyed, first by Nebuchadnezzar (in 586 BC), and the second time (mentioned for example by Jewish-Roman historian Josephus) by the Romans in 70 AD. Jews have always turned toward the Temple Mount in their prayers an the Western Wall is the most important site for prayers since the destruction of the Temple.
Rav Getz Synagogue in use since the 7th century AD
The Old testament also makes Temple Mount important For Christians as a holy place. Jesus called the temple 'the house of my father' and he visited the Temple more than once (see also life of Jesus). Today it attracts much attention as a holy muslim site. It house the beautiful Dome of the Rock a true eyecatcher and the old Al Aqsa Mosque. However Quran does not mention Jerusalem or the Temple mount and when the Quran was first available to the Arabs there were no mosques and no Muslims in Jerusalem. The current Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount was first built in the year 705, seventy-three years after Muhammad's death in 632 (and rebuilt several times after earthquakes). In the 20th century this mosque was not in a good state and not taken care of (see a film of the mosque in 1954).
The Temple Mount itself is trapezoid-shaped. The four walls mainly build by king Herod who was of Jewish descend are still visible although partly underground. Many archaeological finds confirm the written texts regarding the Jewish Temple. For example coloured floor tiles (picture) dated to the time of King Herod, the Trumpting stone inscription and the Temple Warning inscription both on display in the Israel Museum. Also the Temple mount Sifting project contributed to the massive amount of proof confirming the history of the Temple mount and the existence of the Temples. More than 500 coins discovered in the sifting dating from the 6th century BC, Yehud coinage until the First Jewish Revolt coinage of the year 70 AD. Also artefacts like the Immer Bullae or the research by Benjamin Mazar give clear proof in abundance. The underground Western Wall Tunnels follow the Herodian Walls underground. To get a picture of Ancient Jerusalem the Tunnels, the Ophel excavations and the City of David are very interesting to visit.
Ancient stairs of Temple mount
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Certainly the shamefull Unesco resolution of Oct. 12 in 2016 neglects historical facts and harms the credibility of Unesco. The resolution referred to the Temple Mount only by its Islamic name (Arabic: الحرم الشريف,) al-Ḥaram al-Šarīf or 'the Noble santuary' and never used the words "Temple Mount!" Even Irina Bokova, the director-general of UNESCO, who was not part of the board who wrote the resolution, was not happy with the resolution and the perception that Jewish ties to the site were being denied or downplayed. Sadly she could not prevent the political abuse of history and declared a different statement: "The heritage of Jerusalem is indivisible, and each of its communities has a right to the explicit recognition of their history and relationship with the city. To deny, conceal or erase any of the Jewish, Christian or Muslim traditions undermines the integrity of the site, and runs counter to the reasons that justified its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage list,"
Herodian coloured floor tiles
Perhaps unknown to many people: The Arab name for Jerusalem is Al-Quds and this name is derived from Bayt Al Magdis which is Arab for 'The Jewish Temple'" or Beit HaMikdash in Hebrew.
Jerusalem is not mentioned in the Quran but many times in the Bible/Hebrew scriptures since the Babylonian captivity. Fascinating fact is also that the Quran also states that Israel belongs to the Jews. So Actually all Abrahamic faiths declare that Israel is a land for the Jews even despite Jerusalem being a holy place for all of these religions. (See article)
'CITY OF DAVID'- JERUSALEM
Photo: David Bena
The very important City of David is an historic name of the location of Jerusalem's earliest settlement, believed to have been situated on the Southeast Hill of Jerusalem. The site was formerly the royal city of King David. It includes archaeological sites of Bronze and Iron Age Jerusalem. In recent years many new archeological finds add to the evidence that this was the city of King David. Parts of a city wall has been found (see video) and important inscriptions. For example a clay Bullae with the name 'Bethlehem', the Theodotos Synagogue inscription, the Trumpeting inscription and also a bullae from the Persian period showing that Jerusalem remained important after the Babylonian destruction. The picture shows a capital stone that was discovered on the eastern slope of the City of David in the 1960’s in an excavation conducted by Kathleen Kenyon. Its design, which predates those of the Greeks and Romans, has been found both in and outside Israel in public and government buildings of the Bronze II period (Israelite period). Inside Israel, the design is familiar in finds uncovered in Meggido, Hatzor, Ramat Rachel, the Shomron. Also a Golden Earring and a roman sword are an interesting finds made in the City of David.
TEL JERICHO
Jericho is one of the oldest cities in the world and city walls from 8000 BC have been found. Jericho remained unoccupied from the end of the 15th to the 10th-9th centuries BC and during the times of the kingdoms of Judah and Israel, the city was rebuild. But of this new city not much more remains By the 7th century Jericho had become an extensive town (see also the fascinating iron sword from the 7th century BC that shows high development of this city!). Sadly this settlement was destroyed in the Babylonian conquest of Judah in the early 6th century. After the destruction of the Judahite city by the Babylonians in the late 6th century, The tell was abandoned as a place of settlement not long after this period. After the abandonment, the new Jericho of the Hasmonean time was established as a garden city in the vicinity of the royal estate at Tulul Abu el-'Alayiq. It expanded greatly thanks to the intensive exploitation of the springs of the area. The new site consists of a group of low mounds on both banks of Wadi Qelt.
Photo: Salamandra123
The Hasmoneans were a dynasty descending from a priestly group (kohanim) from the tribe of Levi, who ruled over Judea following the success of the Maccabeen revolt until Roman influence over the region brought Herod to claim the Hasmonean throne. Also rock-cut tombs of a Herodian- and Hasmonean-era cemetery lie near Jericho and were used between 100 BCE and 68 CE. At Wadi Qelt perhaps the oldest Synagogue in Israel is found. It was discovered in 1999 by Ehud Netzer, Ya'akov Kalmar and Rachel Laureys from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. (see Article Link). The Synagogue in design is very similar with the Gamla synagogue in the Galilee and the picture shows a Mikve. The Synagogue that was part of the Maccabean Winter Palace, is dated between 75 and 50 BC.
Photo: Bukvoed
The Roman Empire and granted Herod absolute rule over Jericho, as part of the new Herodian domain. Chrisianity took hold in the city during the Byzantine era and the area was heavily populated. A number of monasteries and churches were built, including St George of Koziba in 340 CE and a domed church dedicated to Saint Eliseus. The monasteries were abandoned after the Persian destructions in 614 AD. A synagogue dating to the late 6th or early 7th century CE was discovered in Jericho in 1936, and was named Shalom Al Yisrael Synagogue, or "peace unto Israel", after the central Hebrew motto in its mosaic floor.
KHIRBET QEIYAFA
Khirbet Qeiyafa is a fortified city from the time of King David. This highly important archaeological site offered new evidence that the early Kingdom of Judah was bigger and more advanced than some scholars used to believe. Among the incredible finds at Qeiyafa was a second city gate from the 10th century B.C. The two monumental four-chambered city gates are located on the western and southern sides of Khirbet Qeiyafa and measure approximately 35 feet wide and 42 feet deep. No other site from this period in Israel has more than one gate. Important is also the Khirbet Qeiyafa ostracon (see link).
A striking feature of major tels found in Israel is the use of six-chambered gates. This characteristic is found at Gezer, Hazor, Lachish, Khirbet Qeiyafa, Meggiddo, Samaria and Dan. Ancient city-gates were usually the most vulnerable part of the city walls and this is probably the reason why these six-chambered gates were build.
Photo: Avram Graicer
TEL MEGIDDO
Photo: Itamar Grinberg
Tel Megiddo is the mound or tel with the remains of the ancient city of Megiddo in northern Israel. Megiddo was important in the ancient world. It guarded the western branch of a narrow pass on the most important trade route (via Maris) of the ancient Fertile Crescent, linking Egypt with Mesopotamia and Asia Minor Because of its strategic location, Megiddo was the site of several battles. It was inhabited approximately from 6500 to 600 BCE though the first significant remains date to the Chalcolithic period (4500–3500 BCE). Gold jewelry was found at Tel Megiddo dating to 1100 BC. Megiddo is known for its historical, geographical, and theological importance, especially under its Greek name Armageddon. During the Bronze Age, Megiddo was an important Canaanite city-state and during the Iron Age, a royal city in the Kingdom of Israel. It was finally abandoned around 586 BCE. Since that time it has remained uninhabited, preserving ruins pre-dating 586 BCE without settlements ever disturbing them. The site is now a World Heritage Site. Tel Megiddo lies nearby a 3th century old church that was recently found within the Megiddo Prison.
TEL REHOV
Rehov (also Rehob), meaning 'piazza' or 'street', was an important Bronze and Iron Age city that was also mentioned in Akkadian (1500 BC) and Egyptian sources (1300 BC). It is located between the Jordan River and the Gilboa ridge approximately 5 km south of Tel Beth-Shean, Remarkable are the oldest man made beehives and oldest apiary ever found, dating from the 10th and 9th centruy BC. In the nearby ruins of the mainly Byzantine-period successor of Iron Age Rehov, a Jewish town named Rohob or Roōb, archaeologists discovered the an ancient synagogue (see picture above) and the longest mosaic inscription found so far in the Land of Israel. (click for more on Rehov mosaic text)
Rehov Mosaic replica, in Kibbutz Ein HaNatziv. Photo Danny-w
TEL LACHISH
According to the Bible, the Israelites captured and destroyed Lachish for joining the league against the Gibeonites as is mentioned in the book of Joshua. The territory was later assigned to the tribe of Judah became part of the Kingdom of Israel. Of the cities in the ancient Judah, Lachish was second in importance only to Jerusalem. Of great importance are the Lachish Letters of Ostraca, a series of letters written in carbon ink on clay ostraca. They bear Canaanite/ Ancient Hebrew inscriptions. One of the Lachish warns of the impending Babylonian destruction. It reads: "Let my lord know that we are watching over the beacon of Lachish, according to the signals which my lord gave, for Azekah is not seen." According to the prophet Jeremiah, Lachish and Azekah were the last two Judean cities to fall before the conquest of Jerusalem. This pottery inscription can be seen at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. See for example also the LMLK seal.
Photo: Hoshvilim
SHECHEM (TELL BALATA)
Shechem was a Canaanite city mentioned in the Amarna letters, and is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as the first capital of the Kingdom of Israel. Traditionally associated with Nablus it is now identified with the nearby site of Tell Balata. It was also the site were the Samaritans (Shomronim) lived. The Shomronim had a tumultuous history over the past three millennia and it is a miracle that any survive. Banned twice by the Jewish people, massacred and persecuted over the centuries, their numbers dropped from a population of over a million during the 4th century C.E. to a mere 150 at the turn of the 20th century. Although their numbers are slowly growing it is doubtful they will ever be a large community.
Photo: Ovedc
TEL SHILOH
Shiloh was an ancient city in Samaria and the archeological mount Tel Shiloh is nowadays named Khirbet Seilun. In the bible Sholoh was a major centre of worship for the Israelites before before the First Temple was build in Jerusalem. At Tel Shiloh Canaanite city walls and storerooms where found, granaries and a horned altar form the Israelite period. From the byzantine era a winepresses , houses, a basilica and a synagogue were found. The synagogue of 'the Dome of the Divine presence' is located south of the Tel Shilo site. The outer walls slope inward and reach a height of two meters, giving the building an appearance similar to the Tent of Assembly. Around the entrance are embellishments unique to Jewish buildings, such as olive branches and urns. The synagogue was probably later used as Mosque although the more impressive "Mosque of the Orphans” (Jame Yetim) stood also on Tel Shiloh, that was build on top of ancient churches. Remnants of basilica were found and a church was reconstructed also to protect the beautiful mosaics including the later famous Star of David. (see photo: Wikimedia commons). This symbols was more often found at Byzantine and Armenian churches.
Six chambered Gate at Tel Gezer. Photo Ian Scott
TEL GEZER
Tel Gezer was not only known because it was a major mount but also because the famous Gezer calendar stone was found at this site. At Tel Gezer, archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a huge, six chambered gate complex, dating to Solomon's time 920 BCE. This once huge gate complex stands only 4-5 feet tall today. Although the gate is believed to have been built by the legendary King Solomon, the dating is still under debate. With the street pavement partially gone, one can see the exposed sewer channel. The sewer ran under the street, through the city, and into the valley beyond. Based on archaeological remains, the gatehouse at Gezer was over 45 feet wide, nearly 60 feet long, and contained three chambers on each side of the street.
TEL ETON
Tel Eton also named Eglon in the bible is a large, 6 hectares mound in Israel’s lowland or 'the Shephelah'. It was situated near fertile valleys and strategic roads. Tel Eglon's main building was the “governor’s residency” a large and well-built structure. In the late 8th century BC this 'four-room' dwelling was destroyed during an Assyrian military campaign. A number of radiocarbon dates (from a foundation deposits and from the materials used in the floor) show that the governor's building dates to 10th century B.C. Tel Eton is important for two reasons:
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The findings add to the debate whether the United Kingdom of kings David and Solomon (or the later Kingdoms of Judah and Israel) could actually be far developed Kingdoms as is suggested in the Bible or instead being very tiny regional states.
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The earlier phases of this governors house are like other archaeological sites less studied or published. Without these earlier phases that are forgotten archaeological interpretations world-wide become influenced. "This effect is also responsible for recent attempts to down-date social complexity in Judah".(See Cambridge Article)
TEL ARAD
Photo: Oren Rozen
Tel Arad is an archaeological mount or 'Tel' west of the Dead sea and close to the modren Israeli city Arad. Tel Arad consists of a lower and older Canaanite settlement while the upper Hill is an Israelite citadel. Both are now part of the Tel Arad National Park. The sites walls have been partly restored. Artifacts found within the citadel seems to be related to offerings of oil, wine, wheat, etc. These were brought there by numerous people throughout the reign of the Kings of Judah. The fort was refortified, remodelled and rebuilt until it was finally destroyed between 597-577 B.C. at the time when Jerusalem was under siege by Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II. Important over 100 ostraca (inscribed pottery shards) written in Hebrew, dated were found in stratum VI of the fort at Arad. These are dated to 600 B.C. and most of these consist of everyday military correspondence between commanders of the fort. One ostracon mentions "House of YHWH" which some scholars believe is a reference to the Jerusalem Temple. These old ostraca written by many different writters give prove of a much higher level of literacy than previously though. Even the Bible could have been written during First temple period according to new research.
Photo: Zstadler
MOUNT EBAL & JOSHUA'S ALTAR
On mount Ebal's archaeologist found several potsherds dated to 1220–1000 BC, In the excavation of 1987 large walled structure was found on the southwest. Burnt bones were discovered that originate from animals. The excavating archaeologist believed that the site was the compound containing Joshua's altar mentioned in the book Exodus and also mount Ebal is known from Deuteronomy 11:29 as a place of curses. This location however was not directly accepted by many other archaeologists who believed the site to be something else. Recently however new excavations yielded extremely important evidenced that this site was used for religious practices and curses. A curse tablet was found with the oldest form of early Hebrew dated to 1200 BC! The Hebrew inscription on the tablet includes the name of God, “YHWH” the earliest reference to the name of God ever discovered in ancient Israel. This find creates evidence for the claim that the Israelites were already literate and could have written parts of the Bible when they according to the Hebrew scriptures, arrived in Israel from Egypt!
Tel Hebron, photo Eman
TEL HEVRON / TEL RUMEIDA & HEBRON
Hebron has a history of 3800 years and is one of the oldest cities in the world that has been continous inhabited. First a Canaanite city it shortly became the capital of King David. This was before the Capital of Judah was moved to Jerusalem according to the Bible. It became one of the principal centers of the Tribe of Judah and was classified as one of the six traditional Cities of Refuge. After the Persian, Arab and later conquests of foreign empires less Jewish people lived in Hebron while the Arab population became much larger. However even in the Middle Ages there was a continous Jewish presence in Hebron. Hebron has many important sites for Judaims, Christianity and also Islam. The Tombs of the Patriarchs for example, But also the ancient Abraham Avinu Synagogue, the Beit El yeshiva , Beit Romanao, Yeshiva Hebron and Tel Hebron. Also the Monastery of Holy Trinity is located in Hebron. Tel Hebron is an ancient archaeological site and a residential neighborhood in Hebron. The residential section is referred to as Admot Ishai and consists of several caravan style homes and the Beit Menachem building. Tel Hebron also houses the Tombs of Yishai and Ruth.
Abrahams Spring, photo Assaf Avraham
Abraham’s Spring runs onto the eastern slope of Tel Hebron, and is one of the main reasons the ancient city was established here. Around the springs are many walking paths where residents in ancient times came to draw water. In the Middle Ages the Arabic scholar Mujir al-Din referred to it as Ayn Jadida or the New Spring. Some researchers believe it could be the pool of Hebron referenced in II Samuel 4:12 during King David’s reign. Ancient olives trees surround the area and residents and visitors often take a dip in its cool waters.
BEIT LEHI / KHIRBET BEIT LEI
9th Century BC - 13th Century AD -Israel
The site dates from Iron Age (800 B.C.) when it was part of the Kingdom of Judah. The Jerusalem Cave inscription, found in a burial cave of Beit Lehi contains on of the earliest writings of Jerusalem. It was abandoned during the Babylonian conquest in 586 B.C., but reoccupied by the pagan Idumeans who came from the southeast. At the start of the 2nd Century BC (Around 112 B.C.) the area came under Jewish control when first the Hasmonean Kings ruled Judea and later the Herodean Kings. After the First Jewish Revolt against Rome (66–70 A.D.) when the Second Temple was destroyed, the site seems to have been abandoned. During Byzantine revival (some 300 years later) the site was resettled and became a Christian village. Beautiful mosaics from a churchfloor can still be found with depictions of a sailingboat. Even after the Arab conquest of the land of Israel (636 A.D) the village remained Christian until in the late 8th Century its Christian inhabitants seem to have been replaced by Muslims. It was finally abandoned around the 13th or 14th century.
Tel Burna arial view by Joe Uziel
The site is situated on a strategical high point between Hebron, Jerusalem, Lachish and Gath and this hilltop settlement had very strong thick walls.. Evidence of burning and destruction found at the site and dated to the 8th century BC could coincide with the Assyrian conquest of Judea.
TEL BURNA / LIBNAH
9th-7th century BC
Tel Burna is an Israeli archaeological site located in the Shephelah (Judean foothills), along the banks of Nahal Guvrin, not far from modern-day Qiryat Gat. The excavations in 2010 revealed the Iron Age fortifications, living surfaces dating to the 9th Century BC and several silos dating to the 7th century BC. If makes Tel Burna a fitting place for the location of biblcal Libnah.
TEL DAN
3000 BC - 300 AD - Tel Dan, Israel
Tel Dan is one of the most important sites in the ancient Near East. Situated on the headwaters of the Jordan, Dan has been an important settlement from the Neolithic period (ca. 5,000 BC) through the early modern period. Archaeological highlights include massive Early Bronze Age fortifications (ca. 2900-2200). The Abrahams Gate is the earliest preserved mudbrick arched gate in the world (ca. 1900-1500 BC). Also on this site a spectacular treasure-filled Mycenaean tomb from the Late Bronze Age (ca. 1500-1200 BC) was found. During the time of the rise of the Israelites (ca. 1200-1000 BC), major fortifications were build. Also iron Incense shovels can were found. Perhaps the most famous find from this site is the Tel Dan Stele providing the only extrabiblical reference to the famed King David from the Bible. (Go to Tel Dan Stele).
TEL TSAFIT / TEL ES SAFI
Tel es Safi or Tel Tsafit is an archaeological site which according to some scolars is the best site that can be identified as the Philistine city of Gath, The Bible describes Gath as one of the five cities of the Philistines and the city of the giant Goliath. The site also contains evidence of the destruction during the late ninth century B.C. (possibly by King Hazael of Damascus) and the massive siege system that was employed to conquer the site (the oldest known system of its kind in the world). At Tel es Safi the Goliath inscription was found.
KHIRBET AL-MINYA
Photo by Bukvoed
Khirbat al-Minya was a Umayyad site containing a palace and one the oldest mosques in Israel. The palace was built by the Umayyad caliph Walid I who ruled from 705 until 715 AD. His name is found in an inscription that was found at this ancient place. According to Dr. Gideon Avni, a specialist in early Islamic archaeology and head of the Israel Antiquities Authority’s Archaeology Division it is “one of the most important Islamic sites in the country.” Fascinating are the beautiful mosaic's (see link) and intricate carvings.
TEL MOTZA
In the area of Tel Motza the Motza temple is located. This Temple is an ancient Israelite temple that was discovered in 2012 by Israeli archaeologists. Research has revealed interesting finds that perhaps Solomon’s famous Temple of Jerusalem was not the first or only Holy Temple of Judah. Dating to around 900 BC, this Iron Age temple located near Jerusalem challenges the long-held idea the ancient Kingdom of Judah only had the Jerusalem Temple for worship. This contradicts the Bible that states that the religious reforms of King Hezekiah and King Josiah would have stopped ‘all’ cultic practices out of its walls.
YAVNE
Yavne, south of Tel Aviv, was a Jewish settlement during biblical times and a key city after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. After 70 AD and until the Bar Kochba revolt Yavne was the seat of the Sanhedrin. Recently many graves were found at the archeological site of Yavne. Perhaps even those of the famous and important Rabbi's like Yonahan Ben Zakkai and Gamliel were buried in Yavne. Also an impressive Byzantine Winery was revealed durung excavations, the largest in the world. At the same site even older Persian-era wine presses (2,300 years old) were found. (see Article)
See also the Yavne inscription: link
Photo: ZeevStein
SHIVTA
Shivta used to be a classical Nabatean town on the ancient spice route. The Nabateans were an ancient Arab civilisation who inhabited northern Arabia and the southern Levant. They achieved a high level of development and their remains can me admired in their former capital Petra (Raqmu) in Jordan. Shivta is a Unesco World Heritage site as part of Incense Route and the Desert Cities of the Negev. In later times Shivta seem sto have developed into an agricultural village and way-station for pilgrims en route to the Saint Catherine's Monastery in the Sinai Peninsula (Egypt). Remnants of three Byzantine churches (a main church and two smaller ones) were found just as two wine-presses, a residential areas and administrative buildings. Now in ruins Shivta used to be well decorated as can be seen in the Lintel found in Shivta. Archaeologists recently discovered a mural that seems to depict the face of Jesus on one the church walls.
ASHDOD- 'CHURCH OF THE DEACONESS'
4th-5th century AD Ashdod
In 2017 an ancient Byzantine Basilica was found in Ashdod, Israel. It has a beautiful mosaic floor with Greek inscriptions and is probably one of the largest basilica in this early period found in Israel. Recent studies have revealed that there were many female deaconesses serving in the church alongside the male clergy. These female deaconesses were buried in the Church. In later times many other people were simply put on top of the earlier buried clergy. These crude or hastely mass-burials might have happened when an epidemic that took place in the around 500 AD.
The oldest Greek inscription has the text “in memory of the priest Gaianos and Severa the deaconess,” and a date that translates to the year 416 AD. According to Dr. Hila May, a Tel Aviv University anthropologist the person buried in the main tomb in the church was a female. Maybe the burials are related to the Biblical story from the Acts of the Apostles were Philip the Evangelist travels to the city of Ashdod.
BANYAS / 'CAESAREA PHILIPPI'
This is the site of the Temple of the Greek god Pan, The name of Paneas evolved eventually in Banyas the current name of the site although during the Roman time was Ceasarea Philippi. The name of Caesarea Philipi is mentioned in the New Testament gospels of Matthew and Mark. The site houses buildings from all periods: The temple of Pan, the Palace of Agrippa but also crusader period City gates an ancient synagogue, a newly excavated Byzantine church (with a mosaic floor decorated with crosses and other symbols) and an Ottoman mosque. The Nahal Hermon National Park that includes the site of Banyas is most famous for the magnificent Banyas waterfalls.
Photo: Miguel Nicolaevsky
TIMNATH/KHIRBET TIBNAH
Timnath or Timnah was a Philistine city and was mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures (Judges 14 and in connection with Samson). On this site humans have settled for about 4,000 years and it is believed to be where the biblical Joshua lived and was buried. (The site is not to be confused with Timna, nor with the southern copper-smelting site of Timna near Eilat). Archaeologists have begun digging at Khirbet Tibnah in the excavation project that will be continued in October 2022.
Pottery and some coins that could be identified, were found at the site. One of the coins is a Roman coin dating from 58-59 AD, while another is a silver coin from the Mamluk period (1260-1277 AD) on which a lion figure is emblazoned. The lion figure is a symbol of the Mamluk Sultan Baibars.
OMRIT (& HERODEAN TEMPLE)
Photo: Avran Graicer
Omrit (Hebrew: חורבת עומרית, Horvat Omrit) is the site of an ancient Roman Temple in the northeast corner of Israel, located on the ancient route from Jerusalem to Damascus. It is believed that Omrit was built by Herod the great in honor of Agustus around 20 BC. The site was destroyed in the Galilee earthquake of 363 AD. A small chapel was later built on its ruins in the Byzantine periode and the site became abandoned after an earthquake in the 7th century.
Huqoq - Picture by Hanay
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Habakuk Tomb - Photo by Faigl Ladislav/Michaeli
HUQOQ
Huqoq or Hukkok (Hebrew: חוקוק) was an ancient Jewish village, located 12.5 km north of Tiberias. The area had been settled since ancient times and is mentioned in the book of Joshua. The ancient village displays fascinating archaeological finds like rock-cut tombs, a mausoleum, quarries, agricultural terraces and installations, a winepress and an olive press. Two large miqwa'ot (ritual baths) and the remains of an elaborate synagogue, dated to the 5th century can be found in Huqoq. The synagogue was decorated with an elaborate floor mosaic depicting the biblical Samson. Recently archaeological research by the Huqoq excavation project showed that on top of the 5th century Synagogue another public building was build during the 12th/13th century. According to Jodi Magness, the medieval building has benches commonly seen in synagogues lining the east, north and west walls suggesting it must be a synagogue. Perhaps it was this synagogue that was mentioned in the 14th century by traveller Isaac HaKohen Ben Moses also known as Ishtori Haparchi.
Hukok is in Jewish, Christian, Druze and Muslim tradition the site that holds the tomb of the prophet Habakkuk and it has been a site of pilgrimage since the twelfth century.
Ashkelon synagogue remnants. Photo: Yair Hahklai
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ASHKELON
Ashkelon was a very ancient important coastal town. It was first settled in the late Chalcolithic Period (ca. 4000 BC) and it gained importance in the Middle Bronze Age (ca. 1825 BC) as a Canaanite city. It was taken over by the Philistines and Phoenicians. During the Hellenistic period it became a major port city and a free city in 104 BC. King Herod the Great gained control and rebuilt the city. Ashkelon flourished in the Roman and Byzantine periods and both a Byzantine era synagogue and a 4th century church were excavated in Ashkelon.
During the Arab conquest many Jews lived in Ashkelon and during the Fatimid period, Jews were mentioned in letters found in the Cairo Genizah as kehal Ashkelon ("the Ashkelon congregation") and kahal kadosh ("holy congregation"). Also the Jews continued to live in Ashkelon during the Crusades. Benjamin of Tudela describes Ashkelon as "a large and beautiful town, which contains two hundred Jews, and apart from them, several dozen Karaites and about three hundred Samaritans". When Salah ad Din conquered the coastal city the fear of returning Crusaders made him destroy the city walls and port. The Jews and Christians were forced to leave and Muslims took over the city. Its Jewish population moved to Jerusalem. Judah *Al-Ḥarizi mentions that among the Jewish inhabitants of Jerusalem was "an excellent congregation from Ashkelon."
St. Stephen church, mosaic depicting Askalon, Um er-Rasas, Jordan (Photo: Following Hadrian
GUSH HALAV / JISH
Jish is the ancient Gush Halav or Giscala. The village was mentioned in the historical record by historian Josephus. He described Gush Halav as the home of John of Giscala and the last city to fall to the Romans during the First Jewish-Roman War. Archaeological research revealed two ancient synagogues (one below the hill and below the Maronite Church, rock cut tombs and the famous and often visited Tombs of Shmaya and Abtalion. Historical sources from the 10th until the 15th centuries describe Jish as a village with a strong Jewish presence. During the 17th century it was inhabited by the Druze community but after the war of independence in 1948 the village became a largely Christian Maronite community.
BETHSAIDA
Bethsaida, situated north of the Sea of Galilee, gained its fame as the location where Jesus performed the miraculous feeding of the multitude with loaves and fishes, as mentioned in the Gospels of John and Matthew. The place was once part of the Kingdom of Geshur. During the 2018 season of the Bethsaida Excavations Project, archaeologists uncovered a city gate dating back to the 10th century BCE, which may have ties to King David. According to the bible. King David married to the the daughter of the King of Geshur.
Professor Rami Arav, the excavation director, explained the uniqueness of Bethsaida: "During the 10th to 8th centuries BCE, there is no record of towers on city walls in the archaeology of the Land of Israel. This feature was absent among the Israelites. Therefore, this discovery represents the first known instance of towers surrounding a city in Israel." The gate from the Davidic period remained in use from approximately the 11th century BCE until 920 BCE when the settlement was destroyed. After 875 BCE, the Geshur settlement was re-inhabited and transformed into a fortified city with a remarkably preserved royal palace.
RAMAT RACHEL
Ramat Rachel is a kibbutz located near Bethlehem and Rachel's Tomb. Like many kibbutz this place used to be an important biblical site. The first inhabitants were the israelites during the Judaic monarchy in the 8th and 7th centuries BC. It remained an important settlement during the Persian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and early Islamic periods, after which it remained unpopulated for approximately a thousand years. Numerous stamp impressions, including LMLK seal impressions, are among the significant artifacts unearthed at Ramat Rachel.
The Ramat Rahel royal citadel exemplifies remarkable Israelite-Phoenician architecture from the biblical era. Its casemate walls and buildings demonstrate exceptional craftsmanship, using smooth and precisely cut stones in well-organized layers. The main gate, constructed with large, dressed stones, further showcases the high-quality workmanship of the site.
In 2004, archaeological excavations were undertaken by Oded Lipschits from Tel Aviv University and Manfred Oeming from Heidelberg University. Lipschits suggests that Ramat Rachel served as a palace or administrative centre boasting an unparalleled water works system in Eretz Israel. It is believed that the site also functioned as a hub for collecting agricultural produce, serving as a source of government tax revenue. The discovery of a large number of arrowheads hints at the presence of a Babylonian garrison during the sixth century BCE, reinforcing the belief that Ramat Rachel played a pivotal role as a major administrative centre during that era.
CAESAREA
1st - 6th century - Caesarea
Caesarea Maritima (Hebrew Horbat Qesari) was an ancient harbour and city on the Mediterranean coast and the ruins of this once grand city are now included in a national Park. It was build on the site of ancient Phoenician place called Starton Tower but was rebuild and enlarged by King Herod the Great somewhere between 22 and 9 BC. The city became the capital of the Roman province Judea in 6 AD and became an important centre for Christianity. The city was mentioned in the New Testament as the place where Peter en Paul were imprisoned. Also the place is certainly the place were the Romans killed Rabbi Akiba and and other Jewish martyrs During the Bar Kochba Revolt. The Church historian and biblical topographer Eusebius became bishop of Caesarea in 314 AD. He wrote his famous Church History (see Codex Syriac 1) and was regarded as one of the most learned Christians of his time.
Caesarea was populated throughout the 1st to 6th centuries AD and became an important centre of Christianity during the Late Roman and Byzantine period, but it was destroyed during the Arab conquest in 640 AD. Remarkable archaeological finds are the mosaics of an ancient synagogue, the famous Pilate Stone, Mamluk coins, The golden 'Good Shepherd' ring and of course the fascinating Roman architecture.