Caesarea Israel. The city of Caesarea, Israel - “The beautiful shore of Caesarea in Palestine”
The Israelis are proud of this amphitheater, because it is the largest ancient Roman amphitheater in Israel. Palestine was on the periphery of the Roman Empire, and big cities The Romans didn't build here. As a result, only three amphitheaters remain in Israel. The remaining two in the cities of Scythopolis and Eloutheropolis are much smaller than the amphitheater in Caesarea.
But by world standards, the local theater is small - only 4,000 spectators, which cannot be compared with those in Italy or Tunisia. Even in Turkey, the amphitheater is twice as large, although it is considered small.
Of all the ancient buildings in Caesarea, it is the amphitheater that is the best preserved, and it makes the most vivid impression on tourists.
Amphitheaters almost always stand up to time better than other buildings, since they were preferred to be built on hillsides; there is simply nothing to collapse here. However, there are exceptions, for example, in Italy, where the theater was made of wood. Amphitheaters were used for theatrical performances, political debates, executions and gladiatorial fights.
Now this amphitheater is actively used for concerts. This is a very prestigious concert venue, and tickets here are not cheap.
What to see - hippodrome
This is the most valuable building for tourists. To see a real Roman hippodrome, and in such good condition, is a huge success.
Many ancient amphitheaters have survived, but only a few hippodromes. The largest hippodrome, the Roman Circus Maximus, has not survived at all. The second largest is the Constantinople Hippodrome in Istanbul, and only a few buildings remain from it. The Hippodrome of Caesarea is one of the largest that has survived to this day.
The main entertainment at the hippodromes of the Roman Empire was chariot racing. The chariots had to go 7 laps. There were rarely races when all the drivers survived to the finish line.
Performances at the hippodrome were not limited to chariot and horse races. Gladiator fights, executions of criminals, baiting of animals and baiting of people with animals were held here. At the hippodrome in Caesarea, tunnels and arches have been preserved for bringing criminals and animals into the arena; pay attention to them.
Local Israeli guides love to talk about bullying. They just keep saying: “So many Jews were executed here, so many Jews were executed there.” And they also love to criticize the ancient Roman culture and religion, extolling Judaism. Of course, we should not forget the victims of tyranny - this is indisputable. But tourists still come to see ancient city, and not listen to who was executed and where.
Every time I find myself in places like Caesarea, I am amazed at the hard work and skill of the ancients, and I feel a great regret that they did not reach our times intact. Caesarea is very conveniently located on the way from Tel Aviv. An ancient city, almost 600 years old former capital Israel, built by the odious King Herod, is very worthy of attention. Shall we go for a walk? A little.
| Caesarea. Somewhere at the entrance |
It was King Herod who, in record time, in just 12 years, founded a new residence in a swampy flat area, naming it in honor of his friend and patron Emperor Octavian Augustus - Caesarea. The layout of the city was typically Roman - the streets intersected at right angles, there was a division into public areas and residential areas. In the central place stood the Temple of Emperor Augustus and the Goddess Rome. On the site of this temple, mosques, churches were not built until later... Caesarea became the main gateway for the penetration of Greek and Roman cultures into Israel.
The main value and pride of Caesarea was the grandiose, first artificial port in the world built by Herod. Scientists are still trying to understand how the king managed to deepen the seabed by 36 meters and build a harbor? But the fact remains that the sea was deepened, breakwaters were built to protect from the elements, so that ships could freely enter the harbor and feel safe there.
The port was able to change the economy of the entire country - it brought such large revenues to the state treasury that, thanks to them, taxes did not increase during the large-scale construction projects started by Herod, which required significant financial influence.
It was from the port of Caesarea, by the way, that the treasures of the Temple were later taken, with funds from which the Roman Colosseum was built.
Life in the city was very comfortable and active. Firstly, the townspeople even managed to engage in agriculture on the irrigated sands. Secondly, the city had an amphitheater with 4,000 seats (well, what would a Greek or Roman city be without a theater!) Concerts and performances took place here. The residents of Caesarea, by the way, are very art lovers. They tell a joke that one day all the inhabitants of Caesarea went “to the theater.” Taking advantage of this, the thieves plundered the market, taking everything from there. It was in Caesarea that it began in modern times, which later moved to Masada, and which we managed to visit.
Secondly, in Caesarea there was a huge hippodrome where chariot races were held. By the way, it was here that for the first time in the world, in addition to the gold medal, the winners were awarded silver and bronze awards. This happened at the Olympic Games, which were held in Caesarea simultaneously with the Greek ones every four years.
Modern communications were laid in Caesarea. The city had a dam, reservoirs, an aqueduct and a canal system. Running water flowed through ceramic water pipes into every house! And this was in 9-10. AD, when most European cities did not have not only water supply, but also sewerage!
Of course, one of the most important objects in the city were public baths - “therms”, a traditional meeting place for the East, exchanging news and gossip.
The city's utilities needed a huge amount of fresh water. Desalinate sea water We hadn’t learned yet then. But they knew how to build aqueducts. One of the most grandiose structures of Caesarea is the famous 40-kilometer aqueduct, built by Roman slaves. It supplied water to Caesarea from springs in the mountains. IN low places an upper aqueduct was built, resembling an arched bridge, and a tunnel was cut through the mountains - the lower aqueduct. Part of it, called “May Kedem” (ancient waters), can be seen 24 kilometers from Caesarea in Alon Park. We weren't there. It's funny that this tunnel either twists like a snail to reduce the water pressure, or rushes down to increase it.
Herod, as we remember, was prone to luxury and epicureanism. In Caesarea he built for himself on the sea an unparalleled palace with balconies, beautiful views and an excellent ventilation system. Here Herod spent the summer, going to . Unfortunately, the palace in Caesarea was destroyed by an earthquake and almost completely went under water.
And yet, it was in Caesarea that the famous tablet was found, confirming the authenticity of the existence of the procurator Pontius Pilate. The same one who sent Yeshua Ga Notsri to execution. The tablet itself is now kept in Jerusalem.
After the death of Herod the Great, Caesarea was declared the capital of Judea and the residence of Roman governors, one of whom was the well-known already mentioned procurator Pontius Pilate.
The role of Caesarea for Christians, by the way, is very important. It was here that Shimon Caiaphas (Peter), a disciple and follower of Jesus, arrived and baptized the first non-Jew - the Roman commander Cornilus. It was in Caesarea that Shaul Tarsky (Paul), the main spreader of Christianity throughout the world, was imprisoned, who was sent from here to Rome and executed there.
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| Caesarea. The modern statues here are very nice |
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Near Caesarea is located one of the most respectable and prestigious residential complexes Israel. But they didn’t show it to us - strangers are not allowed there, because the zone is purely residential. We immediately went to Tel Aviv.
Caesarea is a small town, the only one of its kind in Israel.
This area is not a municipal area and is managed by a private organization; at the same time, this is where Israeli creative bohemia, wealthy businessmen and politicians and officials prefer to settle - Caesarea is considered the most prestigious place to live.
Caesarea is beach town, that’s why tourists who love the clean sea and snow-white sand on the coast come here. All Caesarea beaches are paid, open from May to October inclusive - during this period the air temperature is the warmest.
In Caesarea, tourists are organized with various excursions, which involve visiting local and surrounding attractions.
Popular among guests of the Caesarea Harbor Historical Reserve, National Park, King Herod’s amphitheater, “Palace on the Reef”, ruins of an ancient city.
It was in Caesarea on the site of the ancient city on Mediterranean coast Israel has created Caesarea National Park.
The ruins of many structures discovered by archaeologists date back to different historical periods.
Due to natural changes in the coastline, part of the city was swallowed up by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Scientists still continue to conduct active archaeological excavations on land and under water.
Originally, from the mid-4th century BC, it was a settlement belonging to the Phoenicians, which was called Strato's Tower.
In 96 BC. it was conquered by the king of Judea, Alexander Yannai, and was able to keep the Tower of Strato in his power for 33 years, until the capture of the settlement along with all of Judea by Pompey.
A curious coincidence, but again, 33 years later, in 30 BC, Emperor Augustus returned the settlement to Judean rule. The then king Herod managed to turn him into Big City. As a token of gratitude, the king named the city Caesarea in honor of Emperor Augustus.
The name is explained very simply - it goes back to the Roman term Caesar (Caesar), associated with the family name Caesar, or Caesar in Old Slavic pronunciation.
There were several cities with this name in the Roman Empire, and in order not to get confused, new town began to be called Caesarea Maritime (Caesarea maritima), and even later the name Caesarea Palestine appeared.
The personality of King Herod and his activities were full of contradictions. He shed a lot of blood, suppressing the rebellious people, and did not spare his relatives in the brutal struggle for power.
But at the same time he became famous as the greatest builder in the history of Judea. At the beginning of his reign, Herod enjoyed the patronage of Rome and was perceived by the Jews as a foreign protege.
Herod aroused especially strong hostility among the conservative part of Jewish society, and he was not especially favored anywhere. Therefore, he chose the small settlement of Stratonov Tower for his residence and literally in a few years transformed its largest port city.
Grandiose were built royal palace, Roman temples, amphitheater, baths. The royal entourage and military leaders lived in luxurious houses.
The title Great came to Herod after his death.
The first to call Herod this way were historians who appreciated his achievements as a builder. In addition, his heirs bore the same name, so it became necessary to highlight the founder of the Herodias dynasty.
After the death of Herod, Judea became a Roman province, and Caesarea its capital. Herod's palace was used as a residence for Roman governors. The city continued to be an important seaport.
At the beginning of the new millennium, mainly Greeks and Romans lived here, although there were also many Jews.
Many events related to church life took place in Caesarea. Here the Apostle Paul was detained for two years. In 135, the Romans brutally executed Rabbi Akiva along with other Jewish sages who studied the Talmud at the city amphitheater.
Gradually, the Christian Church began to gain more and more influence, asserting itself in the fight against the Roman gods. In the 5th century, the temple of the goddess Roma and Augustus was destroyed in Caesarea, and already at the beginning of the 6th century the first large Byzantine church appeared.
Several famous theologians, philosophers, historians, and writers lived in the city.
Jews were in the minority in the city, but this did not prevent them from founding synagogues in the city, opening several schools and even an academy for the study of the Talmud.
During the Byzantine period, despite the fires and epidemics that occurred, Caesarea grew and developed. New public buildings appeared, walls were strengthened, and new churches were erected.
The arrival of the Arabs in 640 marked the end of the Byzantine period in the history of the city. For the Crusaders, Caesarea was an important stronghold in their expansion into the Holy Land. In the 13th century, Caesarea was on the list of many other cities that were destroyed by the Mamluk Sultan Baybars.
Today, a settlement located next to the ancient city bears the name Caesarea. About five thousand people live here, and quite wealthy ones - modern Caesarea is built up with private villas and cottages.
During construction ancient Caesarea The most advanced technologies of its time were used. The artificial bay for the port was created from a kind of concrete. It was a mixture of lime and volcanic ash.
The royal palace, built on the reefs, made a grandiose impression on those who saw it. Josephus wrote: “He (Herod) rebuilt this city of limestone and adorned it with a palace of incomparable luxury, and in no other place did the greatness of his spirit express itself with such completeness.”
The palace, in essence, was artificial island, ahead of its time by entire millennia. It even had a swimming pool, which is considered the first structure of its kind.
Today little remains of the palace. However, there is an exhibit here that you should definitely look at. This is the so-called stone of Pontius Pilate, or the Slab from Caesarea. A fragment of a Latin inscription with the dedication of Pontius Pilate to Emperor Tiberius was discovered on it.
This is the first archaeological find that indicates the reality of the historical figure Pontius Pilate. Found in 1961, the stone is kept in the Israel History Museum, and a copy of it is on display to the public in Caesarea.
The foundation of the Greco-Roman city laid by Herod continued to develop further. On the territory of the Caesarea Archaeological Park you can see structures built by the Romans, Byzantines, Arabs and Crusaders.
The Roman Hippodrome was built with a length of 460 meters and spectator seats capable of accommodating 30,000 people. The hippodrome in Caesarea is considered one of the best preserved in the world.
The ancient theater, which the Jewish sages really disliked, is the oldest in Israel.
The large bath complex attracts with well-preserved decoration from the Byzantine period. Floor mosaics have survived best of all to this day.
The so-called temple site has an interesting historical fate. It was a foundation (podium) slightly raised above the surface of the earth, on which religious buildings stood in succession.
First it was a temple of the goddess Roma and Emperor Augustus, then a Byzantine octagonal church, an Arab mosque and Cathedral Crusaders.
What remained from the Crusaders were massive walls, a moat and gates built under Louis IX.
The park contains large fragments of preserved aqueducts. According to one of them, water approached the city from a source in Ein Shomi. The height of this structure reached eight meters.
Another aqueduct brought water from an artificial reservoir. The construction of the third aqueduct dates back to the Byzantine period.
The park contains not only ancient ruins. There is a diving center here that offers training, equipment rental and underwater excursions.
But even here the past is connected to the present. Divers can see parts of Caesarea that are underwater today. These are docks, lighthouses, warehouses and sunken ships.
We were about to get acquainted with Caesarea - an ancient port built by King Herod and now located about 40 km from Tel Aviv. As soon as you enter the territory national park Caesarea, it becomes clear that this is not just a separate archaeological excavation, but a real city where you can walk for more than one day. No wonder tourists are offered several routes. From a very casual acquaintance for one or two hours to great walk, designed for 6 hours with inspection of numerous historical and archaeological sights of this wonderful place.
Stretching on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea from the bays between the mouths of the Crocodiles Creek and the Hadera River, the city undoubtedly was once incredibly beautiful.
Its history began during Persian rule, when the Phoenicians built a small settlement here. It was first mentioned in 259 BC under the name Strato's Tower. In 103 BC. the coast was annexed to the Hasmonean kingdom, but 40 years later it was recaptured by Rome. The Roman Caesar Augustus gave these lands to King Herod, who built a large, beautiful city and named it Caesarea in honor of the Roman emperor Octavian Augustus. Herod had big plans; he hoped to make Caesarea the center of Greco-Roman culture. The most impressive buildings from Herod's time are well preserved. For example, a two-tier theater for 4 thousand. seats. It has been restored and today is successfully used for concerts and performances.
The amphitheater with an arena length of more than 250 meters and a width of about 50 is amazing. This huge structure served the Romans to host their favorite spectacle - chariot races, as well as other sports competitions. Initially, the amphitheater was designed for 10 thousand spectators. Herod’s box was located on the side, and this is no accident: after all, the most acute moments of the racing took place precisely at the turn. In general, with entertainment centers Everything was fine in Caesarea. There was another amphitheater for gladiator fights and animal games and a huge hippodrome, which was decorated with giant marble sculptures. Looking at this photo you can imagine their size.
The city was decorated magnificent palace(“Palace on the Reef”) and a temple built in honor of Rome and Augustus. But little has survived from these buildings.
To ensure communication with Rome, Herod decided to build a port, but there was no natural harbor on the coast, and the king created a grandiose artificial structure with docks, a warehouse and a lighthouse. Over time, this unique engineering creation turned out to be buried under water. However, archaeologists have found and explored Herod's port. In 1993, an underwater submarine opened in Caesarea. Archaeological Museum. It has a diving school, so amateurs can get acquainted with historical finds directly under water.
The complex of public baths with very exquisite mosaic decoration is also well preserved. True, these are already the remains of the later Byzantine period.
After the suppression of the Jewish uprising, this land became a Roman province, and Caesarea became its most significant city and the residence of Roman procurators. By the way, it is possible that Pontius Pilate visited Caesarea. Here is a limestone slab on which is carved a dedication to the Emperor Tiberius, signed “Pontius Pilate, Prefect of Judea.” This stone is considered the only material evidence of the existence of the most famous procurator of Judea.
In the northern part of the city there is a perfectly preserved aqueduct through which water came from mountain peaks Carmel to the ancient city. The place is very romantic. Israelis love to enjoy the surrounding landscape while sitting on the aqueduct with a bottle of wine and a piece of cheese.
Caesarea would have flourished further, but in 1101 the city was captured by the crusaders, then it was ruled by Sultan Saladin, and in 1191 the crusaders led by Richard the Lionheart came here again. The crusaders must be given their due: they revived the city and port, built a temple in which, according to legend, a valuable relic was kept - the “Holy Grail”. But in 1265, Caesarea was again captured by the Mamluks, destroyed by them and then abandoned. So until the end of the 19th century, the city remained in ruins until the Turkish authorities settled refugees from Bosnia here. Only then did a living settlement form on the ruins of the Crusader city. Today it is a national park.
In order to consistently imagine the entire history of Caesarea, tourists are offered to watch a small, but very competently and logically structured multimedia film. All historical periods of the city's development are "sorted out". Interesting for both adults and children.
It’s a pleasure to spend the whole day in the park, combining historical excursions with the simple pleasures of life: swimming in the sea and a delicious lunch. There is a paid beach in the southern part of the port, and a public beach is located near the upper aqueduct.
Alla Dobrovolskaya
Caesarea is not really a city, but a museum in which there are ancient ruins from the once great city of Caesarea in Palestine.
Located on the coast Mediterranean Sea in Israel. Now, next to the historical landmark, there is an elite residential community with the same name, but this is not what we will be talking about.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ History ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Caesarea is a city founded by King Herod the Great. The name Caesarea comes from the word “Caesar”, which means ruler, or as we called the king.
By the way, there is a saying about those same Caesars:
What is Caesar's to Caesar
Although initially this was not a saying at all, but words from the New Testament:
Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's.
But the meaning of the saying is the same - everyone will get what they deserve
At that time there were many cities with a similar name, probably the rulers’ imagination was boring. Not like in our time, they invent names for cities))) Therefore, in order to distinguish this Caesarea from other Caesareas, they decided to give it a “surname”, and it became Caesarea Maritime.
In history, this particular Caesarea Maritime appears as administrative center Roman prosecutor's office in Judea. And the most famous procurator of Judea, as we remember, was Pontius Pilate. The same Pilate who sentenced Jesus Christ to death.
And in Bulgakov’s novel his name also appears.
fifth procurator of Judea horseman Pontius Pilate
Later, the city came into the possession of Palestine and became its province, from then on it began to be called Caesarea Palestine.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Excursion ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I can talk a lot about history; anyone interested can read it on the Internet. Let's move on to the excursion.
The first thing we were shown upon arrival in the city was a film about the history of Caesarea in a small cinema hall.
Then we went to see the city.
Now the city has received the status of a museum under open air, in which archaeological excavations are still ongoing in search of new information, ancient buildings and objects.
In this museum, an ordinary visitor can see the Roman amphitheater, which is now used as a concert venue, a hippodrome, a square with giant statues, including a slab with an inscription that is proof of the existence of Pontius Pilate.
The slab is a fragment of the inscription: “Pontius Pilate, prefect of Judea, presented Tiberius to the Caesareas.” This slab became the first archaeological find to confirm the existence of Pilate
There wasn't much time, but we had time to walk around and see everything.
The city is atmospheric, there are statues, fragments of columns, ruins everywhere
