powered by FreeFind	Caesarea 200 pictures     6.30 minutes HQ video Caesarea National Park is on the Mediterranean shore. It is located at the north of the Sharon area. History During the Persian rule (332-586 B. C.), the Phoenicians established a settlement by one of the gulfs, where ground water may be found close to the surface. The settlement belonged to Dor County, and was prospering during the Hellenistic period (332-37 B. C.). It was first mentioned in the Xenon papyrus (a document dated from 259 B. C.), where it appeared by the name Stratus Pirgus. Dor and Stratus Pirgus were conquered by Alexander Yannay in 103 B. C., and were annexed to the Hashmonaim kingdom of Judah, but were separated from it 40 years later by the Romans occupying Israel. In 30 B. C., Stratus Pirgus was bequeathed to King Herod, who reigned from 37-4 B. C. Herod built a big city in that place and called it Caesarea, in honor of his friend and benefactor Octavianus Augustus Caesar, as was described in Flavius' writings:"…" (Wars of the Jews 1:21:5). Caesarea was a meticulously planned city, which had a system of parallel and intersecting roads, a temple, a theater, an amphitheater, market places and residence areas. When the 12 year period of building came to an end, celebrations in honor of the city's founding were held (year 9-10 B. C.). Due to the Arab occupation in 640 A. D., Caesarea lost its political and economic standing. It was abandoned by most of the citizens, and thus Caesarea became a small town by the gulf-side. It was only in the ninth century that Caesarea was re-fortified, when the sea trade developed and the Israeli towns by the shores recovered. Caesarea was occupied by the Crusaders on May 17th 1101, and became the home of the noblemen of Guernia. The town's new fortification in 1251, during Louis - king of France- crusade, was impressively strong, In 1265, Caesarea was occupied by the Mameluks, led by Biberas. Then, it was destroyed and abandoned. The Theater The most ancient of the theaters discovered in Israel. The Theater was built during Herod's reign, and was active for hundreds of years, until the Byzantine period. Its placement was carefully selected by the customary criteria. It has two balconies (cavea), and about four thousand seats. The orchestra lot was paved by a marble-like plaster, which was renewed many times. Behind the stage stood the Scene fancy wall, made of three level columns and used as a stage background. At the end of the Byzantine period, it was a fortress, and was abandoned after the Arab occupation. The Reef Palace Traces of a fancy palace, with a pool to its west, from the Roman and the Byzantine periods. The researchers reckon the pool was used as the town's fish marketplace. From the palace, there is a view of the shore and the southern Crusader town. Herod's Amphitheater A public recreation facility, with an arena and balconies, which are shaped like a long "U". It was built during Herod's reign, and was used for horse races, and amusement shows during the Roman period. The arena was more than two hundred and fifty m. long, and was 50 m wide. In the original structure, there were 12 rows of seats, which could hold about ten thousand people. A little while after it was built, two rows of columns were added to the east. During Herod's reign, the facility was called Amphitheater (Antiquity 15:341), and it may possibly be the very stadium mentioned in Flavius' writings (Wars of the Jews 2:9:3). Street System In this area, were discovered parts of the street system of town from the Roman and Byzantine times. The streets intersect, forming a cross sign, and there are structures between them. The Public Bath House A complex of a public bath house from Byzantine times, and occupied more than half of the structure. The Bath house was built in splendor after "Herod's Amphitheater" closed down. Administrative and Trade Zone The southern part of a structure dated from Roman and Byzantine times. The major part of it was built above the domes, which were used as warehouses. One of them was used as a temple for the god Mitara in the second and third centuries A. D. A Medieval Fortified Town In the ninth century (Arab times), a fortified town was built around the port. It was used until the end of the Crusader period. The Arab town walls were fit into the great, impressive fortifications from Louis reign. These include a great wall, with a deep, dry moat in front of it. The wall is about nine hundred m. long, about 13m tall, and the moat is about nine meters wide. There are gates in the wall- to its north, east, and south. Also, along it there are flight openings toward the moat. To its southwestern side a fortress was built. It was separated from town by a canal where ocean water was flowing. The Temple Area In Herod's day, a podium was built in this area, and on it was built a fancy temple in honor of Rome and Augustus Caesar. An octagonal church was built here later on, during Byzantine times; a great mosque during Arab times, and during the Crusader time- a cathedral. Structures in the Area of Herod's Amphitheater Back to Israel Index