powered by FreeFind	Gamla 78 pictures     3 minutes HQ video The town Gamla is mentioned in the Talmud as a town surrounded by a wall existing in the days of Joshua, son of Nun. It is assumed that Gamla was mentioned due to the fact that during the Bronze Age, there was a fortified settlement in the place, which had already been destroyed in an ancient time, and wasn't renewed until the Helenistic Period (in the middle of the second century B. C.), by Jews who emigrated from Babylon. Gamla The fact that all the findings of Gamla (coins,vessels, etc.) are typically Jewish, proves that only Jews settled there (there were no findings indicating another culture living in Gamla). As a part of his efforts to settle the area near the border of his kingdom, Herod populated the area with Jews. Josephus Plavius' descriptions suggest that the town was built on top of a rather steep hill, surrounded by cliffs. There was only one path leading to it, going down from the high region surrounding it. That path leads to Gamla in present time, as well."…" (Wars of the Jews, 4:1) . Gamla was the initiator of the uprising against the Romans in the year 66 A. D. Consequently, soon the settlers, led by Josephus Plavius, leader of the Galilee uprising, built and fortified the walls surrounding the town. The wall was built on the eastern side of town. One on edge of the wall, there was a round watch tower, on top of the hill. The wall ends near the channel of Daliot River, and from that point on, it was passing near the houses on the eastern side of town, as well as the fancy synagogue of Gamla. King Agripas II came to the uprising town, and besieged the town. Seven months later, however, he was forced to retreat, though the Romans persisted. Military leader Aspasianus assisted, rushing to Israel, leading three Roman legions and aid corps. He besieged the town again. A month later, the Romans managed, for the first time, to break the wall and penetrate Gamla. Yet the guards managed to make a decisive victory out of the penetration, and killed many soldiers of the penetrating force. "…" (Wars of the Jews, 4:6). The Opening in the Wall It wasn't until the second penetration attempt, that the Romans managed to get by the guard. According to Ben Matityahu (Plavius), the Roman victory cost in nine thousand Jews losing their lives- town residents and those who lived in the villages of the area, who came there for shelter. The site of Gamla was forgotten over the generations. Then, in 1968, Yitzhaki Gal, participated in a survey sponsored by the former Authority of Natural Reservations, and the Jewish Agency. He made a statement about Gamla's location, which was confirmed by various field-data collected. Subsequently, in the 70's, the archeologist Shemariya Gutman begun excavations in the site. Not only did the findings were the final confirmations for the town's location, but also revealed amazing findings, such as the traces of the wall from the uprising period, the town's fancy synagogue, houses, and traces of the tough battle taking place there- hundreds of catapult stones, thousands of arrow heads, and nails from the war machines. The Synagogue The traces of Gamla's synagogue are especially attractive. It was a fancy building, located at the town's entrance. Apparently, the synagogue was established in the first century A. D., when the Temple still existed, and it is one of the most ancient synagogues discovered in Israel. Inside the synagogue, many catapults and arrow heads were found, indicating that the tough battles came through the doors of the synagogue as well. In the hall of the synagogue were traces indicating that there were refugees who lived there during the time of besiegement. Near the synagogue, a ritual bath was discovered, which served the people of the town. The Residence Area Especially fancy structures were discovered on the western side of Gamla, which probably constituted the rich neighborhood of town. Two of the most impressive structures were the olive press, whose stone ceiling is held by two large arcs, which were reconstructed. The second structure is a big public building, whose past function is still unknown. In that building, traces of refugees residence during the uprising were discovered. Gamla and the View of the Kinneret Back to Israel Index