 Shuni Village
 27 pictures
 1.30 minutes HQ video
On the bottom of the southern end of Mt. Carmel, in one of Taninim River tributaries, a few springs gurgle. These water sustained the residents of Caesarea- the nearby Roman city during Roman times, through the use of aqueducts. Even in the past, the researchers assumed that the stronghold-like Ottoman structure hides in it traces of a small Roman theater. Indeed, the archeological excavations that have been held in the site in the past few years, exposed large part of the theater building. Mainly parts of the benches set and the "orchestra" (the floored lot in the bottom of the structure) were discovered. All that proved the assumption correct. According to the findings of the excavations, it is possible that the theater was built either at the end of the second century or the beginning of the third century A. D. But what does a Roman theater have to do with such a place? The answer is that during Roman times, theaters were built not only for ordinary drama plays. Shuni, Maimass- as it was called back then, was a place of rites, and it was customary to hold water celebrations there. The theater was built for the purpose of the ceremonies that are part of those celebrations. The statue of the Greek cure god Escelepius found in the site proves that this god was worshiped in this very site. One of that god's characteristics was spraying water for purification, as a remedy. At the end of the fifth century A. D. the place was destroyed, and then was partially renovated. At the end of the Byzantine period, it was no longer used for its original destination. Olive presses were built in the rooms and the yards around the theater, and the building was used for oil production. It wasn't until the Ottoman time that the ancient traces became part of a structure used as a motel, and a mansion which made the place look like a castle.
Shuni Village
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