Holy Land in the Time of the Caesars

Trip Summary

Get ready for a journey back in time to the Holy Land as it existed during the reign of the Caesars.

Israel is home to some of the most impressive and important Roman sites to be found anywhere. Visits to Jerusalem, Caesarea, the Galilee and Masada bring the Roman past to life.

Israel’s museums contain outstanding, impressively presented antiquity collections. Large swaths of the striking Judean landscape harken back to Biblical times. The world of ancient Roman Judea is compelling, fascinating and waiting for you!

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Jerusalem Sites

The Temple and The Temple Mount

The Temple Mount was one of the largest sacred precincts to be found in the ancient world. The centerpiece of the entire project was Herod’s reconstruction of the Temple itself which had been originally sanctified in 516 BC. Work on the Temple began in about 20 BC and lasted for over five years. Work on the Temple Mount as a whole continued for over 80 years and the site was only completed around 60 AD.

Western Wall Tunnel Tour

Do not miss the Western Wall Tunnel Tour. Its entrance is located right on the Western Wall Plaza. This amazing tour brings visitors on an underground journey along the ancient streets that were constructed by Herod two thousand years ago adjacent to the Temple Mount. Computer generated graphics provide
an invaluable perspective on the religious precinct during the time of Jesus in the first century AD.

The Cardo

In the nearby Jewish Quarter remnants can be found of the Cardo or main street of the Roman city of Aelia Capitolina. The Cardo Maximus was constructed as part of Hadrian’s rebuilding of Jerusalem in 135 AD. It started at what is now the Damascus Gate at the northern entrance to the city. The excavated portion of this ancient street dates back to Byzantine times and is lined with inviting tourist oriented shops and galleries.

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

The unrivaled Church of the Holy Sepulchre can be found in the Christian Quarter and has been a destination for Christian pilgrims for over sixteen centuries. The church was originally built by Constantine the Great following a visit to Jerusalem by his mother, Helena, in 326 AD. It is purported to be built on the very site where Jesus was crucified by the Romans and then entombed.

Other Roman Sites

Hadrian constructed a typical monumental Roman triple arched gate as a ceremonial entrance to the city. The small eastern arched passageway can now be seen under Damascus Gate. A stone inscribed there states “By decree of the city council of Aelia Capitolina.” At the Ecce Homo Convent along the Via Dolorosa can be seen the remains of another triumphal arch built by Hadrian. The basement of the convent showcases a stone pavement etched with games played by Roman legionnaires that dates to the second century AD.

Spellbinding Jerusalem can easily keep any traveler busy for at least a week. The Old City is filled with intriguing small museums and spectacular sights such as Hezekiah’s Tunnel and the Dome of the Rock. West Jerusalem likewise is filled with stellar attractions such as the Israel Museum, home to the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the colorful Mahne Yehuda Market. And no trip to Israel is complete without a visit to the somber and moving Holocaust memorial and museum, Yad Vashem.

Logistics

Jerusalem has an impressive tourist infrastructure. There are numerous top notch hotels including the David Citadel Hotel and the King David Hotel. For a more boutique experience try the dramatically situated Mount Zion Hotel. For something completely different (and less expensive) stay at the Three Arches Hotel located in the Jerusalem YMCA, undoubtedly the most beautiful YMCA in the world.

There are many tours available both in the Old City and in West Jerusalem. A tour of the Old City is highly recommended for first time visitors. Licensed Israeli guides typically are of the highest quality. Be sure to budget extra time to wander through the Old City’s streets and shops on your own after your tour is finished.

All itinerary sights can be reached on foot. Note that it is easy to get lost in the labyrinth-like warren of the Old City. There is some signage but it could be improved.

Caesarea

Beautiful Caesarea lies just 40 miles to the north of Tel Aviv. The ruins of this legendary port city make up Caesarea National Park. The park boasts some of Israels’ most impressive archaeological sites all located in a stunning natural setting besides the Mediterranean Sea.

At Caesarea, Herod the Great created from scratch a functioning metropolis and a splendid harbor. Beginning in around 22 BC Herod transformed the largely abandoned seaside town of Straton’s Tower into a showcase Greco-Roman port city. He named the new city in honor of his new patron Octavian “Augustus” Caesar.

Herod designed his “Dream City” on a lavish scale. He intended for it to satisfy the needs of its inhabitants in fine fashion and to provide all the necessary constituent elements required for a thriving metropolis. Over two decades, Herod constructed at Caesarea magnificent harbor, temples, palaces, aqueducts, a theater and a hippodrome. He brought a magnificent city to life.

Modern, vibrant Tel Aviv is worth at least two or three days. The city’s undoubted highlight is the Tayelet, Tel Aviv’s miles long seaside promenade. It stretches from the ancient harbor of Jaffa in the south to the Tel Aviv Port in the north which is one of the country’s top restaurant and nightlife destinations. Other top Tel Aviv attractions include Bauhaus inspired Rothschild Boulevard, the Dizengoff Street shopping precinct and the state of the art Museum of the Jewish People.

Logistics
Tel Aviv has a solid tourist infrastructure. For the best on the beach lodging, the stately Hilton is recommended. For trendier accommodations, check out the Norman Hotel. Tel Aviv’s attractions are generally reachable by foot although some distances can be long. Taxis and public transport are readily available. A car is not advisable. Caesarea can be easily reached from Tel Aviv by car, taxi or bus. The itinerary’s next, and final stop is the Galilee. A car is needed to fully explore this area although the distances to be covered are not great.

Gamla

Gamla has been described as the “Masada of the North.” It was a town located in the nearby Golan Heights that rose to prominence during the early Roman period. A prosperous settlement, it was known for the quality of its olive oil.

In 67 AD the residents of Gamla rose in revolt against Rome. Eventually, the Roman legions destroyed the town and it was never rebuilt. Today the spot where the attackers breached Gamla’s 20 foot thick fortification wall is still readily evident. Thousands of missile stones have been found at the sight. Josephus reports that 9,000 Jews committed mass suicide here rather than surrender.

The remains of the ancient town are situated in the Gamla Nature Reserve. This charming park offers visitors lovely walks and wildlife. It boasts Israel’s tallest waterfall.

Capernaum

Capernaum was a simple village of farmers and fishermen in the first century AD. It also was the focal point of Jesus’ ministry. The Apostle Mathew refers to Capernaum as Jesus’ “own town.”

Capernaum National Park contains compelling ruins that harken back to Jesus’ time. Be sure to visit the House of Saint Peter reputed to be the site of a house where Jesus lived.

There also are the impressive remains of a synagogue which dates back to the Byzantine era. This monumental structure demonstrates the prosperity that the Galilee enjoyed in the later Roman period. Note the high quality carvings that decorate its wall.

Sepphoris

Sepphoris is home to a blockbuster fifth century synagogue which features stunning mosaics. These mosaics are contained in seven rows of panels which combine to create a beautiful mosaic carpet. They are considered to be Israel’s finest Roman era mosaics. They present in a stunning fashion Jewish symbols such as Menorahs and the Ark of the Covenant, Bible scenes and a large medallion surrounded by the signs of the zodiac.

The ancient town of Sepphoris has an interesting history. Unlike Gamla, it chose not to join the first century AD revolt against the Romans and was spared destruction. It gained further prominence in the second century AD when thousands of Jewish refugees from Judea fled to the Galilee.

Sepphoris National Park showcases additional ruins from this prosperous ancient city including the remnants of a 4,000 seat amphitheater and a fine villa dating to 200 AD. The villa contains a mosaic floor depicting the portrait of a young-woman known as “The Mona Lisa of the Galilee.”

Tiberias

Tiberias serves today as the commercial and tourist capital of The Galilee. This appealing if somewhat hard scrable city was founded in 20 AD by Herod Antipas, a son of Herod the Great. It was named after the Roman Emperor Tiberias and was an important center of Jewish learning particularly following the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. The ancient city was largely destroyed over the centuries by a series of powerful earthquakes.

Modern Tiberias is situated in a lovely spot alongside the ethereal sea of Galilee. The city has a population of about 50,000 and hosts a fairly sophisticated tourist infrastructure. There is a pleasant seaside promenade, numerous restaurants and pubs and a wide range of hotels.

The city’s primary Roman attraction can be found at Hamat Tiberias National Park. In Roman times a settlement called Hammat or “hot springs” was located here. It was the site of a number of ancient synagogues including one dating to the fourth century AD that contains spectacular mosaics. The floors of the synagogue are decorated with geometric and floral motifs as well as figured images. Note the circular medallion portraying the Greco-Roman god Helios and depictions of the twelve signs of the zodiac. We have seen a similar medallion at Sepphoris. Historian Visotzky describes the medalian’s iconography as referencing perhaps “Greco-Roman Jewish folk religion.” Helios may have been treated as a pictorial stand in for the Jewish sole God.

Beit Shearim

During the third century AD, this lower Galilean town emerged as an important Jewish city. It also was home to the most important Jewish cemetery in the later Roman world. Archaeologists have uncovered a large necropolis with over twenty catacombs containing hundreds of sarcophagi decorated with animals and Jewish symbols.

Beit She’an

Beit She’an surprises visitors with both the extent and preservation of its impressive Roman and Byzantine remains. The city, originally known as Scythopolis, was a largely Hellenized pagan settlement that prospered in antiquity for centuries. In 289 AD it was named the capital of the Roman province of Second Palestine and eventually reached an estimated population of 40,000.

Beit She’an National Park is a must see sight and contains an outstanding collection of ruins. There is an impressive paved colonnaded main street along with a large, well preserved theater, baths and a forum. A wonderful nightly sound and light show brings the ancient metropolis back to life.