The famed city of Caesarea was built on the site of an older town, Straton Tower, first mentioned in the letters of Zeno, an Egyptian treasury official of the third century BCE.
Zeno disembarked at the harbor while on this way from Egypt to Syria. The remains of the older town, named after a King Straton of Sidon are north of a wall built much later in the Crusader period.
In 96 BCE the city fell into Jewish hands in a Hasmonean campaign to secure the coastline and develop fishing and shipping industries. In 63 BCE the Roman general Pompey the Great conquered Caesarea and declared it to be a free town under the authority of the Roman governor of Syria.
The great leap in its development and fame arrived in 22 BCE When Herod the Great gained control of Caesarea and began his colossal building projects there.
Flavius Josephus wrote that Herod “observed there was a city by the seaside that was much decayed (its name was Straton´s Tower)…Herod rebuilt it all with white stone and adorned it with several most splendid palaces…and built a haven”.
Herod indeed planned and entire city, based on the Roman model and including imposing public buildings, a theater, hippodrome, temples and a surrounding wall. A palace was built for the Roman governor of Judea. Two aqueducts were built from the foot of the Carmel Mountains, many sections of them still visible today, including one pillar with an inscription carved by soldiers of the 10th Roman Legion. Herod named the city for the emperor Augustus and its crowning glory was the port – one of the most impressive building projects built anywhere in this period.
The Roman governor Pontius Pilate, who condemned Jesus to be executed, lived at Caesarea and plaque bearing his name and recording a dedication he made has been found. It is the only written evidence of Pilate outside the gospels. Peter, the successor chosen by Jesus made his first direct convert to christianity in Caesarea, of a man named Cornelius. Herod later imprisoned Peter in Jerusalem during Passover, but he escaped and made his way to Caesarea and from there he set sail for Rome and into history.
There had been endless friction between the Jews and non-Jews of Caesarea, so when the revolt against Rome erupted in 66 CE, the conflict quickly became bloody in the city. The Roman general Vespasian (later emperor) made Caesarea his base from which to launch the conquest of Jerusalem.
The remains of the town today date mainly from Crusader period. It was captured during the first Crusader campaign in 1101 and became the center of the marine transport system along the coast.
The Crusaders built and rebuilt the city´s fortifications, especially in 1249 during the campaign of Louis IX of France (who became Saint Louis after his death).
In the 1265 the Mameluk Sultan Baybars conquered Caesarea and destroyed its wall to discourage any resettlement. The city and its surroundings remained in ruins.
In the recent years efforts have been made to expose the Roman, Byzantine and Crusader parts of the city, including the eastern Crusader entrance.
The Pillars of the drawbridge are well preserved the entrance gate was carved with capitals, cornices and other architectural devices that have also survived.
Other Israel Travel Services
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Here you can find other recommended travel websites:
Safari Tour in the Negev
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Judean Desert: Descend to the Judean Desert via the inn of the Good Samaritan. View the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered at Qumran.
Drive to Metsuke Dragot Enter the desert with overview of Murabat wadi and the caves where the rebels of Bar Kochba hid. On route stop for a breathtaking view from overlook at Michvar-an ancient Jewish stronghold located on the Jordanian side of the Dead Sea on Mt Moab. Continue to Mt Hassason and Ras Nekeb Kamar. Then onto Wadi Tekoah with a short herbal tea break along the way.
Dead Sea: Will end this tour with a swim in the Dead Sea. Late lunch stop for snacks/sandwiches on Dead Sea shore. Drive back to Jerusalem with over view of Jericho and old Roman Road..
Tips and Sugestions
• Bring hat, bathing suit, comfortable shoes.
• Recommended to bring water and light meal
• Minimum 3 participants.
Testimonials
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Dear Dorit
I must confess I am more of an isolated traveler. I normally prefer touring places on my own. But this time, since Middle East was an altogether new place for me, I decided to go for a personal guided tour, much to my discomfort. When I picked up DailyToursIsrael, their professionalism had me convinced that this was going to be one hell of an awesome trip. I wandered along the green fields of Jezreel Valley and the spectacular Judean Mountains and discovered nature once again. I now think that if it was not for you I would have missed the true glimpse of Israel.
- Reeves (Texas)
Testimonials
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This is what our clients wrote us about their trip with us:
Dear Daily Tours Staff
Me and my family are ardent travelers. When we picked up DailyToursIsrel.com, we knew that this trip would be a memorable one. The hospitality that they offered was one of its kind. Right from our interaction over the phone, till the time of giving us personalized guided tours, the staff has been extremely cordial. Thanks to them, we have fallen in love with Israel!
- Timothy (New York)
Israel is the only country that…has a majority of jews in its population.
Israel is the only country that…is no bigger than Massachusetts but often gets bigger newspaper headlines than the world’s largest countries.
Israel is the only country that…is very old and very young. The old land of Israel was conquered and destroyed 2,000 years ago. The new, young Israel is being rebuilt by the descendants of the ancient Israelites – the jews.
Israel is the only country that…plants millions of trees and hardly ever chops any down. The jews found no forests, only bare, eroded hillsides, when they returned to the Land. Since then they’ve planted more than 150 million trees.
Israel is the only country that…contains the mayor holy places of the Jewish and Christian religions and is the third holiest site of the Muslim religion.
Israel is the only country that…uses the Hebrew and Arabic words for peace – Shalom and Salaam – Aleikem- as a daily greeting, even though the country has been at war for much of its short life.
Israel is the only country that…prints more than one book each year for each 1,000 in population. Nearly 4,500 books were printed in 1983. That’s the greatest number of books per person in the World.
Israel is the only country that…had to teach many of its citizens their own national language – Hebrew. Israeli scholars had to push, pull and stretch the vocabulary of ancient Hebrew until it could be used to operate computers and jet planes as well as camels and water wheels.
Recommended visits in Israel
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Here we show you a short list of recommended visits in Israel. We can plan your visits to this sites or more that haven’t been listed here.
* Baha’i Gardens: The Terraces of the Bahá’í Faith are garden terraces that form nine above and nine below the Shrine of the Báb on Mount Carmel within Haifa, Israel. Also known as the Hanging Gardens of Haifa and described as the Eighth Wonder of the World. (Wikipedia)
* Beth Hatefutsoth: The museum uses modern techniques and audio-visual displays to trace the history of communities of the Jewish diaspora through the ages and throughout the world and to convey the story of the Jewish people from the time of their expulsion from the Land of Israel 2,600 years ago to the present. (Wikipedia)
* Caesarea: Thinking Roman city, right? What gave it away? Yes, Caesarea is a city that Herod the Great dedicated to Caesar Augustus more than 2,000 years ago. Today, it is one of Israel’s major tourist attractions and an increasingly popular place for Israel’s elite to make their homes. (JewishVirtualLibrary.org)
* Capernaum: was a settlement on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. The site is a ruin today, but was inhabited from 150 BC to about AD 750. The town is mentioned in the New Testament: in the Gospel of Luke it was reported to have been the home of the apostles Peter, Andrew, James and John, as well as the tax collector Matthew. In Matthew 4:13 the town was reported to have been the home of Jesus himself. (Wikipedia)
* Dead Sea: The Dead Sea is a salt lake between the West Bank and Israel to the west, and Jordan to the east. At 420 metres (1,378 ft) below sea level,[2] its shores are the lowest point on the surface of the Earth. (Wikipedia)
* Megiddo: Is a hill in Israel near the modern settlement of Megiddo, known for theological, historical and geographical reasons. In ancient times Megiddo was an important city state. It is also known alternatively as Tel Megiddo (Hebrew) and Tell al-Mutesellim (Arabic). According to some interpretations of the Christian Bible, this place will be the venue for Armageddon (that derives from the name’s place in Hebrew) or the final battle between the forces of light led by Jesus Christ and the forces of darkness led by Satan or the Anti-Christ after the End of Days. Megiddo is a tel (hill or mound) made of 26 layers of the ruins of ancient cities in a strategic location at the head of a pass through the Carmel Ridge, which overlooks the Valley of Jezreel from the west.
* Mount of Olives: The Mount of Olives is a mountain ridge to the east of Jerusalem. It is named for the olive groves on its slopes and is associated with many religious traditions.
At the foot of the mountain lies the Garden of Gethsemane. In the Book of Zechariah, the Mount of Olives is cited as the place where the dead will be resurrected in the days of the Messiah. For this reason, Jews have always sought to be buried there, and from biblical times until today, the mountain has been used as a Jewish cemetery.
* Mount Tabor: Mount Tabor is located in Lower Galilee, at the eastern end of the Jezreel Valley, 17 kilometres (11 mi) west of the Sea of Galilee. Its elevation at the summit is 575 metres (1,843 ft) above sea level. It is believed by many to be the site of the Transfiguration of Christ and site for the battle between Barak and the army of Jabin, commanded by Sisera. It is also known as Har Tavor, Itabyrium, Jebel et-Tur, and the Mount of Transfiguration. (Wikipedia)
* Nazareth: Nazareth is the capital and largest city in the North District of Israel. It also serves as an Arab capital for Israel’s Arab citizens who make up the vast majority of the population there. In the New Testament, the city is described as the childhood home of Jesus, and as such is a center of Christian pilgrimage, with many shrines commemorating biblical associations.
* Old Jaffa: From archaeological discoveries and ancient documents we learn that Jaffa existed as a port city some 4,000 years ago, serving Egyptian and Phoenician sailors in their sea voyages.
* Qumran: The site was most likely constructed sometime during or before the reign of John Hyrcanus, 134-104 BC and saw various phases of occupation until, probably after the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD, Titus and his X Fretensis destroyed it. It is best known as the settlement nearest to the hiding place of the Dead Sea Scrolls in the caves of the sheer desert cliffs. (Wikipedia)
* Sea Of Galilee: The Sea of Galilee or Lake Kinneret, is Israel’s largest freshwater lake, being approximately 53 km (33 miles) in circumference, about 21 km (13 miles) long, and 13 km (8 miles) wide. The lake has a total area of 166 km², and a maximum depth of approximately 43 m.
* The Jerusalem Archaeological Park: Israel’s most important antiquity site, reaches the Temple Mount on the north, the slope of the Mount of Olives and the Kidron Valley on the east, and the Valley of Hinnom on the west and the south. This exceptional area which has captivated the world’s imagination throughout history, has been designated as an archaeological park and open museum.
* Western Wall: The Western Wall or simply the Kotel, and is a Jewish religious site located in the Old City of Jerusalem. The wall itself dates from the Second Temple period, (516 BCE - 70 CE). It is sometimes referred to as the Wailing Wall referring to Jews who come to the site to mourn the destruction of the Holy Temple.
* Tiberias: Tiberias has been a popular destination for tourists for more than 2,000 years. As early as Roman times, this thriving recreation spa, built around 17 natural mineral hot springs more than 600 feet below sea level, welcomed visitors from every part of the ancient world. Built by Herod Antipas (one of Herod the Great’s three sons who divided up Palestine after their father’s death), the city was named Tiberias in honor of the Roman Emperor Tiberius.
* Yad Vashem: Yad Vashem, the national Authority for the Remembrance of the Martyrs and Heroes of the Holocaust, was established in 1953 to commemorate the six million Jewish men, women and children murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators during the years 1933-1945. The Authority also commemorates the heroism and fortitude of the Jewish partisans and the fighters in the Ghetto revolts, as well as the actions of the “Righteous Among the Nations” (non-Jews who saved the lives of Jews). Yad Vashem is a large complex containing a history museum, memorial chambers, art galleries, archives, outdoor commemorative sites such as the Valley of the Destroyed Communities, a synagogue, and an educational centre. Non-Jews who saved Jews during the Holocaust, often at great personal risk, are honored by Yad Vashem as the “Righteous Among the Nations.”
* Zichron Yaacov: Zikhron Ya’aqov was one of the first Jewish settlements in the country, founded in 1882 by Baron Edmond James de Rothschild and named in honor of his father, Ya’akov.
