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Archive for December, 2015
The synagogue is among the most influential religious institutions in the history of Western civilization. In this place of “coming together” (Greek synagoge, Hebrew beit haknesset), Judaism created a communal religious experience that previously was almost unknown. 1 Within the ancient synagogue believers assembled to read the Sacred Scripture, to pray, and to form community with their God. This “democratic” […]
A Judea Capta coin, minted by the Romans portraying Judea weeping under a palm tree symbolizing the Roman victory in the First Jewish Revolt (reverse).
A Judea Capta coin, minted by the Romans portraying Vespasian the Roman commander of the northern campaign during the First Jewish Revolt and Roman emperor, ruled 69-79 CE, (front).
Aerial view of Masada and siege ramp built by the Romans
Herod no doubt built this great harbor to satisfy a practical need, for there was no other sheltered anchorage along the route from Alexandria, in Egypt, to the ports of Syria and Asia Minor. Herod also expected to bring in a nice profit from harbor tolls and customs that would help finance his building schemes. […]
Since Caesarea had no rivers or springs, drinking water for the prospering Roman city was brought via a unique high-level aqueduct, originating at the nearby Shuni springs, some 7.5 km northeast of Caesarea.
Theater built by Herod the Great in the port city Caesarea Maritima, 1st century BCE.
A 4,000-seat theater was first excavated at Sepphoris in 1931 and has been the subject of considerable academic debate ever since. Some scholars believe that Jesus himself may have sat on the theater’s semicircular limestone benches. But Chancey and Meyers doubt that the theater was constructed before the end of the first century C.E. If […]
The fortress of Masada was built in the year 30 BCE by King Herod, whose architectural feats have left their mark throughout the country.
In the winters of 1963–1964 and 1964–1965, Israel’s most illustrious archaeologist, Yigael Yadin, led excavations at Herod the Great’s mountain palace-fortress of Masada, overlooking the Dead Sea.
