Danny-the-Digger - Come Travel With Me

Tel Dan Named "Laish"(Heb. "lion") in Canaanite times, Tel Dan was taken by the people of Dan, who also changed its name. Excavations at the site yielded many finds, among them a completed Canaanite gate made of bricks, a Canaanite tomb rich in lavish and rare finds, a large size gate complex from the Israelite period, and an Israelite Altar. Yet the most important find from the site is part of an inscription where the "house of David" is mentioned, the first non-Biblical document to mention David and his dynasty.

Reconstruction of the Tel Dan Altar	Fragment of the Tel Dan inscription

Nimrod Fortress / Qala'at Namrud A Well preserved medieval fortress above Banyas/Caesarea Philippi, named after the biblical hero Nimrod (Genesis 10:8-9) who, according to local tradition, dwelt on this summit. The fortress was founded probably by the Crusaders, to defend the city of Banyas in the valley below against the Muslims. Later, Muslim rulers of Damascus rebuilt it to defend their border against the Crusaders. During the 12th-13th centuries, Nimrod fortress changed hands several times, but it was maintained and strengthened mainly by the Muslims, as attested to by the numerous Arabic inscriptions found incorporated into the building. The view from the site to the Hulah valley is breathtaking.

Qala'at Namrud from the east	A firing window in the fortress

Caesarea Philippi / Banyas
Greco-Roman site, apparently founded in the Hellenistic period as worship center for the god Pan. In the first century King Herod built a temple at the site, and his grandson built a palace. The site continued to flourish in the late Roman period, mostly as a cultic site. Many Christians are familiar with the site because it is here that Jesus said to Peter, "You are Peter (=rock), and on this rock I shall build my church" (Mat. 16:13-20). The site has being partially excavated, and it offers a beautiful mix of archaeology, history, and nature.

Cultic niches in Caesarea Philippi

Reconstruction of Caesarea Philippis Roman shrines

Acre / Akko-Ptolemais
Major port and city in northern Israel. In Biblical times Akk was a Phoenician port city (Judges 1:31). Ptolemy, founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt, re-founded the city and re-named it after himself "Ptolemais. The city developed much under Roman rule, and the apostle Paul spent a day in the city (Acts 21:7).
On 26 May 1104, after months of heavy siege and with the help of the Genoese fleet, the city fell into the hands of the Crusaders. The Crusaders constructed a sophisticated system of fortifications composed of walls and towers, and the city became a political and administrative until the expulsion of the Crusaders from the Holy Land in 1291.
The city played an important role also in 1799, when its local ruler, Jezzar Pasha, survived a siege by Napoleon, a lose that caused Napoleon to give up his ambition to rule the Near East and return to France.
North of Akko, The Bahaians venerate the site Mansion of Bahji, where the founder of the Bahaian religion, Baha-Ullah, is buried

General view of Akko

Royal Crusader emblem from Akko

Bahaian shrine near Akko

Haifa
The main city of Northern Israel and the third largest city in the country. Haifa is first mentioned in Talmudic literature from the 4th century CE, but until modern times Haifa was a small village. Today the city holds one of the two largest ports of Israel, one of the two refineries of Israel, and a large hi-tech industrial park, where some of the largest companies in the field have development centers (Google, IBM, Microsoft, Amdocs, and more). Haifa is also cherished by different religions. The Bahaians venerate in Haifa the tomb of the for-runner the Bahaian religion, the Bab. His tomb, a lavishly decorated shrine with a large golden dome, is set in the center of terraced gardens on the northern slope of the Carmel mountain. The site is also a major tourist attraction. Near by Jews venerate a cave where according to a local tradition the Biblical prophet Elijah hid. SE of the city the Christians venerate a site where, by tradition, Elijah confronted the Baal prophets (Muchraka).

Aerial view of Bahaian shrine

Elijahs cave in Haifa

Sculpture of Elijah at Muchraka

Beth She'arim
Major Ancient Jewish site in lower Galilee. Following the destruction of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem in 70 CE, various Jewish sites in the Galilee developed as new Jewish Cultural centers. In the second century CE the Sanherdin (The ancient Jewish Supreme court) resided in Beth-Shearim for a while. Its leader, R. Judah the prince, known also as the compiler of the Mishna, was also buried at the site. Perhaps for this reason the cemetery of Beth-Shearim was developed during the late Roman period into a necropolis for Jews, both from the land of Israel, and from the Diaspora. The excavation of the site was the first major archaeological project by Jewish Archaeologists in Israel, taking place in the 1930s and 1950s.

Facade of one of the burial caves

Menorah relief in a tomb in Beth-Shearim

Yodefat
A major ancient Jewish city, whose bloody conquest by the Romans in 67 CE, is vividly documented by the Jewish historian Josephus, who was also the commander of the city. Excavations at the site during the years 1992-1998 revealed clear evidence for the Roman conquest of the site: dozen of iron arrowheads, ballista stones, heavy rolling stones, and skeletons of some 30 men, women and children accumulated in a water cistern.

Yodefat from the Air

Reconstruction of ancient Yodefat

Sepphoris / Zippori
Located on a hill in the center of the lower Galilee, Sepphoris was a major city in Roman and Byzantine period. During the second century CE Sepphoris developed Jewish center, and in the third century the Sanhedrin (The ancient Jewish Supreme court) Headed By R. Yehudah The prince was located in Sepphoris. During the Crusaders period a church dedicated to Anne and Joachim, parents of Mary (mother of Jesus) was constructed on the NW side of the site, and a watchtower was built on the hilltop. Both are in tact to this day. The first excavations at the site took place in 1931, but since 1985 continuous large scale excavations are conducted at Sepphoris by a joint Israeli-American expedition. The archaeologists revealed many parts of the city, including a theatre, a synagogue, an elaborated water system, a set of insulae and streets, and the largest collection of mosaics ever found in Israel.

The Acropolis of Sepphoris

Detail of a mosaic from a synagogue in Sepphoris

"Jesus Boat" at Gennesaret
In the winter of 1986, when the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee was very low as a result of several years of drought, two brothers from Kibbutz Ginosar noticed the outline of a wooden boat in the muddy shore near the kibbutz. Experts called in affirmed the identification, and an immediate salvage excavation took place to expose and remove the boat before a possible rise of the water level. By the construction techniques and two pottery vessels found near it archeologists concluded that the boat was from the Roman period. Carbon-14 tests confirmed that the boat was constructed between 100 BCE and 70 CE. After a slow process, that took several years, of preserving all the organic remains of the boat, it was placed for display at a local museum of the Kibbutz. Being from the time of Jesus, and from a site mentioned in the New Testament (Mat. 14:34) The find got world attention, and is now a popular tourist attraction. "During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. (Mat. 14:25-26, 34)

The Acropolis of Sepphoris

Detail of a mosaic from a synagogue in Sepphoris

Gadara (Umm Qais)
A site on a hill top in northern Jordan, above the Yarmuk river and the Sea of Galilee. In Roman times the city flourished as a cultural center of Hellenism, and was home of Cynics, Philosophers, and rhetoricians. The city was member of the Decapolis , a league of ten cities (Mat. 4:25; Mark 5:20), and according to the Gospel of Matthew in its vicinity Jesus performed the swine miracle (Mat. 8:28). Today the site is known by the Arabic name "Umm Qais". Excavations at the site revealed large sections of the ancient city, including a hippodrome, two theatres, tombs, a bath complex, a colonnaded street, vaulted shops, and a church. An Ottoman governors house was recently turned into a local archaeological museum.

General view of one of the theatres in Gadara

Gamala
Ancient Jewish site in the Golan Heights famous for the struggle of its inhabitants against the Romans, a battle which became a symbol for Jewish Heroism. Excavations at the site in the 1970's by S. Gutman exposed different parts of the city, including dramatic evidence of the Roman siege and battle. The excavations also uncovered a first century BCE synagogue, which is one of the oldest synagogues ever found.
Excavations resumed in the 1990's by D. Syon.

General view of Gamala

The Synagogue discovered in Gamala

Hazor
Major Canaanite and Israelite city in the north of Israel, 'the head of all those kingdoms' according to the Bible (Joshua 11:10). The tell has two parts: the 30-acre acropolis and the 175-acre lower city. The site was excavated in the 1950's by Y. Yadin, and since the 1990's by A. Ben-Tor. Most of the excavations concentrated on the acropolis, where shrines, palaces, gates, a water reservoir, and a fort were discovered. Being such a prominent site estimation is that an archive of cuneiform tablets could be found somewhere on the acropolis.

Aerial view of Hazor

Canaanite temple at Hazor

Hamat Gader
Hamat Gader ("The hot springs of Gader") in located in the Yarmuk river, about 7 km east of the Sea of Galilee. Several hot springs located at site developed in antiquity to a spa complex which attracted layman and nobility alike from all corners of the Roman Empire. The ancient spa complex was excavated by Y. Hirschfeld and G. Soler in the 1980's. They have discovered most of the buildings and pools, as well as numerous inscriptions by different visitors. The exposed remains have been restored and are open to the public. The hot springs are also used today, and the site attracts many visitors, especially on the week-ends. South of the site a Byzantine period Synagogues was also revealed.

General view of the Ancient
Spa at Hamat Gader

The spa of Hamat Gader today

Gerasa / Jarash
Gerasa (modern Jarash) is located in a valley among the mountains of the Gilead. Gerasa flourished in the Roman period, and was a member of the Decapolis , a league of ten cities (Mat. 4:25; Mark 5:20). According to the Gospel of Mark in its vicinity Jesus performed the swine miracle (Mark 5:1).
Many parts of the city are well preserved to this day. The city was planned with main streets (Cardo and Decumanus), and a protective wall. Other architectural remains include a triumphal arch, the temple of Artemis, a Hippodrome, three (!) theatres, a big oval plaza (forum), the temple of Zeus, a Tetrapylon, Nymphaeum, bath complex, six churches, and a synagogue.

Plan of Ancient Gerasa

Amman
Modern Capital of Jordan, Amman was known as "Philadelphia" in Classical times. In the Roman period it was a member of the Decapolis , a league of ten cities (Mat. 4:25; Mark 5:20), and with the construction of the road between Damascus and Eilath in the second century CE, Amman/ Phildaelphia flourished as a trade center.
The Remains of the Roman city include a theatre, a forum, and a temple to Hercules on the ancient acropolis of the city. The Acropolis was probably also the site of Biblical Amman, which was attacked by David, and where Uriah died on Davids orders (2 Sam. 11:16-17).

The Ancient theatre in Amman

The Temple of Hercules

Madaba
The city of Madaba was known in Biblical times (Nu. 21:30; Jos. 13:9.16; I Macc. 9:36), and in Roman times it was member of the Decapolis , a league of ten cities (Mat. 4:25; Mark 5:20). Yet today it is known mostly for its many Byzantine period mosaic floors, which were discovered in the course of the last centiry. Especially famous is the "Madaba Map", a highly detailed cartographic description of the Holy Land in the Sixth century CE. Other mosaics are an interesting mix of Christian and Pagan subjects.

General view of "Madaba map"

An Ancient street in Madaba

Mount nebo
"And Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jerico" (Deut. 34:1). The site of Ras Siyagha, a hilltop overlooking into Jericho valley, has been identified in the Byzantine period as Mount Nebo, the Place where Moses saw the Promised Land, but never crossed to enter it. Instead he died and was buried at Mount Nebo. Excavations at the site by Franciscan expeditions revealed a monastery from the Byzantine period, some of its floors decorated with mosaic floors.

General View from Mount Nebo to the west

Jaffa - Tel-Aviv
Jaffa is an ancient port city along the Mediterranean. From here Jonah sailed to Nineveh (Jonah 1:3), and through Jaffa's port timber was imported from Lebanon for the temple in Jerusalem (2 Chr. 5:15).
On the rocks of Jaffa, according the Greek Mythology, a local princess was saved by Perseus from the sea monster.
According to the New Testament at Jaffa Peter resurrected a dead girl (Acts 9:36-41), and while staying at the house of Simon the Tanner, he had the vision of the Beasts (Acts 10:5-16).
The city was inhabited continuously since Canaanite times, but in the late 19th century it was too small to accommodate the local population and all the Jewish immigrates.
In 1909 a few Jewish families founded a new site on the sand dunes NE of Jaffa, and named it "Tel-Aviv". The city developed rapidly and is today the biggest city in Israel.

The port of Jaffa

Modern Tel Aviv

Jerusalem
Located in the center of Israel, Jerusalem is among the holiest sites on earth, as it a religious center of the three great monotheistic religions Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Some three thousand years ago David declared the city as the capital of his united kingdom, and its temple was the religious center of the Israelites and Jewish people until 70 CE. During the first century CE Jesus of Nazareth visited that temple and was crucified nearby, and so the city was sanctified for Christians as well. In 638 CE the Muslim conquered the city, and sanctified the temple mount as the site from which Mohammad ascended to heaven. The Dome of the Rock marks this event to this day. The city was also under rule of the Crusaders, Turkish, and British powers, but today it is again under Jewish rule, as it was in Biblical times. The city offers a unique mix of a modern western city, an Arab-oriental feel in the eastern city, and the old city with its famous holy sites: The Dome of the Rock, The Western Wall, the holy sepulcher, the Garden Tomb, Gethsemane, the Via Dolorosa, Dormition, and more.

The Western wall and
Dome of the Rock

the The holy Sepulchre

Ashdod
Ashdod was known in Biblical times as a major Philistine city and was member of the Pentapolis, a league of five Philistine cities which included Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and Gath. The site was excavated in the 1960s by Moshe Dotham, which revealed various finds from Biblical times. Salvage excavations near the tell revealed recently also part of an Assyrian palace. Along the sea shore the Crusaders built a fortress, whose walls are visible to this day.

A Gate of the Crusader fortress at Ashdod.

Megiddo
Megiddo is a tell (mound) made of 26 layers, in a strategic location along the Via Maris which connects the Egypt with Mesopotamia. Since antiquity various battles took over possessing the site, the last taking place in the First World War.
Megiddo is also known for theological reasons. According to the Book of Revelations Armageddon (from Hebrew Har Megiddo, i.e. Mount Megiddo), will be the site of the final battle between the forces of light and the forces of darkness after the End of Days.

General view of Megiddo

The Stables of Megiddo

Caesarea Maritima
Half way between Tel-Aviv and Haifa, Caesarea Maritima is an ancient city port founded by Herod the Great in the first century BCE as a central trade and culture city. Later in the Roman and Byzantine period the city was the capital of the province, and it extended far beyond its original size. In the Byzantine period the city was also an important Christian center, and was famed for its library. The Crusaders re-fortified the city and made some use of the port. Until 1948 a small village of Bosnians was over the remains of the ancient metropolis. Ongoing archaeological excavations since the 1950s revealed some of the ancient city: In the Roman period the city was well planned with intersecting streets, adorned with various public buildings, and a gigantic mole created a spacious artificial harbor, the largest in the eastern Mediterranean in these days.
The city continued to flourish in the Byzantine period, as well as under the Muslims. The Crusaders re-fortified the city, whose remains are very impressive to this day.

Reconstruction of Roman Caesarea.

The Sunken harbor of Caesarea from the air.

Beth-Shean
Being on the junction of main roads along the Jordan valley, and with abundant springs around it, Beth-Shean is a site that has being inhabited continuously since Pre-Historic times. Thutmose III and Shishaq documented the conquest of Beth-Shean, and under the Egyptian a large administrative center was built on its top. The Bible recorded how the Philistines hanged the body of Saul on the walls of the city, but later Beth-Shean was under the rule of King David. During the Hellenistic period the city changed its name to Nyse-Scythopolis, an a local tradition developed that here Nyse, the maiden of Dionysus, was buried. During the Roman period the city extended into the valley north of the tell, and it was a member of the Decapolis, a league of ten cities (Mat. 4:25; Mark 5:20). Large scale excavations in the lower city since the 1980s revealed various parts of the ancient site: The main street (Cardo), the bath house complex, three shrines, a nymphaeum, a theatre, and an amphitheatre. Much of the city was destroyed by a devastating earthquake in 749 CE, yet it continued to be inhabited as a small village until modern times.

Beth-Sheans Roman theatre and main
street. In the back is the Biblical Tell.

plan of Roman Beth-shean.

Qumran
Located on an isolated hill near the Dead Sea, Qumran was a religious center of the Essenes, a Jewish sect from the Roman period. When the Romans marched into Judaea to suppress the Jewish rebellion of 66-70 CE, they also destroyed Qumran. Perhaps in anticipation of the Roman Forces, the local leaders of the site concealed the library of the sect in near by caves. Apparently they all perished in battle, as no one came to collect the scrolls later. Due to the hot and dry weather these scrolls have survived until modern times, and were revealed part by looters, and part by archaeologists. The scrolls are today exhibited at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. Qumran bears unique features such as many purifying facilities (Mikvaot), a large dinning room, and a cemetery where 1100 tombs were counted. Some scholars argue John the Baptist may have been a member of this community for a while.

Habakuk Commentary Scroll

Reconstruction of Qumran.

Ein Gedi
An oasis along the western side of the Dead Sea, inhabited since the Chalcolithic period. In the Biblical period a fortified site was created at Tel Goren. In the Roman and Byzantine periods a large Jewish village flourished north of the tell. In the 1970's the ancient synagogue of the village was revealed. Its mosaic floors included an inscription mentioning "the secret of the village". The Secret is perhaps the manufacturing process of the balsam perfume, which was very costly. Recent excavations around the synagogue by Y. Hirschfeld may have found traces of that industry.

Model of Ancient ein-Gedi

Mosaic floor of the synagogue

Masada
Perhaps the most famous archaeological site in Israel, Masada is an ancient fortified hilltop palace of majestic beauty, near the Dead Sea. Its remains include a complex of palaces erected by king Herod in the first century BCE, but the site is known mostly for the struggle between Jewish freedom fighters and the Romans in 73\74 CE. The battle ended with a mass suicide of the defenders, who favored death to Roman slavery. The cry for Jewish freedom in Masada became a symbol for the modern Zionism.
Masada was excavated mostly in the 1960s by the famed archaeologist, Prof. Y. Yadin, who revealed parts of the Herodian palaces and the remains of the battle in 73\74 CE. Today Masada is a popular tourist site, accessible both by hiking up the serpent path or riding a cable car. Recently UN declared Masada as member of World Heritage Sties.

Masada from the Air

The Roman ramp

Hebron
An ancient site, 30 km south of Jerusalem, inhabited continuously since the Canaanite periods. The most famous historic site in Hebron is the cave of the Patriarchs, where supposedly the Biblical Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) and Matriarchs (Sarah, Rebekah and Leah)are buried. An edifice was constructed over the tomb site in the Roman period, and it is venerated to this day by Jews, Christians, and Muslims.
The name of the site in Hebrew is Maarat Hamachpela, i.e. The double cave. Survey of the cave done By M. Dayan after the Six Days War (1967) revealed that indeed there is a double cave underground.

The cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron

Wadi Rum
Wadi Rum is a valley cut into the sandstone and granite rock in southwest Jordan. The site has been inhabited by many human cultures since prehistoric times, some leaving their mark in the form of rock paintings, graffiti, and temples. In 1917-1918 T.E. Lawrenece based his operations in Wadi Rum during the Arab Revolt.
The area is now also one of Jordan's important tourist destinations, and attracts an increasing number of foreign tourists.

Panoramic view of Wadi Rum

Petra
Inhabited since prehistoric times, the caravan-city of Petra is situated along important ancient trade routes between Arabia, Egypt and Syria-Phoenicia. The city is half-built, half-carved into the rock, and is surrounded by rugged mountains. The location of Petra was forgotten in the Middle Ages, and it was re-discovered by Buckhardt in 1812, after disguising himself as an Muslim trader. Today Petra is a popular tourist site, and since 1985 it has been declared by UN as a World Heritage Site.

The gate at petra

The treasury

Machaerus
Machaerus is an ancient fortified hilltop palace located in Jordan, on the eastern side of the Dead Sea. It was originally built by the Jewish Hasmonean kings in the 2nd century BCE. During the reign Herod Antipas (4 BCE-39 CE), John the Baptist was imprisoned and beheaded in Machaerus. In 72 CE Romans laid siege against the site, which was taken by Jewish rebels. The Jewish rebels capitulated before the Roman attack had begun, and so were allowed to leave, but the fortress was torn down by the Romans. The site was abandoned, but the nearby Arab village of Mukawir preserved the name of the site over the centuries. Machaerus was rediscovered by Seetzen in 1807, and since 1968 a few archaeeological expeditions conducted excavations at the site.

General view of Machaerus

Machaerus from the air