The site contains remnants of the harbor used both by the Romans and the
Crusaders. Many areas are
being excavated and the place oozes layers of history. There is much to see at Caesarea and the setting is beguiling.
The ruins are extensive and will take over an hour to tour. For
information on visiting see the official
National Park website .
Masada is the hilltop fortification famous for the dramatic stand by
a group of approximately one-thousand Jewish patriots
against the Roman army in the 1st century AD. After a long and violent siege
by the Romans, the Jewish force choose mass suicide, rather than face defeat and continued subjugation.
location of Masada at the top of a plateau is dramatic. The site was
originally built as a palace complex by Herod the Great late in the 1st
century (BC), but was later taken by a Jewish group opposed to Roman rule. In addition
to the ruins of Masada, the Roman siege works still exist and are considered
one of the best examples of this type of structure still existing. There are
trails that can take you to the top (the area of greatest interest) or you
can take a cable car from the Dead Sea Approach. See the official
National Park Website for more details on visiting.
Beit Shean (Bet Sh'ean) located in the northern Jordan valley is believed to
have been founded five thousand years ago and successively ruled the the
Egyptians, Israelites, Greeks, Roman, Byzantines and Arabs. In the middle of
the 8th century it was destroyed by a massive earthquake and subsequently
abandoned. It is one of the most researched of the archeological sites in
Israel and other interesting digs are close by. It is a stunning sight
with many columns, walls, foundation and a well-preserved amphitheater.
More information on Beit Shean can be found at its
South of Jerusalem and east of Bethlehem, you will find Herodium, which was
built by Herod the Great around 25 BC
as a kingly palace and a defensive fortress, inside what appears to be a planated, cone-shaped
mountain. The artificial "mountain-top"" was purpose built,
as it is actually the walls surrounding the fortress. The walls are
over seven stories tall and incredibly thick. In addition to the palace, the site includes Herod’s tomb.
See the website of the
Israel Nature and Parks Authority for more information on this
interesting and historically important location.
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