Guess what! We have made it to day 6 of the Israel/Egypt tour! Wow, doing the tour was a whirlwind but telling the story is much slower. Today, Thursday 11 November 2010 we are on our way south to Jerusalem. We've been to the northern border of Israel at Tel Dan, peered into Syria and Lebanon and this morning it's off to the port town of Caesarea on the Mediterranean Sea. Oh, I could spend a lot of time at the Mediterranean Sea, it is cool and of course, it too has lots of history!
We'll start off at the amphitheater. Guess who built this "Roman Theater"? Did you say Herod the Great? Give your self a hero biscuit because that is right!!!
This theater is a spectacular relic of the past and a modern performing venue where concerts are frequently held.
The theater has a seating capacity of 3500. According to Josephus, this is where the death of Herod Agrippa occurred, as recounted in Acts 12.
The theater was covered with a skin covering (vellum) and visitors probably brought cushions to soften the stone seats. Now, why I didn't take a seat and take a picture of the Mediterranean Sea I'll never know! That would have been a good idea! Ummm
Caesarea, the city that Herod the Great built in 12 years. It is located on the shore in the center of Israel. This was the Roman capital of the province of Judea at the time of Jesus. It's population was half gentile and half Jewish, often causing disputes amoung the people.
Herod built a hippodrome near his palace. "Hippos" - horse and "Dromos" - race or course. This is a course for horse racing and chariot racing. You can see the course in the center of the picture, the seating is to the right and could accomodate 10,000 people in 12 rows. Herod's palace of off to the left just outside the picture.
This is the remains of the palace, over looking the sea of course!! Herod always had the best spots!
Overlooking the Mediterranean from the remains of the palace. Yup, Herod had a great spot. I wonder how much time he spent here, as he had palaces all over Israel. I would have been here alot! The following picture is what you would see if you looked over the railing to my right, or the left of the picture.
This is what's left of Herod's palace that jutted out into the sea. He had an olympic size pool filled with fresh water. Oh I'm sure he had the best and biggest of all kinds of things that we can't even imagine.
A replica of a stone tablet that was found near the amphitheater. It has an inscription of the name of Pontius Pilate and dedicated to Tiberius Caesar. It is important evidence of the existence of Pontius in Caesarea.
A view of the harbor that Herod built. The harbor as built using materials that would allow the concrete to harden underwater. The forty acre harbor would accomodate 300 ships. Interesting to note that Caesarea was the place of the conversion of the Roman Cornelius, the first non-jew to believe in Jesus, by Simon Peter.
A close up of the harbor. Question! Why did Herod name this city Caesarea? He dedicated this city to Caesar Augustus. He was making sure the guys who put him in power kept him in power. Major flattery don't you think? (Ok if you knew that before I told you, give yourself another hero cookie!)
What does one need at large public venues? Ok, did you guess restroom facilities? You're right!!
So, this is the fun stuff. Caesarea is important in Christian history. The above plaque refers to the events that took place with the Apostle Paul. He was accused of causing a riot and sent to Caesarea to stand trial before the govenor. As a Roman citizen Paul requested to be heard by the Emperor and so he sailed to Rome from Caesarea harbor. There (Rome) he was tried and executed after several years.
This would be part of the dock that Paul used to board his ship. Paul also sailed from here for some of his missionary work before he had to stand trial.
These are the actual steps Paul would have used to board his ship to his missionary sites and to sail to Rome for his trial. Thought I would let Mike be the model for this one. Thanks Mike!!
This is part of what is left of a fresh water aqueduct that was built to bring water from springs at the base of Mt Carmel nearly 10 miles away to Caesarea.
So that the water would flow by the pull of gravity the aqueduct was built on arches and the gradient was carefully measured.
View of the aqueduct from the Sea side. This is a popular beach near the city of Caesarea. I sure would have liked to spend more time here. I could have played in the Mediterranean Sea all day.
We'll start off at the amphitheater. Guess who built this "Roman Theater"? Did you say Herod the Great? Give your self a hero biscuit because that is right!!!
This is the back side of the theater.
A view of the archway as I'm walking in. (Gotta take a picure of something don't I?)
This theater is a spectacular relic of the past and a modern performing venue where concerts are frequently held.
The theater has a seating capacity of 3500. According to Josephus, this is where the death of Herod Agrippa occurred, as recounted in Acts 12.
The theater was covered with a skin covering (vellum) and visitors probably brought cushions to soften the stone seats. Now, why I didn't take a seat and take a picture of the Mediterranean Sea I'll never know! That would have been a good idea! Ummm
Caesarea, the city that Herod the Great built in 12 years. It is located on the shore in the center of Israel. This was the Roman capital of the province of Judea at the time of Jesus. It's population was half gentile and half Jewish, often causing disputes amoung the people.
Herod built a hippodrome near his palace. "Hippos" - horse and "Dromos" - race or course. This is a course for horse racing and chariot racing. You can see the course in the center of the picture, the seating is to the right and could accomodate 10,000 people in 12 rows. Herod's palace of off to the left just outside the picture.
This is the remains of the palace, over looking the sea of course!! Herod always had the best spots!
Another view of the palace. I sure thought this was a cool place.
Overlooking the Mediterranean from the remains of the palace. Yup, Herod had a great spot. I wonder how much time he spent here, as he had palaces all over Israel. I would have been here alot! The following picture is what you would see if you looked over the railing to my right, or the left of the picture.
This is what's left of Herod's palace that jutted out into the sea. He had an olympic size pool filled with fresh water. Oh I'm sure he had the best and biggest of all kinds of things that we can't even imagine.
A replica of a stone tablet that was found near the amphitheater. It has an inscription of the name of Pontius Pilate and dedicated to Tiberius Caesar. It is important evidence of the existence of Pontius in Caesarea.
Just info on the stone tablet.
A view of the harbor that Herod built. The harbor as built using materials that would allow the concrete to harden underwater. The forty acre harbor would accomodate 300 ships. Interesting to note that Caesarea was the place of the conversion of the Roman Cornelius, the first non-jew to believe in Jesus, by Simon Peter.
A close up of the harbor. Question! Why did Herod name this city Caesarea? He dedicated this city to Caesar Augustus. He was making sure the guys who put him in power kept him in power. Major flattery don't you think? (Ok if you knew that before I told you, give yourself another hero cookie!)
These next 3 pictures are for fun. Can you figure out what John Lund is sitting on?
Any idea yet?
What does one need at large public venues? Ok, did you guess restroom facilities? You're right!!
So, this is the fun stuff. Caesarea is important in Christian history. The above plaque refers to the events that took place with the Apostle Paul. He was accused of causing a riot and sent to Caesarea to stand trial before the govenor. As a Roman citizen Paul requested to be heard by the Emperor and so he sailed to Rome from Caesarea harbor. There (Rome) he was tried and executed after several years.
This would be part of the dock that Paul used to board his ship. Paul also sailed from here for some of his missionary work before he had to stand trial.
These are the actual steps Paul would have used to board his ship to his missionary sites and to sail to Rome for his trial. Thought I would let Mike be the model for this one. Thanks Mike!!
This is part of what is left of a fresh water aqueduct that was built to bring water from springs at the base of Mt Carmel nearly 10 miles away to Caesarea.
So that the water would flow by the pull of gravity the aqueduct was built on arches and the gradient was carefully measured.
Dixie and Kelly. (What else is there to say?)
View of the aqueduct from the Sea side. This is a popular beach near the city of Caesarea. I sure would have liked to spend more time here. I could have played in the Mediterranean Sea all day.
So, we take a few minutes to enjoy the sea before loading up and driving to Jerusalem. It's been a great trip so far, but some really neat things are yet to come. I'm so lucky to have had this chance. I didn't need to come here to know that Jesus is the Christ, but being here has made the Old and New Testament more real, more than stories in an old book.
I went to an America concert in an amphitheater like that in Hawaii once. I don't remember it feeling too uncomfortable though. But that was a very long time ago!!
ReplyDeleteHerod the Great had great patience! 12 years to build a city? Zowee!
A potty out in the open?
PS....no cookies for me. I didn't know any of this. Well, except for the question about Brother Lund.
Did you steal my shirt?
ReplyDeletePotty in public? ewe!
They are hero bisquits that Dixie hands out Lou Lou, not cookies.
Wow, what a tour. You saved me all that airfare. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteMmm looking at this today made me feel more cold. I think I could spend at least a month in this place. Then visit it often.
ReplyDeleteI would like to visit there, too. It is cool to see their structures, and even though they are different from modern structures, they are well-thought out and made to last.
ReplyDelete