Into the Breach! (Part 2 of 3)

After its destruction in AD 67, the city of Gamla, once capital of the Golan, lay in ruin for 1,900 years.

Then, in 1968, it was rediscovered in a study of nature reserves (inside the park is an incredible reserve where you can observe birds, a waterfall, etc). So much here confirms that this is the real Gamla—the description of the city matches that of Josephus', plus the discovery of Roman weapons, armor, arrowheads, ballista balls, iron nails, and even coins.

Wow!

In the last blog, I only gave you the overview of Gamla. So now we're going on an up-close-and-personal tour! Are you ready?

Into the breach!

This is it—the literal breach of the wall. This is where the Romans first tried to get in and the soldiers got stuck in the switchback design of the city! WOW!

The ancient synagogue, built early in the first century AD, during the time of the 2nd Temple. It's actually one of the oldest synagogues ever discovered in Israel!

The mikveh

Remains from the structures dating to the 1st century BC (Hasmonean period):

The view from the partially rebuilt tower (because its collapsed is what facilitated the entrance into an destruction of the city, it was rebuilt to give visitors an idea of what it was like). 

The cliff where everyone jumped:

One thing that is interesting though... this is definitely Gamla. But no piles of bones or remains of the 9,000 Jewish people who died have been found. So... what happened to them? Did the Romans care enough to bury them in a mass grave? Did the birds (so well-known in this preserve) carry them off? 

Their remains remain yet to be found.

What do you think about the story and site of Gamla? Please let me know in the comments below!