Caesarea: Where Paul appealed to Caesar

The first time I went to Caesarea (in 2017), we walked thru the theater and then on the remains of Herod’s Palace.

This time, I got to explore the whole city- the Roman and Crusader parts, and everything in between. From the ancient synagogue to the hippodrome, Pilot’s basement, and the theater once again, it was a day to remember!

It took Herod the Great 9 years to construct Caesarea on the remains of the ancient Phoenician town of Strato's Tower. The town had Roman-style buildings, a large aqueduct stretching 16 miles, an artificial harbor of concrete blocks, a large theater that could seat 4,000, and a hippodrome for 30,000.

the lower section of Herod's summer home- indoor pool!

Herod had a palace here (this Caesarea was better known as 'Caesarea Maritime') and Pilot had a residence as well. After Jesus' ascension back into heaven, the Early Church thrived here after the conversation of Cornelius and his family. Paul was actually imprisoned here for 2 years and testified before Agrippa, Felix, and Festus, before being sent to Rome. Caesarea fell in 66AD to the Romans, and was also a significant during the Bar Kochba Revolt of 132-135 AD. Rabbi Akiba and 9 others were martyred here, something that is observed by the Jews on Yom Kippur.

Then, Caesarea became the capital of Syrio-Palestina, the name given to Israel when its name was taken by the Emperior Hadrian after the revolt in 135 (Palestine means "Philistine", who were a sea-faring people from somewhere else). Britannica says the city declined under the Byzantine and Arab rule, then was built back up by the Crusaders, then was razed to the ground by the Mamluks in 1265.

Wow!!!

And, this is one of those places where it is IMPOSSIBLE to see it all in 1 trip. I'll definitely need to go back and explore more! But here are some of the sites that made me gasp:

1. Ancient Roman Roads- with ORIGINAL FLOORS!!!!!!!!!!!!! I CAN'T EVEN!!!!!

2. The lowest level of Pilot's Palace (his cellar), as well as some storage facilities:

3. The view from the Byzantine-era synagogue and more of the harbor: 

What an incredible place! There's so much more to learn and explore. Next time I'll have to go with a guide (for the whole day)!

Caesarea

Caesarea and others like it (like Caesarea Philippi where Peter proclaimed Jesus to be the Messiah in Matthew 16) was built by Herod for retired Roman soldiers as part of his agreement with Rome. The port included a theater (see last post) and a hippodrome.

At the time, it was the biggest port in the Mediterranean Sea. Herod built a summer palace here. Today, you can stroll the foundations of that very palace (pics above and below).

The Roman centurion from Acts 10:24-48, Cornelius, lived here.

Pontius Pilate also stayed here. You can see the 'basement' entrance to what would have been his palace in the big hole on the upper right.