L2O2

So we’ve been out and about the countryside visiting tidbits of the past. First up is Caesarea.

Caesarea is an Israeli national park and is situated right on the Mediterranean coast, about half way between Haifa and Tel Aviv. It first started out as a Phoenician settlement named Straton’s Tower. From there the Romans wrestled control from the Hasmonean kingdom in 30 BC and awarded it to Herod, of Biblical fame. Herod had big plans for this tiny little port. Over a 12 year period he turned it into a large port city, complete with a man made harbor big enough to hold 100 ships, built up the town, built baths, water was provided via a huge aquaduct, sanitation facilities, palaces, temples, amphitheatre (still used to this day) and a hippodrome. And he changed the name to Caesarea in honour of his patron Octavian Augustas Caesar. It was a rather spiffy place to live, if you were Roman or had connections. Caesarea flourished during the Byzantine period, but during the Arab conquest of 640 fell into disrepair and settled back into a small rather insignificant village. A revival of sea trade in the 9th century breathed new life into this little port. So much so that when the crusaders arrived they rebuilt and fortified the town. It was re-taken by Mamelukes (Arabs again) in 1265 and destroyed! What we see today can only provide a glimpse of what this city must have looked like!

Next up will be Yahi’am Fortress!