CaesareaCaesareaRoman City built Roman City built

by Herod the Great in 22 BCE. Every by Herod the Great in 22 BCE. Every five years the city hosted sports five years the city hosted sports

competitions, gladiator games and competitions, gladiator games and theatrical productionstheatrical productions

Amphitheatre and Pontius PilateAmphitheatre and Pontius Pilate

A View of the A View of the Amphitheatre Amphitheatre which was twice as which was twice as high in Roman high in Roman times.times.

Pontius Pilate was Pontius Pilate was in power during the in power during the trial of Jesus.trial of Jesus.

Herod’s PalaceHerod’s Palace The Palace was built in The Palace was built in

what is now under the what is now under the sea in 28 BCE. sea in 28 BCE. Josephus called this Josephus called this “a most magnificent “a most magnificent palace.” The pool that palace.” The pool that was in the center of was in the center of the place was Olympic the place was Olympic sized and filled with sized and filled with fresh water. St. Paul fresh water. St. Paul may have been may have been imprisoned on the imprisoned on the grounds.grounds.

Marble ColumnsMarble Columns

These are the actual These are the actual marble columns marble columns imported from Rome imported from Rome and found on this site. and found on this site. It will take hundreds of It will take hundreds of years to unearth all of years to unearth all of Caesarea which is Caesarea which is abut ten feet down abut ten feet down from the present from the present ground height.ground height.

Caesarea from outside the Caesarea from outside the archaeological ruinsarchaeological ruins

You are seeing an You are seeing an overview of the city overview of the city which Herod started to which Herod started to build in 22 BCE. The build in 22 BCE. The city included city included aqueducts, aqueducts, storerooms, baths, an storerooms, baths, an amphitheatre, and amphitheatre, and temples to Rome and temples to Rome and Augustus. What you Augustus. What you see here are the ruins see here are the ruins of an entire Roman of an entire Roman city. city.

MosaicsMosaics

Mosaics uncovered Mosaics uncovered inside the inside the amphitheatre. The amphitheatre. The archaeologists are archaeologists are also uncovering also uncovering mosaic floors with mosaic floors with intricate designs. intricate designs. Just think this was Just think this was all how many years all how many years ago?ago?

Aqueducts, baths and toiletsAqueducts, baths and toilets

These are These are remnants of the remnants of the baths. The Romans baths. The Romans had an intricate had an intricate system to provide system to provide hot and cold baths hot and cold baths and stone toilets and stone toilets that had irrigation that had irrigation to take care of the to take care of the waste.waste.

Stone tombStone tomb No remains are found No remains are found

inside but much can inside but much can be discovered from be discovered from burial chambers and burial chambers and from designs. The from designs. The Romans converted to Romans converted to Christianity and the Christianity and the period after the period after the Roman one is called Roman one is called the Byzantine period the Byzantine period because the Roman because the Roman Emperor ruled from Emperor ruled from Byzantium . This Byzantium . This tomb, however, seems tomb, however, seems to be pagan. Why?to be pagan. Why?

The AmphitheatreThe Amphitheatre

The seats actually The seats actually went up much went up much higher than you higher than you are seeing. All are seeing. All games would occur games would occur here. Can you here. Can you name some?name some?

Roman BureaucracyRoman Bureaucracy

Romans were very Romans were very organized and the city organized and the city had many buildings to had many buildings to take care of things like take care of things like taxes, business, taxes, business, health, entertainment. health, entertainment. What you are seeing What you are seeing here are the walls of here are the walls of those former offices. those former offices. Notice that all face the Notice that all face the Mediterranean.Mediterranean.