Caesarea Maritima

• Caesarea Maritima, also known as Caesarea Palaestina, was a port city located on the coast of Israel, between Tel Aviv and Haifa.
• It was named after Augustus and became the administrative capital of the Province of Judaea from 6 CE onwards.  After the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE it became the new capital.

History

• It was located a few miles south from the ancient city of Dor, where the coastal road, the Via Maris turned inland towards Damascus.
• The Harbour
  • The City and Sebastos Harbour were built by Herod the Great between 25-13 BCE.
  • As there was no natural harbour, Sebastos Harbour was constructed into the sea by means of two huge moles built using Roman Concrete. It was the largest Sea Harbour in the Eastern Mediterranean. This would have made it big enough to shelter the entire Alexandrian Grain Fleet.
• Pontius Pilate
  • Herod built a Palace overlooking the sea. This became the residence of the Roman Procurators and Governors of Judaea.
  • The most famous Procurator was Pontius Pilate the Governor who acted as Judge during the Trial of Jesus of Nazareth. A stone, known as the Pilate Stone, confirming his name was excavated in Caesarea in 1961 CE.
• Paul the Apostle
  • Akso known as Saul of Tarsus, was later kept a prisoner in Caesarea Maritima for two years before being sent to Rome.
• Vespasian
  • In 67 CE Vespasian used Caesarea Maritima as his Operational Base when he brought four Legions to fight in the First Jewish-Roman War (66-73 CE).
• Theological School
  • Caesarea became a Christian centre. The Theological School of Caesarea had an ecclesiastical library with 30,000 Books, which survived the Diocletianic Persecution.
• Legions based at Caesarea Maritima
  • Legio X Fretensis
    • They were based here from 67-68 CE during the First Jewish-Roman War.
  • Legio V Macedonica
    • They were also based here during the First Jewish-Roman War (67-70 CE)
  • Legio VI Ferrata
    • They were based here during Bar Kokhba's Revolt (132-135 CE) and stayed on from 135-215 CE, although the actual Legionary Base was further north.

The Museum and Roman Sites

• Caesaria National Park
  • The Underwater Museum allows divers with waterproof maps to explore the underwater Harbour.
  • Roman Temple
  • Roman Theatre
  • Roman Hippodrome
    • Herod the Great installed a red granite Egyptian Obelisk weighing 100 tons and standing 40 feet high. Today, it has been placed on the same location.
  • Roman double aqueduct
    • connecting from Mount Carmel.
  • Roman Wall and Moat.

Roman Roads

• Via Maris
  • Damascus–Megiddo Pass–Dor-Caesarea Maritima-Gaza-Al Qantarah, Egypt

Caesarea National Park