Where is Caesarea located? City of Caesarea, Israel - “The beautiful shore of Caesarea in Palestine.” Diving center "Ancient Caesarea"

The Israelis are proud of this amphitheater, because it is the largest ancient Roman amphitheater in Israel. Palestine was on the periphery of the Roman Empire, and the Romans did not build large cities here. As a result, only three amphitheaters remain in Israel. The remaining two in the cities of Scythopolis and Eloutheropolis are much smaller than the amphitheater in Caesarea.

But by world standards, the local theater is small - only 4,000 spectators, which cannot be compared with those in Italy or Tunisia. Even in Turkey, the amphitheater is twice as large, although it is considered small.

Of all the ancient buildings in Caesarea, it is the amphitheater that is the best preserved, and it makes the most vivid impression on tourists.

Amphitheaters almost always stand up to time better than other buildings, since they were preferred to be built on hillsides; there is simply nothing to collapse here. However, there are exceptions, for example, in Italy, where the theater was made of wood. Amphitheaters were used for theatrical performances, political debates, executions and gladiatorial fights.

Now this amphitheater is actively used for concerts. This is a very prestigious concert venue, and tickets here are not cheap.

What to see - hippodrome

This is the most valuable building for tourists. To see a real Roman hippodrome, and in such good condition, is a huge success.

Many ancient amphitheaters have survived, but only a few hippodromes. The largest hippodrome, the Roman Circus Maximus, has not survived at all. The second largest is the Constantinople Hippodrome in Istanbul, and only a few buildings remain from it. The Hippodrome of Caesarea is one of the largest that has survived to this day.

The main entertainment at the hippodromes of the Roman Empire was chariot racing. The chariots had to go 7 laps. There were rarely races when all the drivers survived to the finish line.

Performances at the hippodrome were not limited to chariot and horse races. Gladiator fights, executions of criminals, baiting of animals and baiting of people with animals were held here. At the hippodrome in Caesarea, tunnels and arches have been preserved for bringing criminals and animals into the arena; pay attention to them.

Local Israeli guides love to talk about bullying. They just keep saying: “So many Jews were executed here, so many Jews were executed there.” And they also love to criticize the ancient Roman culture and religion, extolling Judaism. Of course, we should not forget the victims of tyranny - this is indisputable. But tourists still come to see the ancient city, and not to listen to who was executed and where.

Caesarea is an ancient city located on the Mediterranean coast of modern Israel.

City name

The city was named Caesarea by the king of Judea in honor of the Roman emperor (Caesar) Octavian Augustus, who donated to him the lands previously lost by the Jews.

To distinguish Herod's Caesarea from other cities that bore the same name and were built in the same years, the outside city was called Caesarea Maritime, and after the final loss of Judea the remnants of its sovereignty and its transformation into Palestine, another name came into use - Caesarea Palestine).

In the Russian tradition, the names Caesarea and Caesarea Palestine were used as the name of the city, although in some sources you can also find the name Caesarea Stratonian (from the name of the Phoenician settlement Strato's Tower located on the site of the city).

City `s history

The history of Caesarea dates back to the end of the period of Persian rule (mid-3rd century BC), when the Phoenicians founded a small settlement near the harbor, which they called Strato's Tower.

In 96 BC. e. Caesarea was captured by the king of Judea and thereby turned into a Jewish settlement. After the conquest of Judea by the Roman general Pompey in 63 BC. e. the fortress of Straton again becomes a non-Jewish settlement.

In 31 BC. e. Roman Emperor Augustus transferred the settlement to the Jewish king Herod, who by 10 BC. e. completely rebuilt it, turning it into a large port city.

The city, named Caesarea by Herod the Great in honor of Caesar Augustus, became the administrative center of the Roman prosecutor's office in Judea, and was also the main base of the Roman legions. During the 1st century. Most of the inhabitants were Syrian Greeks. There were also many wealthy Jews living in the city. From here the arrested Apostle Paul was sent to Rome. Caesarea became a major port and is mentioned frequently in the New Testament.

In the 4th century. the father of church history, . During the Crusades, Caesarea played an important role as one of the strongholds of the country, but from the 13th century. its fall began, and now only ruins remain.

In 1940, Kibbutz Sdot Yam was founded in the southern part of the ruins of Caesarea, and in 1977, north of ancient city The modern Israeli village of Caesarea, which is part of the regional council of Hof HaCarmel, was founded.

Chronology

III century BC e. - 96 BC e. - settlement Strato's Tower (first mention - in the papyrus of Zeno (259 BC)).
96 BC e. - joining the Jewish.
end of the 1st century BC e. - construction of the city of Caesarea by King Herod I of Judea.
6-639 - .
639 - conquest of the city by Muslim Arabs, loss of the city's political and economic status.
1101 - conquest of the city by the crusaders.
1259 - the crusaders strengthened the city walls.
1265 - conquest and complete destruction of the city led by the Egyptian Sultan Baybars I.
beginning of the 19th century - 1948 - the existence of an agricultural and fishing settlement of Muslim Bosnians on the site of Caesarea under the patronage of the authorities.
1940 - Kibbutz Sdot Yam is founded in the southern part of the ruins of Caesarea.

Caesarea National Park

On the territory of the ancient city today there is National Park-reserve Caesarea, where extensive and active archaeological excavations are still being carried out.

Due to sea level changes, most of them are produced underwater (Subsea archaeological park).

A Roman amphitheater was excavated, which is still in use today, a city wall, a hippodrome, a paved square with giant statues, the remains of a synagogue and churches, as well as many manuscripts in which the first mentions of it were found, including a slab with a dedicatory inscription from Pilate to Emperor Tiberius.

The oldest theater discovered in Israel, the ruins of the magnificent “Palace on the Reef”, the amphitheater of King Herod (Itztadion), sections of city streets from the Roman and Byzantine periods, a complex of public baths from the Byzantine period with magnificent decoration, a large artificial port of the Hellenic era and a fortified city have been preserved -port of the Arab period, ruins temple complex, which mixed buildings from the Roman, Byzantine, Arab and Crusader periods.

Also interesting are the Square of Statues from the Roman period, the ruins of a synagogue from the Byzantine period, the remains of a Roman fortress wall, a hippodrome (2nd century AD) and fragments of aqueducts.

Many ancient Roman cities are known under the name Caesarea. These are Caesarea Palestine, Caesarea Cappadocia, Caesarea Mauritanian, Caesarea Lebanese, Caesarea Philippi, Neokesarea. The most important from a historical and tourist point of view is Caesarea Palestine, located in Israel, on the shore Mediterranean Sea.

On its ruins stands a modern Israeli city- Caesarea. The history of Caesarea dates back to the mid-4th century BC, and there are many preserved attractions here. While relaxing here, you can visit a large number of interesting places.

Show "Journey Through Time"

The National Park of Ancient Caesarea preserves almost 2,500 years of history. Especially for travelers coming to Caesarea in search of new adventures, a project called “Journey Through Time” was created in the Caesarea National Park. This is a fascinating show where in just ten minutes you can trace the history of the city’s development from its beginnings to the present day.

You can continue virtual trip, and visitors will see the city buildings of those times on a huge screen, walk along the streets of the city, and even visit houses or make purchases at the market. All this will remain in the memory of travelers for many years. Then, after virtual tour, tourists go on a real tour, where even more vivid impressions of what they see await them.

In the national park you can not only study the history of the city well, but also relax and have fun. On the beach, tourists are offered all kinds of aquatic species sports, games. There are many bars and restaurants nearby.

The majestic city of Caesarea in ancient times amazed its contemporaries with the same grandeur of its buildings. Only the ruins of the ancient city have survived to this day, but they also impress with their beauty. In the national park, where archaeological excavations have been carried out for many years, you can see the ruins of a palace on a reef.

There was a swimming pool in the western part of the palace. Some researchers believe that it was used as a fish market, others claim that it was used by Roman procurators. The palace dates back to the Roman and Byzantine periods.

While in the Reef Palace, you can observe the beauty of the city for a long time. Looking around, you are amazed at the size and grandeur of Kesari. The combination of ancient buildings with the blue of the sea creates unique, picturesque views. Kesari National Park preserves the values of nature, landscape and cultural heritage. Future generations will have something to be proud of. The National Park of Ancient Caesarea preserves almost 2500 years of history.

A distinctive feature of Roman cities was the presence of a Roman theater. In Caesarea, the Roman Theater, built during the time of Herod, is well preserved. In the Middle East, it became the very first of the Roman theaters. It has been completely restored and is now used for concerts by Israeli and foreign artists.

Every year various festivals are held here, such as the international opera. It holds about 4000 spectators. A visit to the Roman Theater in Caesarea leaves a wonderful impression and fascinates tourists. The most interesting thing is that the building is more than two thousand years old, and being there, you can feel the connection of times - from antiquity to the present day.

An interesting attraction for tourists is the Roman hippodrome, which has been preserved in good condition in Caesarea. Being in it takes every tourist’s breath away, and images of Roman chariots appear before their eyes. Why was a hippodrome needed in ancient times? It was the hippodrome that was considered the main entertainment of the Romans. Chariot races were held here, horse races were held here, and also, no less spectacular, gladiator fights. In addition to all this, executions of criminals were carried out at the Caesarea hippodrome.

Amazing structures from ancient times can be seen in Kesari. Among them are Roman baths. Public baths were located on a huge area.

Their remains have survived to this day; some elements are well preserved. Judging by them, the Caesari baths were in no way inferior to the best Roman models. All this is thanks to the activities of the great King Herod.

The era of the Crusades began in the 11th century. Initially these were military campaigns of Christians against Muslims. The knights moved towards Jerusalem and Palestine to “liberate” these lands from people of other faiths.

Then the campaigns acquired not only a “liberation”, but also an “aggressive” character, when the knights tried to seize many European lands, the lands of the East. As for Israel, the crusaders came here several times, to Jerusalem and Caesarea. And the reason was the decision of the Catholic Church to return Christian shrines and recapture them from Muslims.

The campaigns of the Crusaders were reflected not only in a change in the worldview of the population, a change in religion, but also in the architecture of the conquered cities. In Caesarea, the crusaders immediately began to change the appearance of the entire city. The Crusader Fortress was built.

The “Sculpture Garden” can be called a particularly interesting place. It is located next to the exit from the Crusader gate. The second name is “Street of Statues”. There are headless statues here. The statues are snow-white and made of marble. And they were installed on the remains of the mosaic floor.

Every city with access to the sea has sea port. But it is the seaport of Caesarea on the Mediterranean coast that amazes with its beauty and grandeur. And, although it was built more than two thousand years ago, it is still worthy of attention.

Previously, the port served as a stopping place for merchant ships, served as the economic and political center of the entire country, and brought huge revenues to the state treasury. Today the port is the most visited archaeological site in Israel. Along the port pier you can find souvenir shops and restaurants.

Caesarea is located on the shores of the Mediterranean harbor, and this harbor is artificially created. There were no sources of fresh water suitable for drinking in the city.

Fresh water appeared there thanks to the powerful King Herod. On his order, an aqueduct was built - a special canal through which water began to flow into Caesarea. For almost a hundred years, this aqueduct supplied water to the city, and then another one was built. The appearance of fresh water in Caesarea contributed to further development the city, the construction of baths and sewers was underway, all this led to the expansion of the city's territory.

Diving center "Ancient Caesarea"

As you know, the port of Caesarea, built by King Herod, went under water. Its ancient ruins are located in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. There is an underwater archaeological park, the only one in the world.

This park has four fascinating routes that introduce tourists to the wonders of Roman engineering. After all, the first artificial port in history first appeared in Caesarea, and for its time the port was technically perfect.

The diving center welcomes both experienced and beginner divers, and also provides them with a full range of services. Such as: accompanied diving, group diving, introductory diving, night diving, you can order snorkeling, both solo and accompanied, order insurance, carry out equipment repairs, rent equipment. Here you can take various courses that differ in topic, age limit and duration. The experience gained in the ancient port of Caesarea cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

There are many interesting places in Caesarea, one of them is the Ralli museum. Its founder is Harry Recanti, who devoted his life to collecting art, he was the owner of a large bank, and with his earnings he opened four private museums, one of which is located in Caesarea.

The unique feature of this museum is that the entrance to it is free, everyone can visit it, the founder of the museum gives pleasure to visitors who are interested in art, because absolutely free entries going to museums is a huge rarity.

In the museum buildings you can find collections of Latin American art, amazing paintings, sculptures by Salvador Dali and other famous artists and sculptors. On the lower floor there is a department dedicated to archeology. The neighboring building is called Rally 2. At the entrance to it, travelers are greeted by a fountain named after Christopher Columbus, and around it are sculptures of famous Jews. All three floors of the building are filled with superb paintings that are definitely worth a look.

For 2000 years, the name of Pontius Pilate has been known to all Christians. The fifth procurator of Judea, who lived in Caesarea, his reign was a time of bloodshed and cruel reprisals. And one of the most severe was the trial of Jesus Christ.

The Jewish high priests could not carry out the sentence without the confirmation of Pontius Pilate, and he himself was displeased at being interfered with in such a matter. According to the New Testament, Pilate refused to put Jesus to death, but he was forced to do so. After this, according to many hypotheses, Pilate committed suicide.

For many hundreds of years, people have debated both the existence of Christ and Pontius Pilate, and all biblical characters. And in 1961, in Caesarea, archaeologists discovered a marble slab and an inscription on it. This became unique evidence of the real existence of the procurator who carried out the trial of Jesus. Now you can see a copy stone there, but the original was sent to Jerusalem.

At the entrance to Caesarea from the south, is the Israel International Golf Club. It was founded by Baron de Rothschild in 1960.

On this moment it is one of the most prestigious golf clubs in the world. And the club’s proximity to the Mediterranean coast and National Park Caesarea, creates a pleasant impression of enjoying the beautiful nature of these places. And, although competitions are mainly held here at the international level, the golf club also invites tourists. There are courses, golf schools for children and adults, a restaurant and a golf shop.

The modern Mariposa restaurant complex is located at the Caesarea Golf Club. This place is ideal for a leisurely meal while enjoying the scenic views of the surrounding areas and golf courses. Three top chefs teamed up to create this restaurant. They have created an interesting and affordable menu, which includes fish, seafood, meat, vegetarian dishes, and kosher dishes. Opening hours from 12.00 to 24.00.

Helena, Israeli cuisine restaurant

Helena Restaurant creates a magical atmosphere even before guests taste the food. And all because it is located very close to the sea, and there is a beautiful landscape around it. This restaurant is the most beautiful in Caesarea. Its interior and view of the port fascinates visitors. The chefs offer Mediterranean cuisine, a variety of fish and meat dishes, there is a menu for vegetarians, and a children's menu. There is a separate, closed room with a capacity of up to 40 people, there are also seats on the balcony - about 90. Opening hours from 12.00 to 23.00.

Caesarea is a small town, the only one of its kind in Israel.

This area is not a municipal area and is managed by a private organization; at the same time, this is where Israeli creative bohemia, wealthy businessmen and politicians and officials prefer to settle - Caesarea is considered the most prestigious place to live.

Caesarea is beach town, that’s why tourists who love the clean sea and snow-white sand on the coast come here. All Caesarea beaches are paid, open from May to October inclusive - during this period the air temperature is the warmest.

In Caesarea, tourists are organized with various excursions, which involve visiting local and surrounding attractions.

Popular among guests are the Caesarea Harbor Historical Reserve, the National Park, King Herod's Amphitheater, the Palace on the Reef, and the ruins of the ancient city.

It is in Caesarea, on the site of an ancient city on the Mediterranean coast of Israel, that the Caesarea National Park was created.

The ruins of many structures discovered by archaeologists belong to different historical periods.

Due to natural change coastline part of the city was swallowed up by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Scientists still continue to conduct active archaeological excavations on land and under water.

Originally, from the mid-4th century BC, it was a settlement belonging to the Phoenicians, which was called Strato's Tower.

In 96 BC. it was conquered by the king of Judea, Alexander Yannai, and was able to keep the Tower of Strato in his power for 33 years, until the capture of the settlement along with all of Judea by Pompey.

A curious coincidence, but again, 33 years later, in 30 BC, Emperor Augustus returned the settlement to Judean rule. The then king Herod managed to turn him into Big City. As a token of gratitude, the king named the city Caesarea in honor of Emperor Augustus.

The name is explained very simply - it goes back to the Roman term Caesar (Caesar), associated with the generic name Caesar, or Caesar in Old Slavic pronunciation.

There were several cities with this name in the Roman Empire, and in order not to get confused, new town began to be called Caesarea Maritime (Caesarea maritima), and even later the name Caesarea Palestine appeared.

The personality of King Herod and his activities were full of contradictions. He shed a lot of blood, suppressing the rebellious people, and did not spare his relatives in the brutal struggle for power.

But at the same time he became famous as the greatest builder in the history of Judea. At the beginning of his reign, Herod enjoyed the patronage of Rome and was perceived by the Jews as a foreign protege.

Herod aroused especially strong hostility among the conservative part of Jewish society, and he was not especially favored anywhere. Therefore he chose for his residence small settlement Straton's Tower and literally in a few years turned its largest port city.

Grandiose were built royal palace, Roman temples, amphitheater, baths. The royal entourage and military leaders lived in luxurious houses.

The title Great came to Herod after his death.

The first to call Herod this way were historians who appreciated his achievements as a builder. In addition, his heirs bore the same name, so it became necessary to highlight the founder of the Herodias dynasty.

After the death of Herod, Judea became a Roman province, and Caesarea its capital. Herod's palace was used as a residence for Roman governors. The city continued to be an important seaport.

At the beginning of the new millennium, mainly Greeks and Romans lived here, although there were also many Jews.

Many events related to church life took place in Caesarea. Here the Apostle Paul was detained for two years. In 135, the Romans brutally executed Rabbi Akiva along with other Jewish sages who studied the Talmud at the city amphitheater.

Gradually began to gain more and more influence Christian church, which asserted itself in the fight against the Roman gods. In the 5th century, the temple of the goddess Roma and Augustus was destroyed in Caesarea, and already at the beginning of the 6th century the first large Byzantine church appeared.

Several famous theologians, philosophers, historians, and writers lived in the city.

Jews were in the minority in the city, but this did not prevent them from founding synagogues in the city, opening several schools and even an academy for the study of the Talmud.

During the Byzantine period, despite the fires and epidemics that occurred, Caesarea grew and developed. New public buildings appeared, walls were strengthened, and new churches were erected.

The arrival of the Arabs in 640 marked the end of the Byzantine period in the history of the city. For the Crusaders, Caesarea was an important stronghold in their expansion into the Holy Land. In the 13th century, Caesarea was on the list of many other cities that were destroyed by the Mamluk Sultan Baybars.

Today, a settlement located next to the ancient city bears the name Caesarea. About five thousand people live here, and quite wealthy ones - modern Caesarea is built up with private villas and cottages.

During the construction of ancient Caesarea, the most advanced technologies of its time were used. The artificial bay for the port was created from a kind of concrete. It was a mixture of lime and volcanic ash.

The royal palace, built on the reefs, made a grandiose impression on those who saw it. Josephus wrote: “He (Herod) rebuilt this city of limestone and adorned it with a palace of incomparable luxury, and in no other place did the greatness of his spirit express itself with such completeness.”

The palace, in essence, was artificial island, ahead of its time by entire millennia. It even had a swimming pool, which is considered the first structure of its kind.

Today little remains of the palace. However, there is an exhibit here that you should definitely look at. This is the so-called stone of Pontius Pilate, or the Slab from Caesarea. A fragment of a Latin inscription with the dedication of Pontius Pilate to Emperor Tiberius was discovered on it.

This is the first archaeological find, which points to the reality of the historical figure Pontius Pilate. Found in 1961, the stone is kept in the Israel History Museum, and a copy of it is on display to the public in Caesarea.

The foundation of the Greco-Roman city laid by Herod continued to develop further. In the territory archaeological park In Caesarea you can see structures built by the Romans, Byzantines, Arabs and Crusaders.

The Roman Hippodrome was built with a length of 460 meters and spectator seats capable of accommodating 30,000 people. The hippodrome in Caesarea is considered one of the best preserved in the world.

The ancient theater, which the Jewish sages really disliked, is the oldest in Israel.

Big bath complex attracts with well-preserved decoration from the Byzantine period. Floor mosaics have survived best of all to this day.

The so-called temple site has an interesting historical fate. It was a foundation (podium) slightly raised above the surface of the earth, on which religious buildings stood in succession.

First it was a temple of the goddess Roma and Emperor Augustus, then a Byzantine octagonal church, an Arab mosque and Cathedral Crusaders.

What remained from the Crusaders were massive walls, a moat and gates built under Louis IX.

The park contains large fragments of preserved aqueducts. According to one of them, water approached the city from a source in Ein Shomi. The height of this structure reached eight meters.

Another aqueduct brought water from an artificial reservoir. The construction of the third aqueduct dates back to the Byzantine period.

The park contains not only ancient ruins. There is a diving center here that offers training, equipment rental and underwater excursions.

But even here the past is connected to the present. Divers can see parts of Caesarea that are underwater today. These are docks, lighthouses, warehouses and sunken ships.

He stood on the terrace of his new palace, enjoying the morning freshness and the barely perceptible smell of the sea. Very little time will pass and all this will disappear, replaced by the usual sweltering heat for these places. But now it's still very early...

Today I will tell you about the city that bore the name of the rulers of Rome - Caesarea Palestine. Fate has prepared for this place a short, by the standards of history, but bright existence.

The first small settlement in these places appeared in the 4th century BC, during the rule of the Persians. In the 3rd century BC. this area was conquered by the Phoenicians, who built a small fortress with a lighthouse on the cape, called Strato's Tower. The area later passed into the hands of the Jews, then for a time as a Roman province, until it was transferred by the Roman emperor Augustus to the Jewish king Herod in 31 BC.

In 22 BC. Herod decides to rebuild the city and turn it into the largest port in Palestine. Herod's associates tried their best to dissuade him from this idea - the shallow bay chosen for the construction of the port was completely unsuitable for the role assigned to it.

But Herod's decision was adamant. In his dreams, the new city was to be equal in grandeur and luxury to Rome itself. 12 years passed and Herod's dream became a reality. By 10 BC. Caesarea, named by Herod in honor of Caesar Augustus, becomes major port. To do this, the bottom of the bay is deepened, a system of breakwaters and channels is created around it, through which powerful currents carry away silt and sand from the bay.

Caesarea becomes the capital of Judea.

Near the port, on a small hill, the Temple of Augustus is being built, in which a statue is installed, which, according to historians, is not inferior to the statue of Olympian Zeus in Athens. Only a small fragment of one of the legs has survived to this day, allowing one to appreciate its greatness.

Nearby there is a small park of found Roman statues. Without exception, all of them are missing their heads - a memory of the Arab presence in the city.

The status of the capital obliged Caesarea to provide its inhabitants with spectacles. For this purpose, a large Roman theater was built, its size corresponding to the status of the city.

Its two-tier stands could accommodate up to 4 thousand spectators.

Behind the stage there used to be a high wall that acted as an acoustic barrier. Thanks to her, the voices of the actors were clearly audible even in the very top rows.

A small rocky cape jutting out into the sea - here was the magnificent palace of King Herod.

The architectural center of the palace was a pool, carved directly into the rock, washed on three sides by the foam of sea waves. The pool was surrounded by a marble colonnade.

Next to the pool was a dining room decorated with magnificent mosaics.

Shortly after the death of Herod the Great, the Palestinian territories reverted to Rome.

Judea became a Roman province, headed by a governor with the rank of procurator or prefect. Herod's Palace played the role of the residence of the prefects - in the beautiful halls, to the sound of the waves of the warm Mediterranean Sea, they created the history of Judea, meeting sunrises and seeing off sunsets.

The fifth procurator of Judea, Pontius Pilate, also met the dawn of the month of Nisan here.

True, if you believe the archaeological finds, he had the rank not of procurator, but of prefect. Here, in Caesarea, in the 60s of the 20th century, a fragment of a clay slab was found with the inscription “Pontius Pilate, prefect of Judea, presented Tiberius to the Caesareaites.”

Next to the palace along the seashore there was a hippodrome.

Its size was not inferior to the hippodromes of Rome itself, it made it possible to organize races on four chariots simultaneously.

The stands of the hippodrome were designed for 10 thousand people.

At the northern border of the hippodrome there is a monument to an ancient chariot. Previously, there was a gate through which chariots entered the hippodrome.

Caesarea was built in the image of Roman cities, so the layout of the city is originally Roman. The city is divided into rectangular blocks, outlined by straight arrows of mutually perpendicular streets: the streets located from north to south were called Cardo, they were crossed by Decumanuses located from west to east.

The main streets of the city were called Decumanus Maximus and Cardo Maximus. The entire layout of the city was built from the intersection of these streets.

Among the ruins of city houses, ancient mosaics are clearly visible next to the Roman baths, perfectly preserved even after 2000 years.

King Herod was very partial to the architectural delights of Greece and Rome - the streets of the city he built were decorated with marble colonnades and sculptures. Fountains were installed among the sprawling gardens. To provide the city with fresh water, a ten-kilometer aqueduct was built from Mount Carmel, located north of Caesarea.

The mansion of a noble family - the floors are decorated with mosaics, in front of the mansion there is a vast terrace surrounded by a colonnade.

Wide streets paved with smooth stones, public toilets, a complex system of underground communications purified by sea water - during its heyday, Caesarea was one of the most advanced cities that existed in those days.

A new huge lighthouse was built on the foundations of Straton's Tower, located on a spit extending into the sea. There was a port in the harbor behind the spit.

History inexorably drove time forward. The Roman Empire split into Western and Eastern. Under the onslaught of barbarians from Germany, the Western Roman Empire ceased to exist. The ancient world went down into history along with it. The Eastern Roman Empire, called the Byzantine Empire, gradually strengthened its position in the changing political map Middle Ages.

Caesarea becomes the capital of the Byzantine province of Palestina Prima. The city is blossoming. Its territory increases several times, the streets are paved with marble slabs and mosaics. A powerful defensive wall appears around the city.

Here is one of the world's largest libraries, containing more than 30 thousand books, including the original Gospel of Matthew. Jerome of Stridon, the creator of the canonical Latin text of the Bible, works in this library.

Meanwhile, the year 640 arrives. Arab conquerors enter Caesarea victoriously.

During the assault, the city is severely destroyed. Not a trace remains of its former greatness - now Caesarea is just a small Arab settlement. A Muslim mosque is being built on the site of the former majestic Temple of Augustus.

The architecture intertwines trends from different eras - Byzantine pointed arches coexist with Arab minarets. In the foreground is an incomprehensibly surviving marble slab of a Byzantine sarcophagus.

Square in front of the Temple of Augustus. Its ruins are in the background.

The passing years did not spare the soft limestone from which the buildings of Caesarea were built. Over the centuries, salty sea moisture has done its work: on the left is a restored section of masonry, on the right is the original, Byzantine one.

And the Arab conquerors also did not really favor the architectural delights of the Romans. Marble columns from ruined palaces were used to strengthen the embankments, along with limestone.

Port harbor. Many years ago, one of the most technologically advanced ports of that time was located here.

The Arabs destroyed the unique engineering systems built during the time of King Herod and ensuring the functionality of the port. The harbor again became shallow and inaccessible to ships.

In 1101, the Crusaders came to these lands. They build a high fortress wall around a small part of the city, surrounded by a deep moat. A citadel is being built on the cape where Strato's Tower was once located. The residence of the archbishop is located in Caesarea.

The reign of the Crusaders lasted just over 150 years - in 1265, Caesarea was conquered for the last time, this time by the Mamluks under the leadership of Baybars I. This event was the last in the history of the city - Caesarea was destroyed to the ground. The few surviving residents leave the city. Great Caesarea of Palestine goes down in history...

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