Pages Navigation Menu

Beit She’arim National Park (Israel)

Beit She’arim National Park

In the western part of Galilee in northern Israel, on a little elevation twenty kilometers east of Haifa there is a National Park of Beit She’arim. The park received its name from the ancient Jewish city of Beit She’arim, which was located on this site.

Beit She’arim was founded during the reign of Herod the Great, and it was a prospering Jewish city until it was destroyed by fire in 352 during the Jewish revolt against Constantius Gallus, Roman Caesar of the Empire’s eastern part. Some time after the fire, Beit She’arim was turned into a Byzantine city.

During the early Arab period in the seventh century, there was a small settlement here, and at the end of the sixteenth century, there was an Arab village of Sheikh Abreik named after Sheikh Bureik, who was known in these places. Jewish historian Josephus Flavius mentions the city under the name of Besara as an administrative center of the lands owned by Berenice, daughter of Agrippa I and sister of Agrippa II.

Images of Lions on Sarcophagus

In 1871, the employees of the Israel Research Fund began to study the history of this settlement, but archeological excavations were initiated only in 1936. The work was overseen by the famous Israeli scientist Benjamin Mazar. Excavations were carried out until 1940. In their course, well preserved ancient burial tombs and ruins of the legendary Jewish city were discovered.

In 1953 -1957, archeologists from the Jewish University during their excavations managed to discover the old necropolis. Catacombs hewn in the wall with burial niches were found here. Some of the catacombs were family burial vaults. Ornaments that decorate the tombs quite often include images of Jewish symbols and ritual utensils, especially those of menorah and of the Ark of the Covenant. Over two hundred and fifty epitaphs were found. In most of them inscriptions are made in Greek, while in other ones – in Hebrew, Aramaic, or in its Palmyrene dialect. The epitaphs point to the name of the late one, his father’s name, and sometimes to his origin, profession, office and place of birth. Some epitaphs contain praises for the dead one, or express sorrow on the occasion of his or her death. One of the epitaphs says, “Take courage, Justus. All men are mortal.”

Image of Menorah in One of Caves

Together with Greek names, Jewish names are also encountered, written in Greek letters. Some writings express faith into eternal life. Two epitaphs are made in Greek in Homer’s style. In the same catacomb a sarcophagus was found, which had been used a second time, with the scenes from the Greek mythology.

Beit She’arim’s necropolis is also the place of rest of Rabbi Judah Ha-Nasi and his family. In one of the caves archeologists found burials with the following inscriptions, “Rabbi Shimon;” “This is a burial site of Rabbi Gamliel;” and “Hanina Junior.”

Image of Angel on One Sarcophagus

The scientists pointed out that the necropolis must have been designed and built by outstanding engineers. It was only possible to access it from the yard, after passing through a low stone door. Along the entire length of the tunnels, in different places there were stairways, by ascending which one could get to the huge sepulcher halls.

As for the city of Beit She’arim itself, the archeologists were able to unearth the ruins of residential homes built of Basalt slabs, ruins of a synagogue of the fourth century, and of an oil press.

Leave a Comment

Яндекс.Метрика Индекс цитирования