Beit She’an

Beit She’an sits at a critical junction between the Jordan River valley and the Jezreel valley. It was in the perfect location to control access from Jerusalem and Jericho to the Galilee region, and access from inland Israel to the Mediterranean coast. It was at one time a Canaanite city that was overrun by the Philistines in 1100 BCE. The Philistines then used the city as their base of operations for invading Israel. In 1004 BCE the Philistines and Israelites fought a great battle at Mount Gilboa (about 10 miles from Beit She’an). The Philistines defeated the Israelites and killed three of King Saul’s sons. When Saul realized that he was defeated, he fell on his sword and took his own life. The Philistines cut off Saul’s head and then took his body, and those of his sons, back to Beit She’an and hung them on the wall in their temple. You can read that account here. Years later, after David became King, he captured Beit She’an and forced the Philistines out of the area.

Centuries later the Roman military leader Pompey the Great conquered Judea and Beit She’an was rebuilt. A hippodrome, large theater, and a cardo (main street of influence) were built. During Israel’s unsuccessful revolt against Rome in 66-73 CE most of the inhabitants of Beit She’an are thought to have sided with Rome. The ruins you see in these photos are believed to be from the 4th century CE because of their Roman and Byzantine characteristics.

This photo shows the main street of Beit She'an, Palladius Street. The name Palladius is based on an inscription found onsite. Palladius was the 4th century Roman Governor.

Another view of Palladius Street, with the "Tel" in the background (the large grass covered hill). In Hebrew, the word "Tel" refers to a specific archaeological feature that has been inhabited for thousands of years. Basically, "Tel" refers to a mound, under which lay the ruins of previous settlements built on the site. Here at Beit She'an, probably somewhere in the middle of that mound, lies the ruins of the Philistine temple where the bodies of King Saul and his sons were hung after the Israelites were defeated at Mount Gilboa.

Columns in the area of the bathhouse. Beit She'an had two, very large, public bathhouses.

More columns in the bathhouse.

A carved capital at the top of one of the columns.

Description of how the bathhouses were heated.

At the top of the picture is the hole into the furnace where heated air came through to circulate around the small pillars shown at the bottom of the picture.

On top of these pillars sat the flooring of the bathhouse, while heated air flowed between the pillars..

Not sure what this is, but it was adjacent to the two areas where the baths were. Perhaps a private bath, or one used for ritual bathing?

Description of the toilets.

The toilets can be seen along the back wall.

You got to walk on a nice tiled floor on your way to the toilet!

Archways

Columns

More columns

Still more columns

And even more columns

A lone column

One of many tile floor patterns

Tile floor

Tile floor. This one was in the bathhouse area.

An interesting tile pattern

More tiles

The theater, as seen from the bathhouse steps.

This is actually a second story archway on the outside wall of the theater. You can see the top of the first floor arch below it. I wanted to take a photo of both arches, since it is rather cool that after 1600 plus years they were both still standing, but there was a guy standing in the middle of the first arch who just wouldn't move on. Oh, well!