Caesarea Maritima

Caesarea Maritima is an ancient city and harbor built by Herod the Great at the site of a former Phoenician naval base given to Herod by Cesar Augustus.  The city was therefore named after Cesar, and eventually Caesarea became the provincial capital of Roman Judea and played an important role in early Christianity.  The ruins of the ancient city were not excavated until the 1950s and 60s and include parts of Herod's palace, a Roman theater, a hippodrome, a harbor, and ancient warehouses that supported the port.

During excavations a stone tablet was found with an inscription, part of which reads "Pontius Pilatus, Prefect of Judea".  The tablet was found near the ruins of the theater.  It is believed that Pontius Pilate probably dedicated the theater and that the tablet was a record of that, built into an exterior wall of the theater.

It was in Caesarea that Cornelius the Roman Centurion, had a vision of an angel and sent men down the coast to Joppa to bring back Simon Peter, who had had his own vision from the Lord.  Peter brings the Gospel to the household of Cornelius, all Gentiles, and essentially starts Christianity when he says "I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism."  Later, the Apostle Paul is imprisoned in Caesarea for two years after being arrested in Jerusalem before being sent on to Rome to appeal his case before Caesar.

One of the entrances to the theater, believed to be built by Herod the Great

Another entrance

The theater is still in use today 

According to our guide, the top stars of Israel perform in this theater

Part of Herod's Palace by the Sea.  This is the remains of the salt water swimming pool.  There was also a freshwater pool!

Another view of the salt water pool showing the mosaic floor.

A close-up of the mosaic floor.

Fishing from the ruins of Herod's palace.

The Mediterranean is a lovely place for a day sail!

In the distance is a pier for the port of Hadera.

The seawall in the distance is actually the southern edge of the ancient harbor of Caesarea.

The large building on the left side of the seawall houses a bistro today.  On the right side are the ruins of an Ottoman mosque.

The bistro.

The old Ottoman mosque.

The description of the "Pontius Pilatus" stone

This is just a copy!  The real stone can be found in the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.

A capital from a long time gone Corinthian column.

A description of the chariot races held in the hippodrome.  Remember Ben-Hur!

The seating area of the hippodrome at the opposite end from the starting gate.

I wonder if they had reserved seats, or if it was general admission?

The original seats!

Original seats, plus some squared-off  "refurbished" seats that replaced areas that had corroded and collapsed.

The real thing!

Since Caesarea had no fresh water of its own, Herod the Great commissioned an aqueduct to be built to bring fresh water into Caesarea from a spring at Shunai, about 16 kilometers northeast.  That original aqueduct is the stone, bottom half, shown in the photo.  About 200 years later the aqueduct was in disrepair and a second level was added on top, the smoother looking section, at the order of Hadrian, the Roman emperor (who also built "Hadrian's Wall", separating England from Scotland).

Another way to view the ruins!

And still another way to see the sights!

Getting a birds-eye view!