Confessions of a makeshift Archeologist: Day 3

We started out day 3 by heading to Caesaria Philippi, which is also known as both Panyas or Banyas. The name Caesaria Philippi is the Christian version of the area, as stated in the Bible, where as the name Panyas was the name that was used by Alexander the Great after this area was discovered following his conquests in the 3rd century. They referred to this area as Panyas because the caves were dedicated to Pan, god of the shepherds and forest. When Arabs entered into this area, they did not have a letter 'p' in their alphabet, so the name was changed to Banyas, which is what most people in Israel still call the area today. Also, this area was incorporated into Herod's empire and he built a temple here in honor of Augustus. At Caesaria Philippi, we toured the Sanctuary of Pan, the Grotto, the Temple of Augustus, and the Banyas spring. In most of these areas, ritual sacrifices were performed by the cult followers. The original sanctuary had alters for sacrifices and statues to Pan and the Nymphs, as well as other Greek gods, like Zeus.

Banyas Spring

Ruins from the Santuary of Pan

At Pan's sanctuary

This is where goats were held for the pagan sacrifices

Santuary of Pan

old Roman architecture from King Herod's time

nooks where all of the statues were

After our stop at Caesaria Philippi, we headed to the Mt. of Beatitudes in Tabgha (on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee), where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount from the book of Matthew. This is where Jesus said things like:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake."

Church at the Mount of Beatitudes

at the Mt. of Beatitudes

After stopping at the Mt. of Beatitudes, we stayed in Tabgha for our next two stops. Our next stop was about 2 miles away from there and it was where Jesus fed the 5,000 from 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. Located in the area where Jesus fed the 5,000 is the Church of Multiplication, also known as the Church of the Loaves and Fishes.

Mosiac inside the church representing the 5 loaves and 2 fish from the 4th or 5th century

After viewing the Church of Multiplication, we went right next door, to the Church of the Primacy of Peter, which is also next to site where it is believe that Jesus walked on water at the Sea of Galilee.

inside the church

Inside the Franciscan church

Sea of Galilee--where Jesus walked on water

the outside of the Church of the Primacy of Peter

another view of the the Sea of Galilee

Statue outside the church which is supposed to commemorate Jesus making Peter the cheif among the apostles

Our next stop in the same area, was at Capernaum, which is where Jesus taught and performed numerous miracles. At the ruins of Capernaum, we saw the 4th century synagogue of Jesus, where he taught, and the Peter's House.

Capernaum

inside the Synagogue of Jesus

in the synagogue

Peter's House

outside Peter's house

Our last stop of the day was to the ancient city of Bet She'an, which was controlled by the Philistines in the the late Canaanite Period (16th-12th centuries BC). After the battle at Mt. Gilboa, the Philistines displayed the bodies of King Saul and his son, Solomon, on the city walls, which was before David became the king of Israel.