These are more photos taken at the Caesarea National Park in Caesarea, Israel…….

The park encompasses an area around the ancient city of Caesarea Maritima, constructed during the reign of Herod the Great around 10-9 BCE. The city was fortified by the Romans, early Christians, Muslims, and then again by Christian Crusaders. To learn about the history of Caesarea National Park, read my post,  LOOK HERE.

But, first a look at the landscape and the plantings…….

Then, a look back over the remains of the Promontory Palace, then out to sea………. at one time the palace was surrounding this olympic size pool, that graced the center of the palace. The palace fell into the sea over the years and is only rubble now.

The layout of the original Promontory Palace…….

Walking by the Hippodrome……I could just imagine the gladiators fighting! 13,000 spectators could sit and watch the chariots fly around the hippodrome (Greek for “horse-course”) You’d be sitting really close! This is also, where the Jewish people protested when Pontius Pilate, was sent to Caesarea to rule over Judea. He ordered the statues of the emperor be brought to Jerusalem. In protest, a large delegation of Jews gathered in the hippodrome to demand their removal. Standing three deep and surrounded by soldiers Pontius Pilate ordered the soldiers to draw their weapons. The Jews laid on the ground and all exposed their necks, ready to be killed. Pontius Pilate was so stunned by their bravery, that he ordered the statues be brought back.

During the 2nd century CE the ten greatest rabbis of the generation, were publicly tortured to death in the hippodrome by the Romans, for their refusal to give up teaching the Torah. So, a lot of brutality has gone on here……The story is re-told every year at the Caesarea Hippodrome, during a Yom Kippur service, for the ten, who were killed for the Divine Kingdom.

Walking towards the Temple area……..

and getting a closer look at the mosque……..

There is now a restaurant here …….

Going to the Temple area, which is now a museum………

To learn what I discovered about amphorae, READ HERE.

The highlights of the museum were the amphorae and the pale blue glass pieces……..

We really enjoyed our time in Caesarea, but now we are off to meet the Druze…..well, you’ll get the story of the Druze, the folks there, scared me off getting many photos! See you there! Cady

PS I spent several minutes talking to this bird and trying to get him to pose just right!