Bethsaida

Also known as et-Tell, Beth-Saida, Bethsaida Julia, Julia, Julias, Julias-Bethsaida

Plain of Bethsaida The northeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee is a fertile plain where the feeding of the 5,000 likely took place.  Israeli maps and excavators currently locate the New Testament city of Bethsaida at an ancient ruin known as "et-Tell."  The excavation team, headed by Rami Arav, is insistent that this site be identified with ancient Bethsaida.  Others suggest that Bethsaida may be better located at el-Araj near the lakeshore.

Aerial View There are many problems with the identification of et-Tell with Bethsaida, including: Distance from the Sea of Galilee Elevation of the site, about 20 feet (7 m) above the level of the lake in ancient times Lack of ancient remains from the 1st century A.D., including significant pottery and coins Lack of buildings from the New Testament period.  After nearly 20 years of digging, excavators have identified only one Roman period house and another building they identify as a Roman temple.  This latter identification is dubious. In short, there is little to commend this site as being the Bethsaida mentioned by Josephus and the Bible.  For more of the excavators' perspective, see the links below.  For more evidence against this identification, see Rainey and Notley, The Sacred Bridge, pp. 356-59.

House of the Fisherman The most impressive remains at this site are the Iron Age gate and two large Hellenistic houses.  The House of the Fisherman measures 4,300 sq. feet, and is believed to be a fisherman's home based on the discovery of two types of lead net weights, a round lead weight of the so-called musket type, and a long, crooked needle.  Among the coins discovered in the house were two silver didrachmae of Demetrius II.

House of Winemaker This house (2,700 square feet) included an undisturbed wine cellar with four complete Hellenistic jars.  In addition, a gold earring with the picture of an animal was found, as well as numerous examples of expensive imported vessels. A hook and some anchors were found in the house, as were three iron sickles.

Acco, Ptolemais, Acre

Also known as Tel 'Akko/Acco, Tel/Tell el-Fukhkhar, Tell el-Fukhar, Acca, Accho, Acon, Acre, Acri, Ake, 'Akka, Akko, Antiochenes, Antiochia Ptolemais, Ptolemais Antiochenes, Ocina, St. Jean d'Acre

Port City of Acco Acco is only referenced once in the Bible by this name. In Judges 1:31, it is referred to as one of the places the Israelites failed to hold. In the New Testament, Acco was known as Ptolemais, and was one of the stops on Paul’s final return to Jerusalem (Acts 21:7). Ptolemais was situated on the main sea and land route in ancient times. It served as the main port of the region until Caesarea was built. Herod the Great received Augustus Caesar at this site, since Caesarea had not yet been completed. Vespasian first docked at Ptolemais when he came to subdue the First Jewish Revolt. Later, the Arab inhabitants changed the name back to “Acco.”

Defensive Walls Acco (then known as Acre) was conquered by the Crusaders in 1104 A.D. They held Acco even after having lost control of Jerusalem in 1187. It then became the greatest port of their empire. The Mamluks ended Crusader rule in Acco in 1291. Napoleon understood the strategic value of this site. He claimed that if this port city had fallen to him, “the world would have been mine.” His 1799 siege failed.

Templars Tunnel Five hundred years after the Crusaders left, the Druze prince Fakhr ad-Din rebuilt the city. The Muslims could not destroy the Crusader’s underground labyrinth, so it can still be visited today. These buildings were originally above-ground, but Al-Jazzar simply built his city over them. The excavations were stopped for fear that the Arab town might collapse. Today, most of the Crusader city is still buried. Only the area that is originally known as the “Hospitaller’s Quarter” is open.

Al-Jazzer Mosque The emerald-domed, 18th-century Mosque of Al-Jazzar is the third largest mosque in Israel. Construction began in 1781, on the site of San Croce, the original Christian cathedral of Acco. The Roman columns inside were taken from Caesarea. Inside the mosque is a shrine containing a hair from the beard of Muhammad. Other hairs from Muhammad’s beard can be seen in Istanbul, Turkey.

Sunset from Acco