Caesarea Maritima Excavations in the Old City 1989-2003 Final Reports, Volume 1

The Combined Caesarea Expeditions have uncovered a wealth of archaeological evidence from the city and harbor of ancient Caesarea,built by Herod the Great in the first century BCE. The book explores the transition from paganism to Christianity in Late Antiquity, including the pagan temple dismantled by Christian authorities and the Octagonal Church built in its place. Caesarea flourished in the Byzantine period and reached its largest extent.

Format: Hardback
Length: 472 pages
Publication date: 09 April 2021
Publisher: American Schools of Oriental Research

The Combined Caesarea Expeditions, a project dedicated to exploring the ancient city and harbor of Caesarea, constructed by the Jewish king Herod the Great at the end of the first century BCE, have yielded remarkable findings after years of excavation. This comprehensive volume presents the discoveries made on land, encompassing the Temple Platform (Area TP), built by Herod for his magnificent harbor temple to Roma and Augustus, the neighboring quarters (Areas TPS and Z), and the Inner Harbor quays (Area I). Holum, the lead author, outlines the original research questions of the CCE, delves into the site's overall stratigraphy, and shares the team's discoveries about Caesarea from the Hellenistic period to the end of antiquity in the seventh century CE.

In doing so, this book makes a substantial contribution to our understanding of the transition from paganism to Christianity in Late Antiquity. It delves deep into King Herod's pagan temple, which thrived until approximately 400 CE when the now Christian authorities deliberately dismantled it, removing all but its deepest foundations, and allowing the site to lose its holiness. A century later, in 500 CE, the authorities constructed a grand Octagonal Church in precisely the same spot and alignment as Herod's temple, serving as a harbor church, visible from far at sea. During the Byzantine period, Caesarea experienced prosperity and reached its largest extent.

This book meticulously presents the archaeological evidence supporting these developments, paying close attention to the foundations of the temple and church, fragments of the superstructure of both monumental buildings, the Herodian and Byzantine staircases that ascended directly from the harbor to the temple and church, the pottery, coins, and other artifacts, as well as the vibrant city that surrounded these commanding religious structures. The Combined Caesarea Expeditions have left an indelible mark on our understanding of this ancient city, shedding light on its rich history and cultural significance.

Weight: 1828g
Dimension: 225 x 287 x 34 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780897571159