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Tiberias is a city on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee.

History

The city of Tiberias was founded around 20 CE by Herod Antipas as capital of his realm, and named in honor of Roman Emperor Tiberius. The new city, placed on a major trade route linking Syria with Egypt, attracted a large Jewish and non-Jewish population.

Tiberias was the first Jewish polis to be granted large autonomy, under a Hellenistic constitution. The presence of Herod's palace on the acropolis, its market, its fishing industry, as well as the vicinity to hot springs, made quickly Tiberias the most important urban center on the lake, which came to be known as the Sea of Tiberias.

Herod Agrippa succeeded Herod Antipas as ruler of Tiberias. When Agrippa died in 44 CE a Roman procurator was set over the city. In 54 the name of emperor Claudius was added to the city, that came to be known as Tiberias Claudiupolis. In 61 CE the city was annexed to the kingdom of Herod Agrippa II and then separated from Galilee.

During the Jewish War Tiberias fell into the hands of the rebels (led by Josephus) and Herod's palace was destroyed, but at the arrival of the Romans in 67 CE the city voluntarily opened its gates and was thus spared destruction. The city returned under Herod Agrippa II's possession until his death. Afterward it came once more under direct Roman rule

After the Bar-Kokhba revolt, Tiberias became one of the major Jewish (and Rabbinic) centers in the land of Israel, likely the place of composition of the Mishnah under Judah haNasi around 200 CE.

Tiberias in ancient sources

Josephus, Jewish War

Bel II 20:6 -- Josephus ... knew the Romans would fall upon Galilee, he built walls in proper places ... and Tiberias.

Bel III 9:8 -- The next day Vespasian sent Trajan before with some horsemen to the citadel, to make trial of the multitude, whether they were all disposed for peace; and as soon as he knew that the people were of the same mind with the petitioner, he took his army, and went to the city; upon which the citizens opened to him their gates, and met him with acclamations of joy, and called him their savior and benefactor. But as the army was a great while in getting in at the gates, they were so narrow, Vespasian commanded the south wall to be broken down, and so made a broad passage for their entrance. However, he charged them to abstain from rapine and injustice, in order to gratify the king; and on his account spared the rest of the wall, while the king undertook for them that they should continue [faithful to the Romans] for the time to come. And thus did he restore this city to a quiet state, after it had been grievously afflicted by the sedition

Josephus, Jewish Antiquities

Ant XVIII 2:3 -- And now Herod the tetrarch, who was in great favor with Tiberius, built a city of the same name with him, and called it Tiberias. He built it in the best part of Galilee, at the lake of Gennesareth. There are warm baths at a little distance from it, in a village named Emmaus. Strangers came and inhabited this city; a great number of the inhabitants were Galileans also; and many were necessitated by Herod to come thither out of the country belonging to him, and were by force compelled to be its inhabitants; some of them were persons of condition. He also admitted poor people, such as those that were collected from all parts, to dwell in it. Nay, some of them were not quite free-men, and these he was benefactor to, and made them free in great numbers; but obliged them not to forsake the city, by building them very good houses at his own expenses, and by giving them land also; for he was sensible, that to make this place a habitation was to transgress the Jewish ancient laws, because many sepulchers were to be here taken away, in order to make room for the city Tiberias whereas our laws pronounce that such inhabitants are unclean for seven days.

Tiberias in Scholarship

Most of Roman Tiberias was destroyed by wars, earthquakes, abandonment, and the continuous redevelopment of the town that has never ceased to be inhabited until the present. However, significant remains of the Roman town still exist and are visible in the recently established Tiberias Archaeological Park.

The most conspicuous monument is the Roman Theater. Its remains have been excavated and reconstructed, under the direction of Izhar Hirshfeld and Yossi Stefanski. Build in the 1st century, and significantly enlarged in the second-third century, the Theater had a seating capacity of 7,000 people.

Tiberias in Fiction

Related categories

• Herod Antipas (subject) / Herod Agrippa (subject) / Herod Agrippa II (subject)
• Roman Governors (subject)

External links

• Wikipedia

Major articles

• Tiberias / The History of the Jewish People in the Age of Jesus Christ (1973-1987 Schurer / Vermes), book / 2 (1979) 178-182