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'''Sepphoris''' (or ''Tzippori'') was a city in central [[Galilee]].
'''Sepphoris''' (or ''Tzippori'') was a city in central [[Galilee]].


==History==
==Overview==
 
Although the date of the city's establishment is a point of some dispute, it is at least as old as the 7th century BCE, when it was fortified by the ancient Assyrians, and subsequently served as an administrative center in the region under Babylonian, Persian and Hellenistic rule. Throughout this time period, the city was known as Sepphoris.


[[UNDER CONSTRUCTION]]
In 104 BCE, the Hasmoneans settled there under the leadership of [[Alexander Jannaeus]]. The city was renamed ''Tzippori'' and may have derived from the Hebrew word for 'bird,' tsippor, perhaps because of the bird's-eye view the hilltop provides.


Although the date of the city's establishment is a point of some dispute, it is at least as old as the 7th century BCE, when it was fortified by the ancient Assyrians, and subsequently served as an administrative center in the region under Babylonian, Hellenistic and Persian rule. Throughout this time period, the city was known as Sepphoris.
The Hasmonean Kingdom was divided into five districts by the Roman pro-consul [[Gabinius]] and Sepphoris (Tzippori) came under the direct rule of the Romans in the year 37 BCE, when [[Herod the Great]] captured the city from [[Antigonus]] reportedly at the height of a snowstorm.


In 104 BCE, the Hasmoneans settled there under the leadership of either Alexander Jannaeus or Aristobulus I.[3] The city was called Tzippori and may have derived from the Hebrew word for 'bird,' tsippor, perhaps because of the bird's-eye view the hilltop provides.
After Herod's death in 4 BCE, the Jewish inhabitants of Sepphoris (Tzippori) rebelled against Roman rule and the Roman army moved in under the command of the Roman Governor in Syria, [[Varus]]. Completely destroying the city, the Roman army then sold many of its inhabitants into slavery.


The Hasmonean Kingdom was divided into five districts by the Roman pro-consul Gabinius and Sepphoris came under the direct rule of the Romans in the year 37 BCE, when Herod the Great captured the city from Mattathaias Antigonus reportedly at the height of a snowstorm.[4]
When Herod's son, [[Herod Antipas]] was made Tetrarch, or governor of Galilee, he rebuilt the city under the new name of ''Autocratis''. The city became known as the "Ornament of the Galilee." An ancient route linking Tzippori to Legio, and further to the south to Sebaste-Samaria, is believed to have been paved by the Romans around this time. Sepphoris (Autocratis) of the time of Jesus was a large, Roman-influenced city and hotbed of political activism. While living in the nearby village of [[Nazareth]], [[Jesus]] and his family may have done most of their business in Sepphoris (Autocratis). Later Christian tradition wold make Sepphoris the home of [[Mary of Nazareth|Mary]]'s parents, [[Anne]] and [[Joachim]].
The Galilee in late antiquity


Tzippori of the time of Jesus was a large, Roman-influenced city and hotbed of political activism. Archaeological evidence supports the idea that Jesus, while living in Nazareth, did most of his business in Tzippori.[5]
The inhabitants of Sepphoris (Autocratis) did not join the resistance against Roman rule during the [[Jewish War]]. Rather, they signed a pact with the Roman army and opened the gates of the city to the Roman general [[Vespasian]] upon his arrival in 67 CE. They were then rewarded for this allegiance by having their city spared from destruction. Coins minted in the city carried the inscription Neronias and Eirenopolis, "City of Peace."


After Herod's death in 4 BCE, the Jewish inhabitants of Tzippori rebelled against Roman rule and the Roman army moved in under the command of the Roman Governor in Syria, Varus. Completely destroying the city, the Roman army then sold many of its inhabitants into slavery.[4]
After the [[Jewish War]], symbolism used on the coins was little different from other surrounding pagan city coins with depictions of laurel wreaths, palm trees, caduceus', and ears of barley. Just prior to the Bar Kokhba revolt, the city's name was changed yet again to ''Diocaesarea''.  


Herod's son, Herod Antipas was made Tetrarch, or governor, in 1 CE, and proclaimed the city's new name to be Autocratis, or the "Ornament of the Galilee."[6] A ancient route linking Tzippori to Legio, and further to the south to Sebaste-Samaria, is believed to have been paved by the Romans around this time.[7]
In the aftermath of the Bar Kokhba revolt, many Jewish refugees settled there, turning it into the center of religious and spiritual life in [[Galilee]]. According to Rabbinic tradition, Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi, one of the compilers of the Mishnah, was active in Sepphoris, along with the Sanhedrin, before moving to [[Tiberias]] by 150 CE.


The inhabitants of Autocratis did not join the resistance against Roman rule in the First Jewish Revolt of 66 CE Rather, they signed a pact with the Roman army and opened the gates of the city to the Roman general Vespasian upon his arrival in 67 CE[4] They were then rewarded for this allegiance by having their city spared from the destruction suffered by many other Jewish cities, including Jerusalem.
==The synagogue of Sepphoris==


Coins minted in the city at the time of the First Revolt carried the inscription Neronias and Eirenopolis, "City of Peace." After the revolt, symbolism used on the coins was little different from other surrounding pagan city coins with depictions of laurel wreaths, palm trees, caduceus', and ears of barley.[6]
[[File:Sepphoris zodiac.jpg|500px]]


Just prior to the Bar Kokhba revolt, the city's name was changed yet again to Diocaesarea.  
Rediscovered in 1993, the Sepphoris synagogues is one of the most beautiful illustrated synagogues found in the land of Israel; see also [[Tiberias]], [[Beth Alpha]], etc.  


In the aftermath of the revolt, many Jewish refugees settled there, turning it into the center of religious and spiritual life in the Galilee. According to Rabbinic tradition, Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi, one of the compilers of the Mishnah, moved to Tzippori, along with the Sanhedrin, before moving to Tiberias by 150 CE.  
The Sepphoris synagogue was built in the first half of the fifth century.


The mosaic floor is divided into seven parts. Near the entrance is a scene showing the angels visiting Sarah. The next section shows the binding of Isaac. There is a large [[Zodiac]] with the names of the months written in Hebrew. Helios sits in the middle, in his sun chariot. The circle of the Zodiac is inscribed in a square which has in its corners the symbols of the four seasons. Next, there is a row of three panels depicting the offerings in the Temple at Jerusalem, including the "tamid" sacrifice, the showbread and the basket of first fruits. Above this is a depiction of Aaron offering sacrifices in the Tabernacle. Above that is another row of three panels, a Torah Ark, depicted as a pedimented building, and an incense shovel representing the incense shovels used in the Temple, flanked by two panels each displaying the seven-branched Menorah from the Temple at Jerusalem surrounded by symbols of the Jewish holidays including the Lulav and Shofar. The top, or front of the building section of the floor, another row of three panels, shows two lions flanking a wreath, their paws resting on the head of an ox.


==Sepphoris in ancient sources==


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.
*See [[Sepphoris (sources)]]


Tiberias was the first Jewish ''polis'' to be granted large autonomy, under a Hellenistic constitution. The presence of [[Herod Antipas]]' 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''.
==Sepphoris in scholarship==


[[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]].
Sepphoris was first excavated by L. Waterman of the Univeristy of Michigan in 1931. In 1983, J. F. Strange of the University of South Florida began a survey of buildings, cisterns, and burial systems. A joint team from Duke University, NC, and the Hebrew University began work in 1985.


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
==Sepphoris in literature & the arts==


==Related categories==


==Sepphoris in ancient sources==
*[[:Category:Herod Antipas (subject)|Herod Antipas (subject)]] / [[:Category:Herod Agrippa (subject)|Herod Agrippa (subject)]] / [[:Category:Herod Agrippa II (subject)|Herod Agrippa II (subject)]]
*[[:Category:Roman Governors of Judea (subject)|Roman Governors of Judea (subject)]]


====Josephus, Jewish War====
==References==


====Josephus, Jewish Antiquities====
* '''Sepphoris''' / [[Z. Weiss]] / [[T&T Clark Encyclopedia of Second Temple Judaism (2019 Stuckenbruck, Gurtner), dictionary]]


==Sepphoris in Scholarship==
*'''Sepphoris''' / [[James F. Strange]] / [[The Eerdmans Dictionary of Early Judaism (2010 Collins / Harlow), edited volume]], 1215-1217
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.
*'''Sepphoris''' / [[The History of the Jewish People in the Age of Jesus Christ (1973-1987 Schurer / Vermes), book]], 2 (1979) 172-176


==Sepphoris in Fiction==
==External links==


==Related categories==
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tzippori Wikipedia] / [http://www.bibleplaces.com/sepphoris.htm BiblePlaces.com]
*[[:Category:Herod Antipas (subject)|Herod Antipas (subject)]] / [[:Category:Herod Agrippa (subject)|Herod Agrippa (subject)]] / [[:Category:Herod Agrippa II (subject)|Herod Agrippa II (subject)]]
*[[:Category:Roman Governors (subject)|Roman Governors (subject)]]  


==External links==
====Pictures from the web====
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tzippori Wikipedia]
*[http://www.bibleplaces.com/images/Sepphoris_Roman_cardo_overview,_tb040200.jpg Roman Cardo] <BiblePlaces.com>


==Major articles==
*Sepphoris / [[The History of the Jewish People in the Age of Jesus Christ (1973-1987 Schurer / Vermes), book]] / 2 (1979) 172-176


[[Category:Subjects]]
[[Category:Index (database)]]
[[Category:Places]]
[[Category:Places (database)]]

Latest revision as of 15:43, 25 November 2019


Sepphoris (or Tzippori) was a city in central Galilee.

Overview

Although the date of the city's establishment is a point of some dispute, it is at least as old as the 7th century BCE, when it was fortified by the ancient Assyrians, and subsequently served as an administrative center in the region under Babylonian, Persian and Hellenistic rule. Throughout this time period, the city was known as Sepphoris.

In 104 BCE, the Hasmoneans settled there under the leadership of Alexander Jannaeus. The city was renamed Tzippori and may have derived from the Hebrew word for 'bird,' tsippor, perhaps because of the bird's-eye view the hilltop provides.

The Hasmonean Kingdom was divided into five districts by the Roman pro-consul Gabinius and Sepphoris (Tzippori) came under the direct rule of the Romans in the year 37 BCE, when Herod the Great captured the city from Antigonus reportedly at the height of a snowstorm.

After Herod's death in 4 BCE, the Jewish inhabitants of Sepphoris (Tzippori) rebelled against Roman rule and the Roman army moved in under the command of the Roman Governor in Syria, Varus. Completely destroying the city, the Roman army then sold many of its inhabitants into slavery.

When Herod's son, Herod Antipas was made Tetrarch, or governor of Galilee, he rebuilt the city under the new name of Autocratis. The city became known as the "Ornament of the Galilee." An ancient route linking Tzippori to Legio, and further to the south to Sebaste-Samaria, is believed to have been paved by the Romans around this time. Sepphoris (Autocratis) of the time of Jesus was a large, Roman-influenced city and hotbed of political activism. While living in the nearby village of Nazareth, Jesus and his family may have done most of their business in Sepphoris (Autocratis). Later Christian tradition wold make Sepphoris the home of Mary's parents, Anne and Joachim.

The inhabitants of Sepphoris (Autocratis) did not join the resistance against Roman rule during the Jewish War. Rather, they signed a pact with the Roman army and opened the gates of the city to the Roman general Vespasian upon his arrival in 67 CE. They were then rewarded for this allegiance by having their city spared from destruction. Coins minted in the city carried the inscription Neronias and Eirenopolis, "City of Peace."

After the Jewish War, symbolism used on the coins was little different from other surrounding pagan city coins with depictions of laurel wreaths, palm trees, caduceus', and ears of barley. Just prior to the Bar Kokhba revolt, the city's name was changed yet again to Diocaesarea.

In the aftermath of the Bar Kokhba revolt, many Jewish refugees settled there, turning it into the center of religious and spiritual life in Galilee. According to Rabbinic tradition, Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi, one of the compilers of the Mishnah, was active in Sepphoris, along with the Sanhedrin, before moving to Tiberias by 150 CE.

The synagogue of Sepphoris

Sepphoris zodiac.jpg

Rediscovered in 1993, the Sepphoris synagogues is one of the most beautiful illustrated synagogues found in the land of Israel; see also Tiberias, Beth Alpha, etc.

The Sepphoris synagogue was built in the first half of the fifth century.

The mosaic floor is divided into seven parts. Near the entrance is a scene showing the angels visiting Sarah. The next section shows the binding of Isaac. There is a large Zodiac with the names of the months written in Hebrew. Helios sits in the middle, in his sun chariot. The circle of the Zodiac is inscribed in a square which has in its corners the symbols of the four seasons. Next, there is a row of three panels depicting the offerings in the Temple at Jerusalem, including the "tamid" sacrifice, the showbread and the basket of first fruits. Above this is a depiction of Aaron offering sacrifices in the Tabernacle. Above that is another row of three panels, a Torah Ark, depicted as a pedimented building, and an incense shovel representing the incense shovels used in the Temple, flanked by two panels each displaying the seven-branched Menorah from the Temple at Jerusalem surrounded by symbols of the Jewish holidays including the Lulav and Shofar. The top, or front of the building section of the floor, another row of three panels, shows two lions flanking a wreath, their paws resting on the head of an ox.

Sepphoris in ancient sources

Sepphoris in scholarship

Sepphoris was first excavated by L. Waterman of the Univeristy of Michigan in 1931. In 1983, J. F. Strange of the University of South Florida began a survey of buildings, cisterns, and burial systems. A joint team from Duke University, NC, and the Hebrew University began work in 1985.

Sepphoris in literature & the arts

Related categories

References

External links

Pictures from the web

Pages in category "Sepphoris (subject)"

This category contains only the following page.