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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

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

• See Sepphoris (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

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

References

• Sepphoris / Z. Weiss / T&T Clark Encyclopedia of Second Temple Judaism (2019 Stuckenbruck, Gurtner), dictionary

• Sepphoris / James F. Strange / The Eerdmans Dictionary of Early Judaism (2010 Collins / Harlow), edited volume, 1215-1217

• Sepphoris / The History of the Jewish People in the Age of Jesus Christ (1973-1987 Schurer / Vermes), book, 2 (1979) 172-176

External links

• Wikipedia / BiblePlaces.com

Pictures from the web

• Roman Cardo <BiblePlaces.com>