Caesarea Maritima
Herod's harbor city, seat of the Roman governors and home of Cornelius and Philip
Found 1959 — Italian mission under Antonio Frova (1959–1964); later Avner Raban and Robert Hohlfelder (harbor), Kenneth Holum, Joseph Patrich and others
Where Caesarea, Mediterranean coast between Tel Aviv and Haifa (Israel)
Dates from c. 22–10 BCE (founded); occupied through the Byzantine period · Early Roman · Herod the Great through Acts
Now at Caesarea National Park (site); finds at the Israel Museum and the Sdot Yam museum
How Caesarea Maritima was found
Ruins were always visible, but systematic excavation began with the Italian theater dig in 1959. Underwater survey of the harbor 'Sebastos' ran from the 1970s to the 1990s.
What it is
A planned Roman-style port city built by Herod with an artificial deep-water harbor of hydraulic concrete, a theater, hippodrome, aqueduct, a temple to Augustus and Rome, and a seaside promontory palace that later served the Roman governors.
Why it matters for the Bible
Caesarea was the seat of Pontius Pilate, Felix and Festus, the home of the centurion Cornelius and of Philip the evangelist, and the place where Paul was held for two years and spoke before Agrippa II. Its excavated praetorium and theater give a real setting to a dozen chapters of Acts.
The Hebrew word: Kay-SAR
קֵיסָר
קֵיסָר is pronounced Kay-SAR and means Caesar — the Roman emperor for whom the city was named (Strong's G2541).
People this discovery connects to
- Paul — שָׁאוּל (Sha-OOL) — asked for; Greek Paulos
- Cornelius — קוֹרְנֵלִיּוּס (Kor-NEL-yus) — Latin Cornelius (G2883); a Roman centurion
Places
- Caesarea — קֵיסָרְיָה (Kay-sar-YAH) — city of Caesar (Augustus)
Events
Peter and Cornelius (Acts 10) · Death of Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12) · Paul's imprisonment and trials (Acts 23–26)
Caesarea Maritima in Scripture
Acts 8:40 First mention of Caesarea in Scripture.
Acts 10:1-2 Cornelius the centurion lived in Caesarea; the city's Roman garrison is well attested.
Acts 23:33-35 Paul is kept 'in Herod's praetorium' — the excavated promontory palace.
Questions people ask
What is Caesarea Maritima?
A planned Roman-style port city built by Herod with an artificial deep-water harbor of hydraulic concrete, a theater, hippodrome, aqueduct, a temple to Augustus and Rome, and a seaside promontory palace that later served the Roman governors.
When was Caesarea Maritima discovered?
It was found in 1959 by Italian mission under Antonio Frova (1959–1964); later Avner Raban and Robert Hohlfelder (harbor), Kenneth Holum, Joseph Patrich and others, at Caesarea, Mediterranean coast between Tel Aviv and Haifa.
Where is Caesarea Maritima today?
Caesarea National Park (site); finds at the Israel Museum and the Sdot Yam museum.
Which Bible verses does Caesarea Maritima relate to?
Acts 8:40, Acts 10:1-2, Acts 23:33-35.
Related discoveries
- עַכּוֹAcco / Ptolemais (Tel Akko)The Canaanite–Phoenician port Asher never took, where Paul spent a day with the believers
- יִרְאֵי אֱלֹהִיםAphrodisias 'God-fearers' SteleA donor list separating Jews, proselytes, and 'theosebeis' — the clearest proof of the God-fearers of Acts
- חַלּוֹןAlexandria Troas and the Baths of Herodes AtticusThe port where Paul saw the Macedonian vision and raised Eutychus
- דֶּרֶךְAssos: Temple of Athena and the First American Excavation in the EastThe clifftop port where Paul rejoined his companions on foot
- אֳנִיָּהPuteoli and the Alexandrian Grain FleetThe Bay of Naples port where Paul landed and the giant grain ships he sailed on
- דֶּרֶךְVia Egnatia and the Port of NeapolisThe Roman highway and harbour that carried the Good News into Europe
Sources
- Holum, Hohlfelder, Bull & Raban, King Herod's Dream: Caesarea on the Sea (1988)
- Wikipedia: Caesarea Maritima