Beth Shean
(Scythopolis)
The ruins of Beth Shean lies 17 miles (27 km) from the south
shores of Sea of Galilee. The city is situated on the junction
of the Harod valley and Jordan valley of the Lower Jordan river.
Due to its abundance of fresh water and rich fertile lands it
gave rise to Jewish saying “If the Garden of Edein is in the
land of Israel, then its gate is Beth Shean”.
Location: Map
Tel. (04) 658 7189
Open: daily
History of Beth Shean
People have settled these lands since the Copper Age. Archaeological
digs that lasted for almost a century discovered important artefacts
and structures from the early human presence in the region including
a series of temples from the Middle and Late Bronze age.
The
importance and size of the city was marked by Egyptian pharaohs who
made this the center of Canaan province. Stelaes with inscriptions
from the time of reign of Seti I and Ramses II and even the house of
the Egyptian pharaoh were found here. Many artefacts are now
preserved in the Rockefeller Museum in Jerusalem. Parts of the
Egyptian mud brick houses were reconstructed.
Romans rebuild
this city under orders of Pompey in 63 BC. Its new name was
Scythopolis or “city of the scythians” (cf. Col 3:11). The city
prospered and grew until it was not destroyed on January 18, 794 AD.
People took it as a bad omen and relocated abandoning the city. As
you go around the city you can see evidences of destructive force of
nature.