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 Susita (Hippos)  190 pictures
 5.0 minutes HQ video The flat mountain, towering above Ein Gev and the Sea of the Kinneret, and separated from the Golan Height by a deep ridge, is just the place fit to establish a settlement, because of its natural fortification. Susita  During Hellenistic times, a town by the name of Hypos was established here. The name is the Greek translation of the Aramaic name Susita; indeed, the coins issued in the town always show the horse, the town's symbol. From the ancient town there are just a few traces. According to the historical sources in hand, the town, for the most part, was settled by non Jews, even when most of the settlements in the area, such as Tiberias across from the Kinneret, were populated by Jews. Since the beginning of the Roman presence in Israel, in Pompius' day (the first century B. C.), the town was part of a decapolis (the "ten Roman town" covenant in the Eastern side of the Jordan). Apparently, that was the time when it was planned. The town was fortified by a wall and towers; a main street crossed her from west to east, and smaller streets branch out of it perpendicularly. In the areas between the streets were blocks of buildings. Among the public buildings, the Nymphaeum was identified. It is some kind of a fountain and canal with flowing water. It wasn't an obvious thing, since the water had to be transferred to town through an aqueduct, and be brought up there by a siphon. The Byzantine times signified the last splendor chapter in the life of Susita, when no less than four churches were built in the town. Their traces were discovered. A baptistery was also discovered near the largest church. Looking at the largest church from above, shows an interesting phenomenon: The rows of its fallen columns all turn to one direction, as though a hidden force dropped them at once. It is indeed an indication to a loud earthquake which occurred at the end of the Byzantine time, or at the beginning of the ancient Arab time, and put the end to the city's existence. City Gate  Churches and Squares       Back to Israel Index
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