Beit She’an, also known as Scythopolis or Nysa, is one of the oldest cities in Israel. Nestled in the Galilee region, it sits at the convergence of the Harod Valley and the Jordan Valley, a mere 27 kilometres south of the Sea of Galilee and 5 kilometres east of the Jordan River. This unique location has played a pivotal role in the city’s history, making it a fascinating archaeological site with a rich past.
Beit Sh’ean, located at an important crossroads, was first settled in the 5th millennium BC. Its location south of the Harod Stream, in a region with fertile land and abundant water, made it a desirable place to live. During the Late Bronze Age, Beit She’an became the centre of Egyptian rule over Canaan. A basalt tablet dating back to 1290-1279 BC mentions Beit She’an. Later, a Canaanite city was built on top of the Egyptian centre, which was then occupied by the Israelites and the Philistines during the Old Testament period. The Bible mentions Beit She’an several times, and it is most famous for being the place where King Saul and his sons were hanged from the city walls.
Scythopolis later expanded into a large Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine town. The city’s name comes from Greek Mythology, which tells us that Dionysos, the god of wine, buried his nurse, Nysa, in the town where he settled with his Scythian personal guards. Scythopolis became the largest city in the Decapolis, a regional alliance. It peaked after the Bar Kochba Revolt under Antoninus Pius (AD 138-161) and Marcus Aurelius (AD 161-180). Many temples, bathhouses, a theatre, an amphitheatre, and other monumental buildings were constructed during this time. Scythopolis continued to prosper from the 4th to the 7th century, but the pagan structures were converted to other uses since the majority of the population was Christian.
The large city was levelled by a massive earthquake in the 8th century AD and was in ruins until recent archaeological excavations uncovered eighteen layers of remains dating from the Late Neolithic period (4500 BC) through the 12th century AD. The ancient city ruins are now protected within Bet She’an National Park.
PORTFOLIO
The Roman theatre was built during the Severan era on the remains of a 1st-century AD theatre. It could seat about 7,000 spectators. It is the best-preserved ancient theatre discovered in Israel.The Roman theatre had eight arched entrances called vomitoria, which led to the seating area.The reconstructed section of the scaenae frons. The 21-metre high stage building comprised a two-storey structure of white marble columns and two-storey lateral structures of red granite columns.The Roman theatre was built during the Severan era on the remains of a 1st-century AD theatre. It could seat about 7,000 spectators.Palladius Street is a 150-metre collonaded street that crosses the city from the slopes of the Tel to the theatre. It was built during the Roman period and renovated at the beginning of the Byzantine period.The collonaded portico along Palladius Street is paved with intricate mosaics and lined with marble-faced shops.The Corinthian capital bears the head of Dionysus, the god of wine and the patron of the city. According to myth, the city was founded by Dionysus, who lived there. His wet nurse, Nysa, who breastfed him, was buried in the city, so it was named Nysa-Scythopolis.Statue of Dionysus unearthed at Beit She’an/Scythopolis, 2nd century AD, Israel Museum.Exedra (semi-circular building) with twelve small rooms and a portico opening onto a courtyard built in the 6th century AD on the western side of Palladius Street.A mosaic with a representation of Tyche, goddess of fortune, is found in the semicircular exedra off Paladius Street at Scythopolis (Beit She’an). Israel Museum, Jerusalem.Statue of Tyche holding the cornucopia, unearthed in Beit Sh’ean/Scythopolis, 3rd century AD, Israel Museum.Exedra (semi-circular building) with twelve small rooms and a portico opening onto a courtyard built in the 6th century AD on the western side of Palladius Street.The entrance gateway leads to the Western Bathhouse.The Western Bathhouse was built in the 4th century AD.Remains of two pools in the Western Bathhouse, built in the 4th century AD.The collonaded exercise yard of the Western Bathhouse had a mosaic pavement decorated with geometric patterns.Scythopolis.Silvanus Street runs north-south through the city.The ruins of the Round Temple attest to the ferocity of the 749 AD earthquake. The Temple was perhaps erected for the worship of Dionysus or his wet nurse, Nysa.The ruins of the Roman Nymphaeum were originally built in the 2nd century AD.Overview of Silvanus Street.View on the Tel from the Agora.The public latrines of the Northern Bathhouse have an open courtyard paved with a mosaic floor.Overview of Scythopolis from the top of the Tell.At the top of the hill are the ruins of an Egyptian governor’s house dating back to the 12th century BC. During the late Bronze Period and the early Iron Age, the city became a centre of the Egyptian imperial administration in northern Canaan.The Egyptian governor’s house. Above the door of the house (lintel) was a stone tablet bearing the governor’s name and title: Ramses-User-Khepesh. The image depicts the governor kneeling before the name and attributes of Pharaoh Ramses III.Basalt statue of Ramses III, depicting him seated on his throne, found at Beit She’an, 1184-1153 BC. Rockefeller Museum, Jerusalem.The Hippodrome was constructed in the 2nd century AD and used for horse and chariot races. It was later converted into an amphitheatre, which hosted gladiatorial combats. The amphitheatre ceased to function in the second half of the 4th century AD because the city’s Christians disapproved of its activities.The Hippodrome/Amphitheatre, situated beyond the city limits, had ten or twelve rows accommodating 5,000-7,000 spectators.The ruins of the Roman bridge, a triple-arched bridge crossing the Nahal Harod.
Scythopolis later expanded into a large Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine town. The city’s name comes from Greek Mythology, which tells us that Dionysos, the god of wine, buried his nurse, Nysa, in the town where he settled with his Scythian personal guards. Scythopolis became the largest city in the Decapolis, a regional alliance. It peaked after the Bar Kochba Revolt under Antoninus Pius (AD 138-161) and Marcus Aurelius (AD 161-180). Many temples, bathhouses, a theatre, an amphitheatre, and other monumental buildings were constructed during this time. Scythopolis continued to prosper from the 4th to the 7th century, but the pagan structures were converted to other uses since the majority of the population was Christian.
following hadrian photography 
Wirklich tolle Bilder!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: ‘Hadrian: An Emperor Cast in Bronze’ exhibition in Jerusalem | FOLLOWING HADRIAN