Search results
People also ask
What is Beisan known for?
Was Beisan a Jewish community?
Why is Beisan a Semitic town?
Where is Beit She'an located?
Why was Beisan called Beisan day?
How do I get to Beit Shean?
Today, Beit She'an serves as a regional centre for the towns in the Beit She'an Valley. The ancient city ruins are now protected within the Beit She'an National Park. The town is located near the Jordan River Crossing, one of three crossing points between Israel and Jordan.
Beit She’an is in the North District of Israel. It has been historically important due to its geographical location, positioned at the junction of the Jordan River Valley and the Jezreel Valley. It has also played an important role in more recent times, acting as the regional centre of the villages in the Beit She’an Valley.
- Colonnaded Streets
- The Acropolis
- The Basilica
- The Nymphaeum
- The Temple
- The Eastern Bathhouse
- The Theater
- The Amphitheater
- The Western Bathhouse
- A Synagogue in The House of Leontius
Several colonnaded streets, along which the public buildings of Roman Scythopolis stood, crossed the civic center at the foot of the tel. The width of the streets was about 24 m.; on both sides of the unroofed thoroughfare stood two rows of columns, which supported roofs covering elevated sidewalks lined with shops. The streets were restored in the...
At the northern end of Palladius Street, at the foot of the tel, stood a monumental propyleum (gate structure) with three entrances. From it a staircase, the via sacra, (sacral way) led to the top of the tel, which was the acropolis of Scythopolis. An altar, with dedications to Zeus Akraios (Zeus of the Heights - the acropolis) was found at the foo...
The central civil basilica of Scythopolis, 70 m. long and 30 m. wide, was located west of the intersection of the main streets. Rows of columns with Ionic capitals created roofed aisles on four sides of an open courtyard. The basilica served as the commercial center of the city and legal and public affairs were also conducted there. A large agora (...
This public fountain, located on Sylvanus Street next to the monument, was a very elaborate building with a semi-circular facade - an apse facing the street, with niches for statues. On podiums flanking the structure stood two pairs of large fluted columns. Water from the aqueduct was fed into the back of the nymphaeum, and piped through openings i...
A Roman temple stood at the intersection of Sylvanus and Palladius streets, probably dedicated to the cult of Dionysus, the traditional patron god and founder of the city. It apparently also served the cult of Nysa, the nursemaid of Dionysius, who was also regarded as a goddess. The temple was built on a 20m-high podium supported on a series of arc...
Located on Sylvanus Street east of the Basilica, it included a square hall (20 x 20 m.) that served as the frigidarium (cold room) of the bathhouse. The room's wall and floor were covered with marble slabs. In one of its walls was a fountain and in the other walls were niches for statues. Fragments of statues, probably smashed in the Byzantine peri...
The monumental theater of Scythopolis stands at the southern end of Palladius Street and is the best preserved building from Roman times. Performances consisted mainly of light entertainment such as acrobatics, impersonations and sports competitions, though plays were also presented. The theater, 110 m. in diameter, was built on a hillside, its rea...
The amphitheater was located on the plateau south of the Roman civic center. A hippodrome had been built here, of which very little is known, since the Roman amphitheater was built on its western part. The oval amphitheater (102 x 67 m.) encloses an arena 82 m. long and 47 m. wide. The arena was surrounded by a 3.2 m.-high wall, with 10-12 rows of ...
Northwest of the theater, at the southern end of Palladius Street, a large bathhouse complex, 100 m. long and 90 m. wide, was constructed in the 4th century. A monumental propyleum (gateway), with columns and carved friezes connected the street to a mosaic-paved colonnade, which led to the bathhouse courtyard. The courtyard was surrounded, on three...
The House of Leontius, so named by the excavators (1964-72), was built in the Byzantine period in the western part of Scythopolis. In the excavations, only several rooms around a courtyard were exposed, including one on the southern side (7 x 7 m.), which had served as a synagogue. Its colorful mosaic floor had an outer belt decorated with flowers ...
The site’s location on a naturally high hill defended on two sides by deep ravines carved by the Harod (Jalud) and Asi Rivers gave it an advantage that may have influenced its Arabic name, Tell el-Husn, "mound of the fortress."
Beit She'an (Hebrew: בֵּית שְׁאָן Bēṯ Šəʾān (help·info)), also known as Beisan (Arabic: بيسان Bisān (help·info)), and historically known as Scythopolis (Σκυθόπολις in Ancient Greek) is a city in the Northern District of Israel. It is known for its location near the Jordan River Valley and the Jezreel Valley.
It is in the Galilee region of northern Israel where the Harod Valley and Jordan Valley meet. It’s 27km south of the Sea of Galilee and 5km east of the Jordan River. It is one of the country’s largest archaeological sites.
Jan 15, 2021 · Beit Shean is the most atmospheric Roman ruin site in Israel. These well-preserved monuments are the place to head to if you want to relive the glory days of Ancient Rome. Walking its surviving colonnaded streets and exploring its temple remnants offers you the opportunity to savor a glimpse into the day-to-day life of the city under Roman rule.
