Difference between revisions of "Caesarea"

<p> '''Caesare'a.''' Caesarea, &nbsp;Acts 8:40; &nbsp;Acts 9:30; &nbsp;Acts 10:1; &nbsp;Acts 10:24; &nbsp;Acts 11:11; &nbsp;Acts 12:19; &nbsp;Acts 18:22; &nbsp;Acts 21:8; &nbsp;Acts 21:16; &nbsp;Acts 23:23; &nbsp;Acts 23:33; &nbsp;Acts 25:1; &nbsp;Acts 25:4; &nbsp;Acts 25:6; &nbsp;Acts 25:13, was situated on the coast of Palestine, on the line of the great road from Tyre to Egypt, and about halfway between Joppa and Dora. </p> <p> The distance from Jerusalem was about 70 miles; Josephus states it in round numbers as 600 stadia. In Strabo's time, there was, on this point of the coast, merely a town called "Strato's Tower," with a landing-place, whereas, in the time of Tacitus, Caesarea is spoken of as being the head of Judea. It was in this interval that the city was built by Herod the Great. </p> <p> It was the official residence of the Herodian kings, and of Festus, Felix and the other Roman procurators of Judea. Here also lived Philip the deacon and his four prophesying daughters. Caesarea continued to be a city of some importance, even in the time of the Crusades, and the name still lingers on the site ( ''Kaisariyeh'' ), which is a complete desolation, many of the building-stones having been carried to other towns. </p>

<p> [[Cæsarea]] ( ''Sĕs-A-Rç'Ah'' ). The chief Roman city of Palestine in New Testament times. It was on the Mediterranean, about 47 miles northwest of Jerusalem. It was first called "Strato's Tower." Herod the Great built a city there, b.c. 10, and named it in honor of Augustus Cæsar. Herod Agrippa I. died there, &nbsp;Acts 12:19-23. Philip the evangelist lived there, &nbsp;Acts 8:40; &nbsp;Acts 21:8; and Cornelius, 10:1-24. Paul frequently visited it, 9:30; 18:22; 21:8; 23:33; was in bonds there two years, 24:27; it was the official residence of Festus and of Felix. It is now in ruins, and is called Kaisarieh. </p>

<p> ( '''''Καισάρεια''''' , in the [[Targum]] '''''קיסרין''''' ), the name of several cities under the Roman rule, given to them in compliment of some of the emperors; especially of two important towns in Palestine. </p> <p> '''1.''' [[Caesar '''''Ç''''' A Palaest '''''Î''''' Nae]]  ( '''''Καισάρεια''''' '''''Ἡ''''' '''''Παλαιστίνης''''' ) '','' or "Caesarea of Palestine" (so called to distinguish it from the other Caesarea), or simply Cesarea (without addition, from its eminence as the Roman metropolis of Palestine, and the residence of the procurator). The numerous passages in which it occurs (&nbsp;Acts 8:40; &nbsp;Acts 9:30; &nbsp;Acts 10:1; &nbsp;Acts 10:24; &nbsp;Acts 11:11; &nbsp;Acts 12:19; &nbsp;Acts 18:22; &nbsp;Acts 21:8; &nbsp;Acts 21:16; &nbsp;Acts 23:23; &nbsp;Acts 23:33; &nbsp;Acts 25:1; &nbsp;Acts 25:4; &nbsp;Acts 25:6; &nbsp;Acts 25:13) show how important a place this city occupies in the Acts of the Apostles. It was situated on the coast of Palestine, on the line of the great road from Tyre to Egypt, and about half way between Joppa and Dora (Josephus, War, 1:21, 5). The journey of the apostle Peter from Joppa (&nbsp;Acts 10:24) occupied rather more than a day. On the other hand, Paul's journey from Ptolemais (&nbsp;Acts 21:8) was accomplished within the day. The distance from Jerusalem is stated by Josephus in round numbers as 600 stadia ''(Ant.'' 13:11, 2; War, 1:3, 5). The Jerusalem [[Itinerary]] gives sixty-eight miles (Wesseling, p. 600; see Robinson, Bib. Res. 3:45). It has been ascertained, however, that there was a shorter road by Antipatris than that which is given in the Itinerary a point of some importance in reference to the night- journey of Acts 23. (See [[Antipatris]]). The actual distance in a direct line is forty-seven English miles. </p> <p> In Strabo's time there was on this point of the coast merely a town called "Strato's Tower," with a landing-place ( '''''Πρόσορμον''''' '''''Ἔχων''''' ) '','' whereas, in the time of Tacitus, Caesarea is spoken of as being the head of Judaea ("Judaaee caput," Tac. ''Hist.'' 2:79). It was in this interval that the city was built by Herod the Great (Josephus, ''Ant.'' 15:9, 6; Strabo, 16:2, 27; Pliny, [[''H. N'']]  . v. 15). The work was, in fact, accomplished in ten years. The utmostcare and expense were lavished on the building of Caesarea. It was a proud monument of the reign of Herod, who named it in honor of the Emperor Augustus. The full name was Ccesarea Sebaste ( '''''Καισάρεια''''' '''''Σεβαστή''''' , Joseph. ''Ant.'' 16:5, 1). It was sometimes called ''Cesarea Stratonis,'' and sometimes also (from its position) ''Maritime Ccesarea'' ( '''''Παραλιός''''' , Joseph. ''War,'' 3:9, 1, or '''''Ἡ''''' '''''Ἐπί''''' '''''Θαλάττῃ''''' , ib. 7:1, 3). The magnificence of Cesarea is described in detail by Josephus in two places ''(Ant.'' 15:9; ''War,'' 1:21). The chief features were connected with the harbor (itself called '''''Σεβαστὸς''''' '''''Λιμήν''''' , on coins and by Josephus, ''Ant.'' 17:5, 1), which was equal in size to the Piraeus of Athens. The whole coast of Palestine may be said to be extremely inhospitable, exposed as it is to the fury of the western storms, with no natural port affording adequate shelter to the vessels resorting toit. To remedy this defect, Herod, who, though an arbitrary tyrant, did much for the improvement of Judaea, set about erecting, at immense cost and labor, one of the most stupendous works of antiquity. He threw out a semicircular mole, which protected the port of Caesarea on the south and west, leaving only a sufficient opening for vessels to enter from the north; so that, within the enclosed space, a fleet might ride at all weathers in perfect security. This breakwater was constructed of immense blocks of stone brought from a great distance, and sunk to the depth of 20 fathoms in the sea. [[Broad]] landing-wharves surrounded the harbor, and conspicuous from the sea was a tem. pie dedicated to Caesar and to Rome, and containing colossal statues of the emperor and the imperial city. Besides this, Herod added a theater and an amphitheatre; and, when the whole was finished, he fixed '''''—''''' his residence there, and thus elevated the city to the rank of the civil and military capital of Judeea, which rank it continued to enjoy as long as the country remained a province of the Roman empire (see Dr. Mansford, Script. Gazetteer). </p> <p> Vespasian was first declared emperor at Caesarea, and he raised it to the rank '''''‘''''' of a [[Rot]] man "colony" (q.v.), granting it, first, exemption from the capitation tax, and afterward from the ground taxes (the real jus Italicum). The place was, however, inhabited chiefly by Gentiles, though some thousands of Jews lived in it (Joseph.War, 3:9, 1; 3:14; Ant. 20:8, 7; Life, 11). It seems there was a standing dispute between the Jewish and Gentile inhabitants of Caesarea to which of them the city really belonged. The former claimed it as having been built by a Jew, meaning King Herod; the latter admitted this, but contended that he built it for them, and not for Jews, seeing that he had filled it with statues and temples of their gods, which the latter abominated (Joseph. War, 2:13,7). This quarrel sometimes came to blows, and eventually the matter was referred to the Emperor Nero, whose decision in favor of the Gentiles, and the behavior of the latter thereupon, gave deep offense to the Jews generally, and afforded occasion for the first outbreaks, which led to the war with the Romans (Joseph. War, 2:14). One of the first acts of that war was the massacre of all the Jewish inhabitants by the Gentiles to the number of 20,000 (ib. 2:18, 1). This city was the head-quarters of one of the Roman cohorts (q.v.) in Palestine. </p> <p> Caesarea is the scene of several interesting circumstances described in the New Testament, such as the conversion of Cornelius, the first-fruits of the Gentiles (Acts 10); the residence of Philip the [[Evangelist]] (&nbsp;Acts 21:8). It was here also, in the amphitheatre built by his grandfather, that Herod Agrippa was smitten of God and died (&nbsp;Acts 12:21-23). From hence the apostle Paul sailed to Tarsus when forced to leave Jerusalem on his return from [[Damascus]] (&nbsp;Acts 9:30), and at this port he landed after his second missionary journey (&nbsp;Acts 18:22). He also spent some time at Caesarea on his return from the third missionary journey (&nbsp;Acts 21:8; &nbsp;Acts 21:16), and before lone was brought back a prisoner to the same place (&nbsp;Acts 23:23; &nbsp;Acts 23:33), where he remained some time in bonds before his voyage to Italy (&nbsp;Acts 25:1; &nbsp;Acts 25:4; &nbsp;Acts 25:6; &nbsp;Acts 25:13). After the destruction of Jerusalem, Caesarea became the spiritual metropolis of all Palestine; but, since the beginning of the 5th century, when the land was divided into three provinces, [[Palestina]] Prima, Secunda, and Tertia, it became the capital of only the first province, and subordinate to the bishopric of Jerusalem, which was elevated into a patriarchate with the rights of primacy over "the three Palestines." Caesarea is chiefly noted as the birthplace and episcopate of Eusebius, the celebrated Church historian, in the beginning of the 4th century, and was conspicuous for the constancy of its martyrs and confessors in the variouspersecutions of the Church, especially the last (Euseb. Hist. Eccl. viii, s. f.). It was also the scene of some of Origen's labors and the birthplace of Procopius. It continued to be a city of some importance even in the time of the Crusades. It still retains the ancient name in the form of Kaiseryeh, but has long been desolate. The most conspicuous ruin is that of an old castleat the extremity of the ancient mole. </p> <p> A great extent of ground is covered by the remains of the city. A low wall of gray stone encompasses these ruins, and without this is a moat now dry. Between the accumulation of rubbish and the growth of long grass, it is difficult to define the form and nature of the various ruins thus enclosed. Nevertheless, the remains of twoaqueducts, running north and south, are still visible. The one next the sea is carried upon high arches; the lower one, to the eastward, carries its waters along a low wall in an arched channel five or six feet wide. The water is abundant and of excellent quality, and the small vessels of the countryoften put in here to take in their supplies. Caesarea is, apparently, never frequented for any other purpose;even the high-road leaves it wide; and it has not been visited by most of the numerous travelers in Palestine. The present tenants of the ruins are snakes, scorpions, lizards, wild boars, and jackals. See G. Robinson's Travels, 1:199 Bartlett's Jerusalem, p. 6; Traill's Josephus, p. xlix; Conybeare and Howson's Life and [[Epistles]] of St. Paul, 2:279; Rosenm '''''Ü''''' ller, Alterth. II, 2:326 sq.; Reland, Palcest. p. 670 sq.; Otho, Lex Rabb. p. 108 -sq.; Thomson, Land and Book, 2:234 sq. Ritter, Erdk. 16:598 sq.; Wilson, Bible Lands, 2:250 sq.; Prokesch, Reise, p. 28 sq.; Sieber, De Ccesarec Palestince Episcopis (Lips. 1734); Wiltsch, Geography and Stat. of the Church, 1:53, 214 sq. </p>

<p> ''''' ses ''''' - ''''' a ''''' - ''''' rē´a ''''' , ''''' sē ''''' - ''''' za ''''' - ''''' rē´a ''''' ( Καισαρεία , <i> ''''' Kaisareı́a ''''' </i> ): </p> <p> (1) Caesarea Palestina (pal-es-ti'na). The ancient name in the Arabic form <i> ''''' Ḳaisarı̄yeh ''''' </i> still clings to the ruins on the sea shore, about 30 miles North of Jaffa. It was built by Herod the Great on the site of Strato's Tower ( <i> Ant. </i> , Xiii , xi, 2; XV, ix, 6), and the name Caesarea Sebaste was given it in honor of Augustus (ibid., Xvi , v, 1). With his usual magnificence Herod lavished adornments on the city. He erected sumptuous palaces and public buildings, a theater, and amphitheater with prospect to the sea; while a spacious system of sewers under the city secured cleanliness and health. But "the greatest and most laborious work of all" was a magnificent harbor "always free from the waves of the sea," which Josephus says was not less than the Piraeus: this however is an exaggeration. It was of excellent workmanship, and all the more remarkable because the place itself was not suitable for such noble structures. The whole coast line, indeed, is singularly ill-fitted for the formation of harbors. The mighty breakwater was constructed by letting down stones 50 x 18 x 9 ft. in size into twenty fathoms deep. The mole was 200 ft. wide. Part was surmounted by a wall and towers. A promenade and dwellings for mariners were also provided. The work was done in ten or twelve years. It became the residence of the Roman procurator. It passed into the hands of Agrippa I; and here he miserably died (&nbsp;Acts 12:19 , &nbsp;Acts 12:23 ). Here dwelt Philip the Evangelist (&nbsp;Acts 8:40; &nbsp;Acts 21:8 ). To Caesarea Peter was sent to minister to the Roman centurion Cornelius (Acts 10). [[Thrice]] Paul passed through Caesarea (&nbsp;Acts 9:30; &nbsp;Acts 18:22; &nbsp;Acts 21:8 ); hither he was sent under guard from Jerusalem to escape danger from the Jews (&nbsp;Acts 23:23 ); and here he was imprisoned till his final departure for Rome. </p> <p> Riots between Gentiles and Jews in Caesarea gave rise to the war ( <i> BJ </i> , II, xiii, 7;. xiv, 4 f). [[Terrible]] cruelties were practiced on the Jews under Felix and Florus. Here Vespasian was hailed emperor by his soldiers. Titus here celebrated the birthday of his brother Domitian by setting 2,500 Jews to fight with beasts in the amphitheater. Eusebius was bishop of Caesarea (313-40 ad). In 548 ad a massacre of the Christians was organized and carried out by the Jews and Samaritans. The city passed into Moslem hands in 638. In the time of the Crusades it fell, now to the Christians and now to the Moslems; and was finally overthrown by Sultan Bibars in 1265 ad. </p> <p> The cathedral stood on the site of a temple built by Herod, where the ruins are seen today; as are also those of two aqueducts which conveyed water from <i> ''''' Nahr ez ''''' </i> - <i> ''''' Zerḳā ''''' </i> . The landward wall of the Roman city was nearly 3 miles in length. </p> <p> (2) Caesarea Philippi ( ''''' fi ''''' - ''''' lip´ı̄ ''''' ) (Καισαρεία ἡ Φιλίππου , <i> ''''' Kaisareı́a hē Philı́ppou ''''' </i> ). At the Southwest base of Mt. Hermon, on a rocky terrace, 1,150 ft. above sea-level, between <i> ''''' Wādy Khashabeh ''''' </i> and <i> ''''' Wādy Za‛areh ''''' </i> , lie the ruins of the ancient city. It was a center for the worship of Pan: whence the name Paneas, applied not only to the city, but to the whole district ( <i> Ant. </i> , XV, x, 3). It is possible that this may have been the site of ancient Baal-hermon; while [[Principal]] G. A. Smith would place Dan here ( <i> HGHL </i> , 480). The district was given by Augustus to Herod the Great 20 bc, by whom a temple of white marble was built in honor of the emperor. Paneas formed part of the tetrarchy of Philip. He rebuilt and beautified the town, calling it Caesarea as a compliment to Augustus, and adding his own name to distinguish it from Caesarea on the coast of [[Sharon]] ( <i> Ant. </i> , Xviii , ii, 1; <i> BJ </i> , II, ix, 1). From [[Bethsaida]] Jesus and His disciples came hither, and on the way Peter made his famous confession, after which Jesus began to tell them of His coming passion (&nbsp;Matthew 16:13; &nbsp;Mark 8:27 ). Some think that on a height near Caesarea Philippi Jesus was transfigured. See [[Transfiguration]] , Mount Of . Agrippa Ii renamed the town Neronias ( <i> Ant. </i> , XX, ix, 4). The ancient name however outlived both Caesare a and Neronias, and survives in the Arabic form <i> ''''' Bāniās ''''' </i> . The modern village, built among the ruins, contains 350 inhabitants. The walls and towers of which the remains are seen date from Crusading times. The castle, <i> ''''' eṣ ''''' </i> - <i> ''''' Ṣubeibeh ''''' </i> , crowns the hill behind the town, and must have been a place of strength from the earliest times. Its possession must always have been essential to the holding of the valley to the west. Immediately to the north of the town, at the foot of a steep crag, the fountain of the [[Jordan]] rises. Formerly the waters issued from a cave, <i> ''''' Maghāret rās en ''''' </i> - <i> ''''' Neba‛ ''''' </i> , "cave of the fountain head," now filled up with débris. Two niches cut in the face of the rock recall the idolatries practiced here in olden times. A shrine of el-Khudr stands on the west of the spring. With the rich soil and plentiful supplies of water, in a comparatively temperate climate, average industry might turn the whole district into a garden. As it is, the surroundings are wonderfully beautiful. </p>

<p> A [[Syrian]] seaport, 30 m. N. of Joppa, built in honour of Augustus [[Cæsar]] by Herod the Great, now in ruins, though a place of note in the days of the Crusades. Also </p> <p> t the source of the Jordan, whence Christ, on assuring Himself that His disciples were persuaded of His divine sonship, turned to go up to Jerusalem, and so by His sacrifice perfect their faith in Him. </p>