So we have been out exploring and have some very interesting sites to tell you about. First up will be Yeh’aim National Park … built out of limestone and pretty much a ruin. The fortress has not yet been studied in depth. The earliest remains found here are those of a Roman fort and a Byzantine farm or monastery. Next it was a Crusader fort … really a fortified farm which served as an agricultural settlement. The tower, which stands in the center and which differs from all others, was the eastern Crusader tower. A significant strengthening of the fortifications was effected in 1208, when the Crusader king allotted the farm to members of the German Order of Teutonic Nights, but it was not enough to stem the rising Moslem tide. And so it was conquered and destroyed and then some 500 years later it was rebuilt and then of course it was taken over and conquered a couple more times over the years! That’s what happens when your fortress is in a strategic location!
Tel Hazor is located in the Hula Valley, at the foot of the Galilee mountains. It is situated along the ancient road that turned northeast and linked the land of Israel through Lebanon’s Beka’a Valley to Babylon. Another road, to the northwest, led to Phoenicia. Hazor’s location, its fertile land and the springs in the nearby Hazor Stream, gave it the natural conditions to develop into the oft described greatest city in the land of Israel and one of the most important cities of the Canaanite period.
And then we move further North and West to a great Fortress in the sky. Nimrod Fortress named after the mythical hunter Nimrod. What a spectacular view, what effort required to build it, what a great place for ice cream!
And wrapping up this visit to the past, dropping back down South and East of Haifa, the great city of Bet She’an. Situated between two rivers, well one river and one stream, blessed with unlimited water in a desert country. Little wonder this was an important city. The beauty and opulence we can only imagine. At one time this was the greatest city in what we now know as Israel. This 400 acre site has had archaeological work ongoing since 1920. Only a small portion has been uncovered. What it must have looked like is presented in a substantial bronze model. Very impressive! And heck, for all of Lynn’s spinning friends out there, this was the linen capital of the Roman Empire.
A historic hub of activity spanning a millennium or two into the past. If I wasn’t paying attention in history class I might be given a second opportunity to hear some of what happened! Lawrie seemed to have kept what he learned and is thoroughly enjoying our explorations. I’m just enjoying the photography opportunities. If you want more information about these historic sites, just Google them. Not only will you find the official Israel National Park site, but many other travellers have posted photographs and observations.
Brilliant pictures and info. Keep posting.