Roman Stadium Found In Tiberias

The Jerusalem Post ^ | 6-16-2002

[blam]

Jun. 16, 2002

Roman stadium found in Tiberias

By THE JERUSALEM POST STAFF

The remains of a monumental public building archeologists think may be a stadium from the first century CE have been found during a dig on the grounds of the Galei Kinneret Hotel in Tiberias.

The form of the building, its hewn stone construction, and round southern end date it from the Roman period, when it served an important public function.

Moshe Hartal, an archeologist with the Antiquities Authority, said it is possible the building is the stadium mentioned in the writings of Josephus Flavius.

"The stadium was used for athletic competitions, for horse races, and as a place to assemble the populace on special occasions," he said. "After the sea battle between the Jews and the Romans off Migdal, thousands of Roman captives were taken to the stadium. Some of them were killed and the others sold into slavery."

Hartal said in ancient times the building the remains so far uncovered occupy a diameter of 39 meters occupied an area of hundreds of square meters. It was uncovered when a 10-meter-long, three-meter deep trench was dug.

He said remains of mud found in the building's interior indicate it may have been used for water sports at a later date.

Other buildings from various periods, including the Byzantine, early Arab, and Fatimid, have also been uncovered.

The dig also provides evidence of two geological events that caused the collapse of the western side of the structure. As a result of the disturbances, walls collapsed or were uprooted. The events were probably the earthquake of 749 CE that caused the destruction of many settlements in the country, among them Beit She'an and Susita.

The Antiquities Authority is working to preserve the site and integrate it with the hotel.

[Bahbah]

What does the "CE" stand for, blam, if you happen to know?

[SaveTheChief]

CE is PC for AD

[Bahbah]

No wonder I didn't know. Thanks.

[SaveTheChief]

CE stands for "Common Era" and has come to replace AD so as not to upset people who are not Christian. BCE stands for "Before Common Era" and replaces BC.

[general_re]

He said remains of mud found in the building's interior indicate it may have been used for water sports at a later date.

That was after the gladiators left, thus making good on their threat to relocate to another city if they didn't get a new stadium with more luxury boxes and a retractable roof. Some things never change...

[Bahbah]

I can't resist asking why "Common Era"? Where does the "common" come from? This is bizarre.

[lizma]

CE and BCE use to be in Archeological journals awhile ago but haven't seen it for about a year or so now.

Not very nice of the Jerusalem Post.

[patton]

Huh. Learn something new every day. I was wondering if it was "Callander Edwardian," but then, don't we use the Gregorian Callander? My brain hurts.

"Anno Domini" I understand. Vah! Denuone Latine loquebar? Me ineptum. Interdum modo elabitur. (Oh! Was I speaking Latin again? Silly me. Sometimes it just sort of slips out.)

(With credits to sirgawain.)

[patton]

Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis ad capul tuum saxum immane mittam.

(I have a catapult. Give me all the money or I will fling an enormous rock at your head.)

93 Posted on 02/02/2001 18:21:34 PST by The Chid

[Mike Fieschko]

(I have a catapult. Give me all the money or I will fling an enormous rock at your head.)

Romanes eunt domus, and many other places on the 'net.

[patton]

Freepers having fun.

[Cacique]

Lucky 13 Latin bump

[sheik yerbouty]

It predates PC. AD means Anno Domini, the year of our Lord. Non Christians sometimes don't put AD, but CE, for "The Common Era", manifested by the Gregorian, and before that, Julian calendars.

[SunkenCiv]

Just adding this to the GGG catalog, not sending a general distribution.

Please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. Thanks.

Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on, off, or alter the "Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list --
Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
The GGG Digest -- Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)

[SunkenCiv]

http://www.livescience.com/imageoftheday/siod_050728.html

http://images.livescience.com/images/050728_siod_jcoin_04.jpg

The 'Jesus' Coin

Ker Than

This "Jesus coin" was dug up during excavations of Tiberias, an ancient town located along the coast of the Sea of Galilee in present-day Israel.

The town was named in honor of the Roman Emperor Tiberius and was built by Herod Antipas, a son of Herod the Great, during a time when Jesus was still just a teenager.

Tiberias has been popular with tourists and pilgrims for more than 2,000 years. In Roman times, visitors arrived from all over the ancient world to enjoy its 17 natural mineral springs. The town is also close to the city where Mary Magdalene was believed to be born and the site where Jesus is supposed to have fed a crowd of thousands with just a couple of fish and a few loaves of bread.

This coin is believed to have been brought to Tiberias from Constantinople where it was minted by a Christian pilgrim around the 11th century. It’s backside bears the inscription "Jesus Christ King of Kings."

More Jesus coins were found inside a row of shops, along with oil lamps, glass and stone vessels, jewelry and frescoes.

[Smokin' Joe]

I always read it as "Christian Era" and "Before Christian Era" just to take the PC out of it.

[safisoft]

I can't resist asking why "Common Era"? Where does the "common" come from? This is bizarre.

Where does AD come from? Since the historic Yeshua [Jesus] could not possibly have been born before the verifiable death of Herod the Great in 4 BCE (read your Bible), what does AD refer to, when He was 6 years old? The point is, since we know for a fact that He was not born on December 25th (again, read the Luke account of John's birth account, the dating is given there for anyone interested in facts, rather than fiction), and we know for a fact that He was not born in the year 1 (please, someone profer that it was the year zero so we can all laugh), then using CE and BCE is in fact an acknowledgement to the 1,800 year old standard dating system, but at the same time does not promote the myth that some igoramous came up with for dating the birth of Jesus in the middle ages. CE and BCE are not "PC" - they are an attempt to be more historically accurate.