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CAESAREA PHILIPPI
A. HISTORICAL BACKGOUND
A city on the southern slopes of the Hermon Range, Caesarea Philippi was earliest mentioned by the greek historian Polybius in his account of Antiochus III’s victory over the Ptolemies, who previously ruled this city in the 3rd century B.C., in about 200 B.C. In the time of the New Testament the region was called Paneas. Josephus, the Jewish historian, records that Herod the Great built a temple to Augustus here at Paneas (now called “Banias”). After his death Herod officially received the city from Augustus (Josephus, Antiquities, XV, 359/60). His son Philip, enlarging and beautifying the city, made Banias the capital of his tetrarchy and called it Caesarea in honor of Augustus. To distinguish this city from the coastal Caesarea, it was finally named Caesarea Philippi.
In Matthew (16:13) and Mark (8:27), it is mentioned as one of the cities visited by Jesus and his disciples. Agrippa II embellished the city and renamed it Neronias in honor of Nero. Later the city was conquered by the Arabs in the 7th century A.D.
B. BIBLICAL REFERENCES
1. Mt. 16:13 Jesus came to the borders of Caesarea Philippi and asks his disciples, “Who do men say that I am, the Son of man?” After Peter’s response, Jesus says, “Upon this rock I will build my church.” This was also the site of theTransfiguration (perhaps on the slopes of Mt. Hermon).
C. ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDS OF INTEREST
1. HELLENISTIC I: Two separate excavations are currently taking place here at Banias, one at the site of the ancient city and the other at the Hellenistic-Roman cult site in the grotto of Pan. Here in the grotto area, a religious sanctuary has been revealed. Other Hellenistic structures (walls and houses) have been uncovered nearby.
2. ROMAN I & II: Herod the Great’s famous Temple of Augustus has been recently unearthed by yearly diligent excavation. Life-size marble head sculptures (of Athena, Zeus, and Aphrodite). Also, marbles depicting hands holding Pan pipes, along with greek and Latin inscriptions indicate the religious significance this city once held during the time of Christ. Currently a Roman building is been excavated, tentatively identifying it as a health and recreation center. Indeed, Banias was a monumental city during the 1st century A.D.
3. BYZANTINE: This monumental city of northern Israel apparently continued to flourish into the 3rd and 4th centuries A.D. A continuation of buildings and other structures can be seen.
4. CRUSADER: Crusader remains also can be seen, revealing various buildings and mosaics.