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Tiberias is a city on the western shores of the Sea of Galilee that was founded about 18 A.D. by Herod Antipas and named in honor of the Emperor Tiberias (Josephus, Antiquities, XVII, 35-8). Josephus relates that because there had been a burial-ground at the location where the city was built, the city was unclean according to Jewish Law. Herod solved the problem that this raised of populating his city by admitting poor or landless men, freedmen and soldiers, and even by forcibly bringing settlers from his other domains. He also included wealthy families without religious or nationalistic convictions. The results of this policy can be seen in their subsequent behavior in the First Jewish Revolt (66-70 A.D.).
Contrary to the practice that was common in the Hellenistic Period, no city wall was built at the time of the city's foundation. One was not added until the time of Septimius Severus. Like a Hellenistic city, Tiberias enjoyed a certain degree of autonomy, with the head of the city being an elected archon, assisted by a committee of 10 men, and a city council (Josephus, War II, 64). The city calculated its era from the day of its foundation and was entitled to mint its own copper coinage.
Tiberias remained the capital of Galilee until it was given to Agrippa II by Nero in 61 A.D. (Josephus, Antiquities, XX, 159) and detached from the district. Eventually, the city surrendered to Vespasian and was spared for the sake of Agrippa.
After the Bar-Kochba Revolt (132-5 A.D.), the city was paganized by Hadrian. However, a little later the city become Jewish once more and the seat of a rabbinical school. When Johanan ben Nappaha settled here at the beginning of the 3rd century it became the center of Jewish learning and was the last city in which the Sanhedrin held sittings. It was here that the Mishna and the Talmud (Jewish oral interpretation and commentary of the OT Scriptures) as well as the Massorectic texts (ancient Hebrew Scrolls) assumed their final shape.
1. John 6:23 The following day after Jesus fed the 5,000, the people on the other side (eastern side) saw that Jesus' boat had landed. The people of Tiberias then sailed to the place where Jesus had eaten the bread and had given thanks.
2. John 21:1 After the resurrection, Jesus goes north to the Sea of Tiberias for the last time.
1. ROMAN PERIOD: Due to the build-up of the modern city of this coastline town, the archaeological remains are few and far between. Yet the vicinity is rich in archaeological possibilities, especially the area between the city and the famous natural mineral hot springs, of which there were 17 in Roman days. Also, masonry of various dates survive, including a synagogue.
Excavations are currently taking place.
"Journey of a Lifetime"