Touring Israel | A Virtual And Biblical Journey
Stop 1 | Caesarea Maritima, part 2
Matters of Historical Significance
Other than the major Biblical events that took place in Caesarea, there are at least five persons or events of historic significance. We will consider these in chronological order, beginning with the earliest.
The Death of Rabbi Akiva
Though most Christians have not heard of Joseph Ben Akiva (A.D. 50-135), he is among the most famous Jewish rabbis to ever live. He is considered the father of Rabbinic Judaism (which, for all practical purposes, is modern Judaism). His followers were numbered in the thousands during his lifetime.
It was Akiva who gathered what is now called “The Council at Jamnia,” a council of Jewish leadership, and settled the canon of the Hebrew Scriptures, with the 24 books it contains today (39 in English versions due to splitting several books).
There are many legends about Akiva’s life and death, but the most trusted version is that he was put to death in the hippodrome of Caesarea, having been imprisoned for sharing his Jewish faith, breaking the “Hadrian Edicts” against such work. Legend says that he died by combing, a Roman torture method of scraping the skin off with an iron comb, and that this happened as he recited the Shema (“Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.”
Akiva was known to be a supporter of Simon Bar Kochba, who led the Third Jewish Revolt (also known as the Bar Kochba Rebellion) 132-136.
The Work of Origen of Alexandria
Origen is perhaps the most prolific of the so-called “church fathers.” Originally from Alexandria, he moved to Caesarea, where he had been ordained, and there started a school for higher learning, teaching logic, theology, physics, philosophy, and more. He amassed a huge library and left it to his followers in Caesarea, making the town second only to Alexandria for ancient Christian libraries. Origen is today known for being the “father of spiritualistic interpretation” of Scripture. His volumes of work would be rejected by more conservative students of Scripture, but his impact on Christianity (and on Caesarea) cannot be underestimated.
The Work of Eusebius
Eusebius (A.D. 260-359) has two similarities with Rabbi Akiva. First, he is considered to have been the one who completed the New Testament canon, just as Akiva did for the old. Second, he is considered the “Father of Church History” just like Akiva is considered the “Father of Rabbinic Judaism.” And, of course, they both spent time in Caesarea (Eusebius lived there and served as Bishop, and Akiva was imprisoned and died there). Eusebius was the author of many important works, perhaps his most famous being that of a history of the church up to the time shortly after the Constantinian edict declaring the empire to be “Christian.”
The Sixth Crusade
The Crusades were, largely, an attempt by Christianity to extend the “Holy Roman Empire” into the land of Israel and away from its Muslim conquerors (who came into the land in the 7th Century). Though done in the name of religion, they should not be considered “religious wars.” Their flaws and injustices (of which there are many) are not a reflection on the Christian faith, but rather on the bad Kingdom theology that was predominant at that time. An expansion of territory by almost any European kingdom was considered a “religious war,” only because church and state were essentially one.
The Sixth Crusade (1227-1229) was led by King Louis IX of France, today known as Saint Louis. During this crusade King Louis built fortifications in Caesarea that remain to this day. At the gate of the crusader city one can easily see the pointed rather than rounded arches that were characteristic of the Crusader era. Recognizing these arches can help a modern traveler make a quick estimation of whether an ancient building is 1,000 years old (Crusader, with a pointed arch) or 2,000 years old (Roman, with a rounded arch).
The Proof of Pontius Pilate
For many centuries, skeptics of the historicity of Scripture denied that Pontius Pilate, the Roman Prefect (Governor) even existed. This was, theoretically, to cast doubt on the entire crucifixion narrative. However, in 1961 an Italian archaeologist discovered a stone that had the Pilate’s name inscribed! This stone had been preserved for almost 2,000 years and stands today to prove the historic validity of the Word of God. Visitors will see a replica of the “Pilate Stone” prominently displayed in Caesarea. The original is held in the Israel Museum.
The modern significance of the city
Today the city of Caesarea is the home of the rich and famous. It is the only city in Israel (and one of few in the world) that is operated by a private, for-profit corporation. The modern city was established by the Rothschild family as a means of providing philanthropic benefit to Israel, which it does to this day. Additionally, a nearby kibbutz develops manufactured quartz stone marketed as Caeserstone, used in high-end counter-tops in kitchens and baths. Caeserstone, Ltd. Is now a publicly traded company, with Kibbutz Sdot Yam as the majority shareholder.
