Caesarea on the Sea
Not to be confused with Caesarea Philippi/Paneas.
Large maritime port and Roman garrison.
Inhabitants or Natives[edit | edit source]
Ennius, Florus and Marcus, the debauched Romans, Aurea Galla (Christina), Isaac and Lucius Caius, two young children, Valeria's husband, Simon the ropemaker, Syntyche, Valerian his cruel master, a blind healed by Jesus.
Description[edit | edit source]
“[...] the harbour and ships can still be seen. There are many warehouses and shops [...]”[1]
“The town appears stretched along the shore, as beautiful as every place where Roman refinement has settled. Thermal baths and marble buildings exhibit their whiteness like solid blocks of snow in the districts closer to the sea, overlooked by a tall white square tower near the harbour: perhaps a Castrum or a look-out post. Then there are the more modest little suburban houses, in Jewish style, and everywhere there are green pergolae, roof-gardens built more or less splendidly on the flat roofs of houses, and tall trees growing everywhere.”[2]
“Caesarea has large markets where fine victuals pour in for the refined Roman tables, and near the market squares where, in a kaleidoscope of faces, colours and races, more common foodstuffs can be found, there are stores with richer delicacies, imported both from the various Roman colonies and from remote Italy, to make the separation from the Fatherland less painful. And stores selling wines and delicatessen imported from abroad are in deep porches, because the Romans do not like being burned by the sun or drenched by rain while purchasing refined foodstuffs for their banquets. While satisfying their gluttony like Epicureans, they do not neglect the other parts of their bodies… thus cool shady porches and arches protecting from the rain lead from the Roman district – which is almost entirely grouped around the building of the Proconsul, between the coast road and the square of barracks and tollhouse – to the Roman stores near the Jewish markets.”[3]
Significant Events[edit | edit source]
Jesus passes several times through this important port city; he performs many miracles there: a teaching heard by all present regardless of their language,[4] first encounter with Valeria during which he saves Fausta, her daughter,[5] organization of the rescue of Aurea, nearby first encounter with Syntyche who has just fled...
Name[edit | edit source]
Called Caesarea to honor the Roman emperor Caesar Augustus. To be distinguished from Caesarea of Philip (Caesarea Paneas).
Caesarea (Latin: Caesarea; Hebrew: קֵיסָרְיָה, Qesarya; Arabic: قيسارية, Qaysaria; Modern Greek: Καισάρεια)
Other names: Sebaste, (Tower of Straton), Caesarea Maritima, Kaisariyeh, Qaisariyeh, Kessaria, Qaisariya, Qaysariyah, Qesari, Qisri.
Today Caesarea/Caesarea.
Where is it mentioned in the work?[edit | edit source]
GRM 154
GRM 254
GRM 425 GRM 426 GRM 427
GRM 632
Learn More about This Place[edit | edit source]
Seat of the Proconsul. City built by Herod the Great on the Mediterranean coast 37 km south of Mount Carmel. It was the official residence of the Herods and the Roman procurators. It was located on the land trade route from Tyre to Egypt and had an artificial port of 850m. All this made it an important commercial center. There were magnificent palaces and public buildings, a huge amphitheater, and a large Temple dedicated to Caesar and Rome. The population was mixed, composed of Jews and Gentiles. The deacon Philip was from Caesarea and brought the Gospel there.[6] It is where Peter saw the fulfillment of the vision where God showed him the equality of Gentiles and Jews;[7] Paul, who passed there several times, was sent there to be judged and stayed there in prison for 2 years.
Strabo,[8] (-64 to -25) wrote a "Geography," confirming Maria Valtorta's remarks about the presence of crocodiles and forests around Caesarea on the Sea: “There is Mount Carmel and villages of which nothing remains except the name, Sykaminopolis (Sicaminon), Boucolopolis, Crocodilopolis and other similar names. Then there is a very large forest. Then it is Joppa...”.[9]
Excerpt from the Geographical Dictionary of the Gospel According to Maria Valtorta, by Jean-François Lavère:
Jesus passes several times, in this important port city. He performs many miracles there: a teaching heard by all present regardless of their language, first encounter with Valeria during which he saves her daughter, organization of the rescue of Aurea, nearby, first encounter with Syntyche, who has just fled...Archaeological excavations[10] carried out since the 1960s have allowed a reconstruction of the city and port. This image allows us today to appreciate the accuracy of Valtorta’s descriptions, nevertheless written twenty years earlier!
Maritime port of ancient Palestine, on the coast of Samaria, north of Jaffa. The "tower of Straton" dates from the 4th century BC. Rebuilt by Herod the Great.
Reconstruction of Caesarea on the Sea / between -22 and -10/-9, the city received its new name in honor of the Roman emperor Augustus Caesar and became the most important port of Palestine.
It is mentioned seventeen times in the Acts of the Apostles.
Gallery[edit | edit source]
Stadium and port, Caesarea, in 2024.
Aqueduct, Caesarea, in 2024.
Explore[edit | edit source]
• 32° 30’ 10’’ N / 34° 53’ 30’’
• +10m