Caeserea

We devoted the while day to walking through the enormous Caeserea site . This is where Herod the Great built a ginormous palace and ground complete with an Olympic sized chariot race course with a huge oval arena of seating all around. Reportedly,  Herod also had gladiators, wild animals, and Christians battle it out in the arena.

On the grounds were several sumptuous palaces, an extensive bath house, granaries and other storage buildings, a synagogue, and a private wharf and harbor. A great earthquake toppled the entire complex which was later built over 9n the 4th century A.D. for a while, but then only sparsely populated.

Later, when the Crusaders arrived, they were totally unconcerned about the ancient ruins. They just used treated it as their private able quarry and re-purposed the magnificent pillars and other stonework to their own ends.

It was electrifying to stand in the very hall Paul stood in, in Acts 23;33--27:2. We marveled at how Paul had spent over 2 years in Ceasarea, mostly in the dungeons below. So many famous people came to hear from him. Though it doesn't look very big, nor like much at all today, Paul's fate hung in the balance e those two thousand years ago on that very spot. We also stood at the most likely place his ship took sale from, headed for Rome.

All throughout were magnificent mosaics, and stunning marble halls. Herod had wealth and wealth and wealth!

Afterwards we drove to Jerusalem and we're delighted to discover the YMCA is like a palace in itself. To our very great surprise and joy the car rental drop-off was right next door. Thank You, God.