The search for Herod’s temple: Off the beaten path in Banias and Omrit
The exact location of the Roman ruler's temple is still up for debate
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BANIAS
The Banias Nature Reserve is an archaeological site near the ancient city of Caesarea Philippi in northern Israel. It is located at the foot of Mount Hermon, Israel’s tallest mountain.
Banias Nature Reserve offers unique natural wonders, including the most powerful waterfall in Israel that pours into a beautiful pool surrounded by vegetation. The waterfall is accessible via a wooden boardwalk built close to the rushing waters. The noise of the flowing water and the spectacular sight make this a most enjoyable experience.
Strategically located near an important spring, Banias controlled the road that connected Damascus to the Mediterranean Sea.
The place served as a worship center of the Greek god Pan and was named Panias in honor of the deity. Later “Panias” became “Banias” in the local Arab dialect. Above the Banias spring there is a large cave that served the worship of Pan and the remains of a shrine that was built by the Greeks in the 2nd century B.C.
King Herod and his son Philip II extended the place and named it Caesarea Philippi which became an important city during the 1st century A.D. We read about an important event that took place in Caesarea Philippi in Matthew 16:13:
“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, who do people say the Son of Man is? They replied, some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah…. But what about you? he asked. Who do you say I am? Simon Peter answered, You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Jesus replied, Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven... I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven… Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.”
In Josephus Flavius’ “Antiquities of the Jews” 15, 10 and 3, we read the following about Herod: “So when he … returned home, he built him a most beautiful temple, of the whitest stone in Zenodorus’s country near the place called Panium. This is a very fine cave, in a mountain… Over it hangs a vast mountain and under the caverns arise the springs of the river Jordan. Herod adorned this place, which was already a very remarkable one, still farther, by the erection of this temple, which he dedicated to Cesar.”
At the front of the Banias cave there are remains of a magnificent building dated to the 1st century B.C. For many years it was thought that this was Herod’s temple (the Augusteum).
Getting there:
Site is located on Route no. 99 between routes 989 and 999
Summer hours:
Sunday–Thursday and Saturday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday and holiday eves: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Winter hours:
Sunday–Thursday and Saturday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Friday and holiday eves: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
OMRIT
However, in light of the recent findings in Omrit, located two miles south of Banias, most researchers agree that Omrit is the location of Herod’s temple – and not Banias.
In 1998, a wildfire broke about two miles southeast of Banias and exposed a wall that turned out to be part of an ancient building. Excavations began one year later – and continued for 20 years – revealing, among other remains, a complex of four temples, built one on top of the other around the structure.
This discovery initiated a debate between researchers who identify Herod’s temple mentioned by Josephus Flavius in Banias to those who identify it in Omrit which is “near the place called Panium” according to Josephus’ words.
Some historical notes:
Herod reigned in Judea from 37 B.C. to 4 B.C. This area of the Galilee came under his control in 31 B.C.
After the Roman ruler Gaius Octavius became “Augustus” and an Emperor in 27 B.C.E., imperial temples (Augusteums) around the Roman Empire were renovated and extended to honor his new title.
Around 132 A.D., the Roman Emperor Hadrian ordered the extension of Augusteums around the Roman empire in his honor
The findings:
In the first phase, excavations uncovered a podium dated to the middle of the 1st century B.C., estimated to be the base of an Ituraea temple (Zenodorus kingdom).
Later, this small temple was rebuilt and extended between 40 to 30 B.C. This second phase could be Herod’s temple mentioned by Josephus Flavius above.
The third temple was built in 20 B.C., further extending the preceding structure. It is assumed that this was a result of Gaius Octavianus becoming “Augustus” as mentioned above.
The fourth phase, built atop the other three, arose in the 2nd century A.D. and is probably the result of Hadrian’s command. This last phase was destroyed as a result of an earthquake in 363. In Omrit, one can see today the results of that temblor: columns originally 11 meters tall collapsed and lie scattered on the ground.
The debate between the researchers regarding the location of Herod’s Augusteum is not yet decided. Epigraphical evidence, if such shall be ever found, may assist in solving this question.
Getting there:
1.5 miles east to Hermon stream bridge on route 918
Hours:
Omrit is an open site, no limitations apply.
Uri Steinberg is a former Israeli Tourism Commissioner for North America, Israel Ministry of Tourism, and currently serves on the ALL ISRAEL NEWS advisory board.
