The Ruins

Yesterday was a day for stepping back in time to envision how people really lived in Jesus' time.

Capernaum:

   Capernaum first started to be inhabited during the 3rd Millennium BC in the early Bronze period. It was a small village of several houses, which was in the area controlled by the Biblical city in  Tell Kinneret, located 3 KM to the west. It continued through the 2nd Millenium, as surfaced in the excavations, in the area around the center of the Roman village.  During the Israelite/Iron period (1200-587 BC) there was a break in the population, which was restored in the 5th century BC (the period of the returns of the exiles to Zion).

   The village then expanded in the Hellenistic period (4th-3rd century BC), gradually replacing the focus from Tell Kinneret - as most of the Tells in Israel at that time.  It was designed according to that period's urban design of straight lines, which was built in parallel to the main Roman imperial highway, that crossed the village on the northern side.  Capernaum grew larger at the time of Jesus  (early Roman period, 1st century AD), and a synagogue was built in the center of the village. It reached its peak in the Byzantine period when the grand white-stone Synagogue  was built (end of the 4th century AD) over the earlier synagogue. An octagon church was built in  the 5th century AD at the location of St Peter's house, and serviced the Christian citizens. At that time the village covered about 60 Dunams (6 Hectares), with a population of about 1,500.  Note that the excavated area that is seen today is only 1/3 of the entire size of the village.

   The village prospered in the Roman and Byzantine periods, and its citizens were mainly fishermen (as most of Jesus apostles), farmers, and people that provided services to the Roman road and caravans, including tax collection (as was Matthew).

  Capernaum was partially destroyed in the Persian conquest in the 7th century AD. The synagogue and church were destroyed in the Arab period (7th- 12 century AD), but the village continued to function for some time.  It then was totally ruined.

   The area was purchased by the Franciscans in 1894; 2/3 of the entire area of ruins were purchased, while the other third was purchased by the Greek Orthodox.  The excavations were conducted in several seasons  (1905-1915, 1968-1984).

At this same site, a church was built over where it was said Peter lived.  It is quite peaceful and very contemporary.  You can see that they have built glass panes to show the actual foundation.

  Peter, also known as Simon Bar-Yonah, was one of Jesus's 12 apostles.  He was a fisherman, and his house was located close to the shores of the lake. This site is believed to be his house, as verified by the archaeological excavations and the later building of a church over his house that was erected in his honor by the early Christian worshippers.

   The 5th century AD church, seen below, was built over St. Peter's house.  It has the shape of an Octagon, which was typical of early churches and structures (such asKathisma south of Jerusalem, and even the Dome of the Rock) https://biblewalks.com/Sites/Capernaum.html