Caesarea

An ancient port and administrative city of Palestine on the Mediterranean coast of present-day Israel. It is often called Caesarea Palaestinae or Caesarea Maritima to distinguish it from Caesarea Philippi. It was originally an ancient Phoenician settlement known as Straton's (Strato's Tower) and was rebuilt and enlarged by Herod the Great around 22-10 BC, who renamed it for his patron, Caesar Augustus. Herod also rebuilt the harbor, which traded with his newly built city at Sebaste (Augusta) of ancient Samaria. There were Hellenistic-Roman public buildings and an aqueduct. After Herod died, it became the capital of the Roman province of Judaea. An inscription naming Pontius Pilate is one of the best-known from the site. The city became the capital of the Roman province of Judaea in AD 6. Jewish revolts and later Byzantine and Arab rule cause the city's decline.

A coastal city in Israel, founded in the 4th century bc. It flourished under Herod the Great, who enlarged the city and rebuilt its harbour. After the death of Herod it became the capital of the Roman province of Judaea. An inscription naming Pontius Pilate is one of the best-known finds from this site. The town became important again during the Crusades of the 12th and 13th centuries; the still impressive defences date to this period.