Archaeology
GischalaGush Halav, JishPlace descriptionThe largest Jewish town in the Upper Galilee was Gischala, mentioned numerous times
by Josephus in Life and War; it played a major role in the events of the Revolt, being
attacked and burned by the Romans, then rebuilt and fortified by John of Gischala, the
rival and opponent of Josephus who was eventually led through Rome in Titus’s triumph.
The town was built on a large chalky hill northeast of Mt. Meiron. There were the
remains of two Late-Roman synagogues in the town, one on the summit, which disappeared
at the beginning of this century, and the second east of the town, which has been
excavated (Meyers 1990). No remains of the town itself have been excavated. On the
western slope, remains of a large glacis were identified, which appeared to be part of
the first-century CE fortifications of the town (Aviam 2000d). A monumental mausoleum
was uncovered; on its top was a large double sarcophagus, and under it a rock-cut tomb
with a stone door. The contents of the tomb dated it to the second or third century CE.
The high percentage of Tyrian coins found on the site suggests that most economic and
cultural links were with Phoenicia. |