We said goodbye to Galilee; definitely our favorite part of the trip
Back in June, Carolina and I got to go with a group to Israel and Jordan. I’m getting an account of that trip posted to this blog, little by little.
On Day 4, we switched hotels for the first time since beginning the tour. We left Galilee and would end up in Jericho.
But first we went to Sepphoris, It’s a town northwest of Nazareth built in the early first century. It’s not inconceivable that Joseph and maybe even Jesus did some construction work here. From some of the ruins, we can see the strong Hellenistic influence in the Galilee area.
Tony Fernández at the theater in Sepphoris
The so-called “Mona Lisa of Galilee,” on the mosaic floor of a mansion in Sepphoris. The floor depicts stories from Greek mythology.
I was fascinated by markings left by the Romans. This is the sort of things they used to cast lots, like the soldiers did when dividing Jesus’ clothes.
From there we went to Nazareth, visiting the re-enactment site known as the Nazareth village.
Showing how wheat was threshed in ancient times
Model of what a tomb would have looked like
Something authentic: a winepress at the Nazareth Village
One of the re-enactors who works at the village
Next stop was Megiddo. We were to visit there on the day the group arrived, but their flight was delayed and we didn’t have time. I’m glad we got to backtrack and see this.
Our guide, Nedal, at Megiddo
Going down to the water system. Experts differ on who built this. Some say Ahab, some Jeroboam II. It was probably built by the Canaanites, then improved by the Israelite kings.
At the bottom of the descent, where water can be found
Last stop of the day was Mt. Carmel.
Statue commemorating Elijah’s victory over the prophets of Baal
Panoramic view from top of church on Mt. Carmel
Panoramic view from top of church on Mt. Carmel